Four right hands are at this instant writing to give you, at some future moment, the pleasure of perusing the products of their present labor.

Four imaginations are now employed in conceiving of a son or a brother in a distant land.

Therefore we may draw the conclusion that you are not universally forgotten, and consequently all do not forget you.
I have written you this long letter because I knew that you would be anxious for the information it contains; because papa told me I must write; because mama said I had better write; because I had nothing else to do, and because I hadn't time to write a shorter.

I trust for these special reasons you will excuse me for this once, especially when you consider that you asked me to write you long letters; when you consider that it is my natural disposition to express my sentiments fully; that I commonly say most when I have least to say; that I promise reformation in future, and that you shall hereafter hear from me on this subject.
As to news, I am sorry to say we are entirely out.

We sent you the last we had by the Sally Ann.