The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

66 The Highland Monthly.
fess that of the hundreds with whom, at one time or other,
I commenced to correspond, there are but few of whom I
have not some pleasant recollections ; and
none whose
complaining second last, and unanswered last letter, have
not given me a taste of the punishment of faithlessness.
Of late years, aware of my besetting sin, I never promise a
lengthened correspondence, nor do I keep letters after they
are read, lest they should witness against me. The
shadowy conjurations of memory punish sharply enough,
without the aid of material witnesses. I do answer punctu-
ally business letters. And I think, although the disgrace-
ful habit of procrastination is to be blamed for dropping
friendly or literary correspondence, that there is also a law
of sympathy, at work which partly accounts for my failing.
I meet a person with whom I form a sudden acquaintance.
We talk on sonie subject in which we both feel interested.
One is better informed, and can instruct the other. We
correspond, but naturally the correspondence ceases when
the information of the correspondents is equalised. Again,
it may be a sentiment, an indefinite similarity of taste, that
forms the friendly cement. To a tie of this kind distance
of place and time does not lend enchantment. In letters
the attractions of a personal individuality are lost^—
unhappily people do not write as unaffectedly as they
speak, and, for myself, the comment of the face is often far
clearer than the text of the lips. Besides, long acquaint-
ance shows the difference, as the first intimacy showed the
similarity of our tastes. Some people can make formal
replies to formal letters, but others, like myself, never repl)'
with pleasure, seldom reply at all, to letters that affect
them not like the presence of the writer, in the state they
most admire, when the letter is read. I have known a
.short note to electrify my lethargy so much that I immedi-
ately replied under a sort of inspiration. The mutual
sympathy constituting sentimental friendship in such
circumstances was actively working. But, while assigning
reasons for the shameful manner in which I drop the