Dear Jack:
My mother will not let me go coasting. I wish you would come over to my house Saturday. We could write valentine letters together, to our friends. We could pop some corn too.
Jill
2. Do you see the little mark (:) after the words Dear Jack and Dear Jill in these two letters? That mark must always[48] be written there in a letter. Next, do you see how the first line in each letter is different from the other lines? The first line of a letter must always begin a little to the right of the other lines. Notice where the name of the writer of each letter is placed. Is there any mark after it?
Written Exercise. 1. In order that you may not forget the points you have just learned about letter writing, copy Jack's letter to Jill. Then compare your copy with the letter as it stands in the book, and correct mistakes.
2. Now read carefully Jill's letter to Jack. Notice once more exactly how the different parts of the letter are written. Write the letter from dictation. Then correct what you have written by comparing it with the letter in the book.
It is well that you now know how to write a letter. There is at this very time an important letter that needs to be written by you. As you know, the teacher will soon choose some one in your class to be the postmaster for Valentine Day. Whom do you want for that position? Perhaps you would like to be postmaster yourself. Or do you want to be one of the letter carriers? The next exercise will give you a chance to tell the teacher.
Written Exercise. It would take too much of the teacher's time to listen to each pupil's opinion about those post-office questions.[49] Then, too, the teacher might not remember all that each pupil said. So there is only one thing to do. Each pupil must write his ideas and wishes in a letter to the teacher. Write your letter, beginning it thus:
Dear Teacher:
Tell in your letter exactly what you would tell the teacher in a private talk. No one but the teacher will see your letter.[50]