me,
obliged to sell the house which belonged to my ancestors, in
order to pay my debts, and to retire to an obscure hut at some
distance from the town.

JOSEPH METCALF.

_Salem Gazette_, 1784.

* * * * *

An advertisement like the following is not only "quaint or curious," but
it is also rare:--

ONE evening last week, a piece of Gold was passed, through
mistake, at Beverly Ferry, to Asa Leech's Ferryman, with
coppers, for a copper.----The owner may have it again,
applying to said Leech, telling the marks, and paying the
charges.

_Beverly, Sept. 20, 1784._

_Salem Gazette._

* * * * *

In 1798 a "Learned Pig" was in Salem, and we notice that about the same
time a learned dog was exhibited.

_For ten days only._

Mr. PINCHBECK

RESPECTFULLY informs the Inhabitants of SALEM, that he has
just arrived in this town with that great natural curiosity,
the

Pig of Knowledge,
And flatters himself, after exhibiting before the President
of the United States with unbounded applause,
and in every principal City in the
Union, to have the honour of gratifying
such Ladies and Gentlemen
in this place, as may
favour him with their
Company.

_This extraordinary Animal will actually perform the following
surprising particulars, viz._

He reads print or writing, spells, tells the time of day, both
the hours and minutes, by any person's watch in the company,
the date of the year, the day of the month, distinguishes
colours, how many persons there are present, ladies or
gentlemen, and to the astonishment of every spectator, will
answer any question in the four first rules of Arithmetick. To
conclude, any Lady or Gentleman may draw a card from a pack,
and keep it concealed, and the PIG without hesitation will
discover the card when drawn.

Those who doubt the truth of the above are informed in case it
don't answer every expectation the advertisement can e