Braintree, Ess.e.x.
DEAR MISS ----,
As no opportunity has presented itself of speaking to you lately alone, I venture to address you by letter, and I a.s.sure you my happiness greatly depends on the reply with which you may deign to favour me.
I love you, dear Miss ----, very sincerely, and if you can return my affection and become my wife, I shall consider myself the most fortunate of men.
The income which I can place at your disposal is not large, but in my family you will find the most tender and affectionate connexions.
My mother (to whom alone I have confided my secret) is rejoiced at the hope of having you for a daughter. Do not, best beloved Miss Johnstone, disappoint her and myself! Should you not reject me--if I am ever so happy as to call you my wife--the tenderest and most affectionate devotion shall be yours, and the princ.i.p.al and only study of my future days shall be to render your life as happy as you deservedly merit it should be. Your reply is most impatiently awaited by one whose life is wrapped up in yours. My aunt has just called, and it appears that some years since she was very intimately acquainted with your father, to whom I have written, enclosing this note for you, and stating to him the purport of its contents.
I remain,
Dear Miss Johnstone,
Yours very truly,
HARRY CLINTON.
_From a Soldier ordered Abroad, to his affianced Bride._
Portsmouth, April 15th, 187-
DEAREST JULIA,
I can scarcely compose myself to write, for this very morning, at mid-day parade, a telegram was received by our commanding officer directing the regiment to hold itself under orders for immediate foreign service; so that of course I shall be prevented seeing you before our departure, as all leave is stopped for officers as well as for the non-commissioned officers and men. Where our future destination may be no one can at present conjecture, but we think it may be Canada. How blighted now are our hopes! where all seemed bright and joyous, nothing is left but separation and blank despair.
Julia, you love me; you are mine, are you not, dear Julia? Although separated for a time, we shall love each other faithfully; no doubts must arise, no feelings of suspicion or fear between us; but firm in the knowledge that we are devotedly attached to each other, and that nothing can change the ardent feelings we entertain, we must wait and hope. I trust in a few short years, my darling Julia, to call you mine. Your Ronald will be true to his promise and his love, and in faith that his Julia will bear up bravely, as a soldier"s destined wife should do, he obeys his country"s call in anguish but not in despair. Accept the little present I send you (forwarded by registered letter by this evening"s post), and with most affectionate and enduring love,
Believe me,
My dearest Julia,
Your ever devoted,
RONALD DUGAN.
_From a Gentleman to a Young Lady._
Snow Hill, January 1st, 187-
DEAR ROSY,
On returning from skating yesterday afternoon, and reflecting alone on the pleasant morning we had pa.s.sed, I was more than ever impressed with my wretched solitary existence. Will you break for me this monotonous routine of life by saying, "It need not be, Charlie."
I have loved you fondly and long; your parents and mine are intimate friends; they know my private character. Will you accept me as your husband, dearest Rosy?
Believe me,
Your ever fondly attached,
CHARLIE BYERS.
_From a Husband to his Wife, on sailing from England._
H.M.S. Psyche, June 8th.
MY DEAREST WIFE,
I take the opportunity of the pilot"s return to send you a hurried and last farewell. Oh, my dearest, what but duty could reconcile me to leaving you? What but the certainty that we are both protected by our Heavenly Father could support me through the weary days and nights which I am destined to spend far from you? Ah! the waves that are now washing the sides of our vessel will soon cease to beat upon that sh.o.r.e where my wife, where my friends are all thinking of me.
Farewell my dearest wife; be a.s.sured I am in good health and tolerable spirits.
Comfort yourself, my dearest! we shall all meet soon and happily again. I have not time to write to my mother, but pray tell her she is always in my thoughts. G.o.d bless you, dearest!--my heart is full of you.
Ever your devoted husband,
H. P.
_From a Husband absent on Business to his Wife._
The Fens, Lincolnshire, June 1st, 187-
DEAREST ISABELLA,
This is the first time, my darling, we have ever experienced the bitterness and misery of separation, and the few days I have already been absent from you appear like years. What my state of mind will be at the expiration of another two or three weeks I will let your little affectionate heart conjecture. But I must not be selfish, my dearest Isa. You share my trial, but do not be down-hearted, the time will soon pa.s.s away. You must go out and visit the nice friends near you. Your dear kind mother also is within an easy walk, I am glad to think.
Roger Hughes is going to stay with his family for some little while; I do not care much about him (you remember we met him at ----). He is certain to call upon you, but it will be just as well not to be at home to him always. Hoping to return in a fortnight, I remain, with very best love to your mother and yourself,
Your ever affectionate husband,
JOSIAH WEBB.