And, best of all, the power retained
To make us do our duty.
Also one from the country:
Dear Editor,—I must write to thank you for presenting to us (to me) “Portrait Gallery of Contributors” to our dear Girl’s Own Paper. It is so nice to see their faces, to really know what those that give us pleasure, profit, etc., are like. Very nice to see our dear Editor’s face. We now know the one who for so many years has laboured much for us—your “girls.” No words will come to me to express all the gratitude I feel to you and all your helpers. God bless you, and all the others, and richly reward you, even here. You cannot see the great pleasure with which The Girl’s Own Paper is read as each month comes; and re-reading it and all those that have gone before is just as great; but let this letter just let you know how one heart is often cheered and encouraged to go on through its perusal. I did not mean when I began this letter to write about myself, only to try and express my loving thanks. Forgive all I have written, and let me sign myself
One of your grateful girls, Ellie.
Scores of girls in their teens, some of them only recent subscribers, write enthusiastically and in good taste; but as there is perforce much similarity in them, it is not desirable to print them.
However, the two following are original:
Dear and Honoured Sir,—I can hardly call myself one of the girl readers of The Girl’s Own Paper, seeing that I am on the shady side of seventy years old, and a wife of many years standing; but still I consider that I may take to myself the pleasant things you say in your article in the 1000th Number. You will think so too when I tell you that I have read almost every word in the nineteen volumes, and possess the said volumes all bound. I quite agree with the critics in what they say of the value of the publication, and also with them hope that you and your staff may long continue to instruct, amuse, and advise the “many millions” of the girls of the world. You see that if I were to subscribe myself “A Constant Reader,” I should not be telling an untruth; but I will only say
Yours gratefully, R. C. R.
Dear Mr. Editor,—Having been a constant reader of your Girl’s Own Paper for many years, I have long been very desirous of thanking you and those who contribute to it for many pleasant and enjoyable hours I have spent in reading its pages; it contains something to suit all.