ent-week with a friend about five
miles from Parker's Falls. My generous uncle, when he heard me on the
stairs, called me to his bedside and gave me two dollars and fifty
cents to pay my stage-fare, and another dollar for my extra expenses.
He then laid his pocketbook under his pillow, shook hands with me, and
advised me to take some biscuit in my bag instead of breakfasting on
the road. I feel confident, therefore, that I left my beloved relative
alive, and trust that I shall find him so on my return."

The young lady courtesied at the close of her speech, which was so
sensible and well worded, and delivered with such grace and propriety,
that everybody thought her fit to be preceptress of the best academy
in the State. But a stranger would have supposed that Mr. Higginbotham
was an object of abhorrence at Parker's Falls and that a thanksgiving
had been proclaimed for his murder, so excessive was the wrath of the
inhabitants on learning their mistake. The mill-men resolved to bestow
public honors on Dominicus Pike, only hesitating whether to tar and
feather him, ride him on a rail or refresh him with an ablution at the
town-pump, on the top of which he had declared himself the bearer of
the news. The selectmen, by advice of the lawyer, spoke of prosecuting
him for a misdemeanor in circulating unfounded reports, to the great
disturbance of the peace of the commonwealth. Nothing saved Dominicus
either from mob-law or a court of justice but an eloquent appeal made
by the young lady in his behalf. Addressing a few words of heartfelt
gratitude to his benefactress, he mounted the green cart and rode out
of town under a discharge of artillery from the schoolboys, who found
plenty of ammunition in the neighboring clay-pits and mud-holes. As he
turned his head to exchange a farewell glance with Mr. Higginbotham's
niece a ball of the consistence of hasty-pudding hit him slap in the
mouth, giving him a most grim aspect. His whole person was so
bespattered with the like filthy missiles that he had almost a mind to
ride back and supplicate for the threatened ablution at the town-pump;
for, though not meant in kindness, it would now have been a deed of
charity.

However, the sun shone bright on poor Dominicus, and the mud--an
emblem of all stains of undeserved opprobrium--was easily brushed off
when dry. Being a funny rogue, his heart soon cheered up; nor could he
refrain from a hearty laugh at the uproar which his story had excite