How long these feelings might have continued I do not know but on the second day out a fresh breeze sprung up the sea became quite rough and my mind was called away from its gloomy reflections by a sudden fit of seasickness Much as I had read in travellers' note-books respecting this most disagreeable companion of a seavoyage I did not realize a tithe of its discomfort until I became a victim of it myself For three days I lay in my berth without tasting food in a state of perfect indifference to all that was going on around and heartily sorry that I had ever consented

"to roam

O'er the dark sea-foam"

On the morning of our sixth day out I felt a little better and though my brain was so dizzy that I could hardly see and my limbs seemed almost unable to support me I attempted to get up Not till then was I

aware that we were in the midst of a terrible storm The vessel was plunging and the timbers were creaking as if every instant they must part while ever and anon above the howlings of the gale were heard the hoarse tones of the Captain shouting through his speaking-trumpet to the men Full of fear I managed to creep back into my berth, and it was not until near evening I learned that for the past twenty-four hours we had experienced one of the heaviest gales ever known off Cape Hatteras

The remainder of our voyage was not marked by any incident worthy of narration. We arrived here this morning and I hasten to dispatch this letter to relieve your anxiety. There are as you may suppose many interesting objects in this city these together with the

beautiful bay and the surrounding country I shall attempt to describe in my next

Remember me affectionately to each member of our family I shall write to them all at the next opportunity For yourself my dear father accept the best wishes and grateful love of

Your affectionate son

JACOB PERRY, JR.

LESSON LXV.

LETTER-WRITING.

WHAT is requisite in business letters?

Business letters should be as short as possible, and confined strictly to the subject in hand. Give an example of the proper form of address to a Firm. The following is an example of the proper form. Messrs. Parker & Tillotson:

Gentlemen,

How should a letter be folded?

As envelopes are now generally used for inclosing letters, the most convenient way of folding is as follows: as the sheet lies before you, turn up the bottom until its edge exactly lies upon the edge at the top, and make a fold in the middle. The sheet is now in an oblong form. Bring the side that is at your right hand towards your body, and fold over about one-third of the letter towards the top; finally, turn as much of the upper part over

in the opposite direction, and the sheet is properly folded for inclosing in an envelope.

*

What is meant by the superscription of a letter?

The direction on the outside, consisting of the name of the person addressed, the name of the place and the state in which he lives; thus:

Hector McNiel, Esq.,
Grenada,
Mississippi.

In the superscription, what common error must be avoided?
The use of two titles that imply the same thing.
Thus, instead of directing to "Mr. William Walton,
Esq.,
we should direct either to "Mr. William
Walton," or to "William Walton, Esq."

Correct the following direction: "Dr.James Purple, M. D."

EXERCISE.

Write a letter according to the analysis given below. Follow the directions for dating, addressing, folding, and superscribing; above all, let your letter contain no bad spelling or incorrect punctuation. The pupil will imagine that he is writing from a boarding school, in Salem, Massachusetts, to a sister at home, in New-York city.

*Note. As a practical illustration seems necessary, the teacher is requested to fold a sheet for the pupil according to these directions.

ANALYSIS.

I. Acknowledge receipt of a letter from home, and state the feelings it awakened.

II. Describe the weather, and state its effect on the spirits and amusements of the scholars.

III. Give an account of the daily routine of exercises in the school.

IV. Describe the teacher.

V. State when the next holiday occurs; how it is anticipated by the scholars; how they will spend it; state your feelings with regard to your anticipated return home.

LESSON LXVI.

EXERCISE IN LETTER-WRITING.

WRITE a letter from Poughkeepsie, N. Y., to your grandmother at Danbury, Conn., according to the following analysis. Date, &c., as directed. Do not use the words of the analysis, where it can be avoided.

I. Express satisfaction at having heard, through your father, who has just returned from Danbury, that her health continues good; hope that you may see her before long, so as to judge for yourself.

II. Tell her that the Hudson River Railroad is now finished as far as Poughkeepsie; mention the results-increase of travel; excitement caused by the frequent passage of the cars; greater

facility of communication with New-York, particularly in winter when the river is frozen; &c. III. Give an account of the way in which you spend

Sunday; describe the place of worship which you attend. Describe your new clergyman. Tell what his text was last Sunday, and describe his sermon.

IV. Ask your grandmother to write to you often, and to state in her next letter when she will come to Poughkeepsie; state how glad you will be to see her, and what amusements you have devised to interest her.

LESSON LXVII.

DESCRIPTION.

WHAT is the second division embraced under the head of prose composition?

Descriptions.

In what does description consist?

Description consists in noting down the characteristics or peculiarities of any particular object. To write a description, what is necessary?

For the writer to be familiar with what he is attempting to describe.

Do descriptions admit of analysis?

Yes; all subjects of composition do.

Before commencing your description, then, what will it be best to do?

To analyze the subject, according to the directions already given.*

*Note to the teacher.—It will be well for the teacher to insist