LETTERS OF APOLOGY. Letters of Excuse. 101 ETTERS of Excuse should be written as promptly as may be. Any damage that may have been caused by yourself, you should, if pos sible, repair immediately, with inter est. In apologizing for misconduct, failing to meet an engagement, or for lack of punctuality, always state the reason why. By fulfilling every engagement promptly, discharging every obligation when due, and always being punctual, you thereby entirely avoid the necessity for an excuse. Any article borrowed by measure, be certain to return in larger quantity and better quality, to make up the interest. To fail to make good that which has been borrowed is the certain loss of credit and business reputation in the neighborhood where you live. No letter of apology can make amends for neglecting to pay your debts. Yours Truly, SOLOMON KING. Apology for Delay in Returning a Book. KENTLAND, IND., Nov. 19, 18-. MY DEAR AMY: You must excuse my long delay in returning your book. The truth is, it has been the rounds for several to read, though it has not been out of our house. When I had nearly finished its reading, Aunt Mary became interested in its contents and read it through. Her glowing description of the character of the work caused mother to peruse it; so that we have kept it from you several weeks. We feel very grateful to you, however, for furnishing us such an intellectual feast, and hope to have the pleasure of doing you a like favor. Truly Your Friend, LIZZIE BRAINARD. 102 LETTERS ASKING AND GRANTING FAVORS. FRIEND HASKINS: I regret that all the money I have at liberty I am compelled to use this afternoon; else I would comply with your request with pleasure. Respectfully, I start for Boston to-morrow, to make arrangements you will feel the more deeply for our excursion. I shall arrange to have the journey extend as far In conferring a favor, avoid conveying the impression that the recipient is greatly under obligation to you. Rather imply that the granting and accepting of the favor is mutually a pleasure. Letters refusing a favor should be very kindly worded, and, while expressing regret at your inability to comply with the request, state the reason why. With warmest regards to your family, I remain, DEAR FRENCH: Very Truly Yours, HENRY FRENCH. Reply Granting the Request. SPARTA, R. I., March 6, 18-. I enclose, with pleasure, the letter to Prof. Kidder, Requesting the Loan of an Opera Glass. DEAR MABEL: THURSDAY AFTERNOON, April 7, 18-. Answer Refusing the Request. THURSDAY, April 7, 18-. Charlie Hackney called and borrowed my glass about an hour since; otherwise, I would take the greatest pleasure in granting your request. Wishing you a delightful evening, I am, Your Devoted Friend, Will you do me the kindness to loan me one hundred dollars until Wednesday of next week. Having several large collections to make during the next three days, I may return the loan before then. Yours Truly, GEORGE HASKINS. FREEPORT, ILL., Dec. 10, 18-. MY FRIEND JOSEPH: Your very valuable and welcome gift came to-day. I lean on it, and look back. The noonday of our life has passed. Gradually we are descending the slope towards the going-down of our life's sun. It is appointed for all to reach life's meridian, stand there for a little while, and go down on the other side. Youth may not be recovered here, but I doubt not that we may be young again, in that bourne towards which we are fast passing. During my remaining years I will cherish your gift. Accept my warmest thanks, and remember me as, Your Constant Friend, DAVID BINNINGER. Accompanying a Donation to a Clergyman. TO THE REV. WASHINGTON SMITH, Dear Sir: Will you confer upon us the great pleasure of appropriating to your own use the accompanying check? It is presented by your many friends in your congregation, as a slight token of the very high esteem in which you are held by the people, as a Christian gentleman and a most eloquent and instructive preacher. Trusting that its acceptance will afford you as much pleasure as is given us in the presentation, we are, Very Respectfully, Com. of Presentation. Answer to the Foregoing. ST. LOUIS, MO., Jan. 1, 18-. MESSRS. MARTIN FULLER, WM. B. KING, AND CHAS. H. SNOW. Gentlemen: Your very kind and courteous letter, accompanied by your valuable testimonial, is received, for which please accept my grateful acknowledgments. The gift itself, however, is not more valued than the golden words of sympathy and encouragement that accompany its presentation. Trusting that, through God's blessing, I may be able to serve the generous donors as acceptably in the future as your testimonial leads me to suppose I have in the past, I am, Your Very Obedient Servant, WASHINGTON SMITH. Accompanying a Gift to a Superintendent upon Retirement. CHICAGO, ILL., Feb. 2, 18-. MR. ARTHUR P. STEPHENS. Dear Sir: The undersigned, employes of the Northwestern Sheet Lead and Zinc Works, deeply regretting your departure from among us, desire your acceptance of the accompanying memorial, in testimony of our affection and respect for you as a gentleman and a mechanic, and as a faint expression of our appeciation of your kindly efforts to render our connection with this manufactory not only pleasant and agreeable to ourselves, but profitable to the company. Deeply regretting that our connection must be severed, we shall gratefully remember our association in the past, and hope always to be held in pleasurable remembrance by you. (SIGNED BY THE EMPLOYES.) Answer to the Foregoing. CHICAGO, ILL., Feb. 3, 18-. TO THE EMPLOYES OF THE NORTHWESTERN SHEET LEAD AND ZINC WORKS. Gentlemen: I am in receipt of your kind letter and testimonial. Wherever fortune may cast my lot, I shall never cease to remember the pleasant associations of the past few years, and the many kiud attentions I have received at your hands. If our relations and labors have been pleasant, I do not forget that they were largely made so by your always generous efforts and willing cooperation. I will ever cherish your beautiful gift as a memorial of our pleasant years together, and can only wish that each of you, when occupying positions of trust, may be as warmly supported and as ably assisted by those in your charge as I have been since my connection with yourselves. Thanking you for this testimonial and your generous words of approval, I remain, Your Friend, ARTHUR P. STEPHENS. RITE letters to friends and relatives very often. As a rule, the more frequent such letters, the more minute they are in giving particulars; and the longer you make them, the better. The absent husband should write a letter at least once a week. Some husbands make it a rule to write a brief letter home at the close The absent child need not ask, "Do they miss me at home?" Be sure that they do. Write those relatives a long letter, often, descriptive of your journeys and the scenes with which you are becoming familiar. And, if the missive from the absent one is dearly cherished, let the relatives at home remember that doubly dear is the letter from the hallowed hearthstone of the home fireside, where the dearest recollections of the heart lie garnered. Do not fail to write very promptly to the one that is away. Give all the news. Go into all the little particulars, just as you would talk. After you have written up matters of general moment, come down to little personal gossip that is of particular interest. Give the details fully about Sallie Williams marrying John Hunt, and her parents being opposed to the match. Be explicit about the new minister, how many sociables you have a month, and the general condition of affairs among your intimate acquaintances. Don't forget to be very minute about things at home. Be particular to tell of "bub," and "sis," and the baby. Even "Major," the dog, should have a mention. The little tid-bits that |