ficiate to-morrow.

Then came strings of advertisements, with a luxuriant vegetation of
capitals and notes of admiration. More of those PRIME GOODS! Full
Assortments of every Article in our line! [Except the one thing you
want!] Auction Sale. Old furniture, feather-beds, bed-spreads [spreads!
ugh!], setts [setts!] crockery-ware, odd vols., ullage bbls. of this
and that, with other household goods, etc., etc., etc.,--the etceteras
meaning all sorts of insane movables, such as come out of their
bedlam-holes when an antiquated domestic establishment disintegrates
itself at a country "vandoo."--Several announcements of "Feed," whatever
that may be,--not restaurant dinners, anyhow,--also of "Shorts,"--terms
mysterious to city ears as jute and cudbear and gunnybags to such as
drive oxen in the remote interior districts.--Then the marriage column
above alluded to, by the fortunate recipients of the cake. Right
opposite, as if for matrimonial ground-bait, a Notice that Whereas
my wife, Lucretia Babb, has left my bed and board, I will not be
responsible, etc., etc., from this date.--Jacob Penhallow (of the late
firm Wibird and Penhallow) had taken Mr. William Murray Bradshaw into
partnership, and the business of the office would be carried on as usual
under the title Penhallow and Bradshaw, Attorneys at Law. Then came
the standing professional card of Dr. Lemuel Hurlbut and Dr. Fordyce
Hurlbut, the medical patriarch of the town and his son. Following this,
hideous quack advertisements, some of them with the certificates of
Honorables, Esquires, and Clergymen.--Then a cow, strayed or stolen
from the subscriber.--Then the advertisement referred to in our first
paragraph:

MYRTLE HAZARD has been missing from her home in this place since
Thursday morning, June 16th. She is fifteen years old, tall and womanly
for her age, has dark hair and eyes, fresh complexion, regular features,
pleasant smile and voice, but shy with strangers. Her common dress was a
black and white gingham check, straw hat, trimmed with green ribbon.
It is feared she may have come to harm in some way, or be wandering
at large in a state of temporary mental alienation. Any information
relating to the missing child will be gratefully received and properly
rewarded by her afflicted aunt,

MISS SILENCE WITHERS, Residing at the Withers Homestead, otherwise known
as "The Poplars," in this village.

CHAPTER II. GREAT EXCITEMENT

The publication of the adverti