“You found no great difficulty in writing, when you bent your mind down to it, did you?” inquired Marcus.
“No, sir, not much.”
“I supposed you wouldn’t,” continued Marcus. “Mother, I’ve been thinking of a plan, this afternoon, for making letter-writing pleasant, and I want your opinion of it.”
“I think highly of letter-writing as an exercise,” said Mrs. Page, “and if you can devise a way to make the children like it, I shall be very glad.”
“I can’t see what makes boys hate to write letters so—for my part I like to do it,” said Kate.
“Yes, I should think you liked it—you write half a dozen billets every day, in school,” interposed Otis.
“Why, Otis Sedgwick, what a story! I don’t believe I have averaged more than one note a day, this whole term,” replied Kate.
“Well, that speaks pretty well for your epistolary taste, if you have done nothing more,” said Marcus. “But let me explain my plan. I propose that we have a letter-box put up in some part of the house, and that every one in the family engage to write one letter a week to some other member, and drop it into the box, which we might call our post office. The greatest liberty might be allowed, in the choice of subjects and style, and the letters might be anonymous, or written in an assumed character, if preferred. If any one wanted to ask a favor, or make a complaint, or offer a suggestion, or correct an error, or drop a word of caution or reproof, or indulge a fancy, or make sport, this would afford a good opportunity to do it. What do you think of the plan, mother?”
“I think it is a good idea, and I shall vote for giving it a fair trial,” said Mrs. Page.
“And how does it strike you, Aunt Fanny?” continued Marcus.