One feels other’s pain only when one goes through it himself/herself.

Tortured by doubt and remorse, the postmaster sits in the glow of a charcoal signal that night, waiting for the news of his daughter. He was shocked when he picked up Ali’s letter thinking it to be his letter. Now he understood what Ali must be going through having waited for five years to hear from his daughter. It is rightly said that one feels other’s pain when one goes through it himself/ herself. Postmaster realised the pain of Ali when he himself suffered from the same. He regretted his haughty behaviour with him. He wanted to give Ali’s letter to him personally. But it was too late because Ali was no more. With his desire, he had died three months ago.

Value Points :

Postmaster very practical-thinks Ali to be a pest Does not feel any sympathy

Ali dies-Postmaster 'sees' him and talks to him Finds out about Ali's death

Personally goes to deliver the letter Understands Ali's pain only when his own daughter is unwell and away-feels ashamed of his behaviour-One must try to empathise with others.

Detailed Answer : 

The postmaster in the story ‘The Letter’ was a very practical man. He used to think of Ali as a pest. He had no feeling of sympathy for him or his circumstances. But then times changed and his own daughter fell ill. She lived in another city. He wanted to know about her well-being but was fully dependent on a letter from his daughter that would inform him about her condition. It was at this moment that he realized Ali’s pain as he himself felt it. He felt ashamed at his behaviour of calling Ali a pest. One day, while he was looking for his daughter’s letter in the heap of the latest arrival of letters, he found Miriam’s letter in it. He decided to deliver it to Ali himself. Ali ‘came’ at the usual hour. He talked to him but he was later informed that Ali was dead. He was shocked. He decided to go personally to his grave to deliver the letter. Thus, the story teaches us to empathise with others.