!

"Public rumor has already exonerated us from the delicacy which would
otherwise have restrained our pen from alluding to a feat of gallantry
and courage performed by a young gentleman who does not live a hundred
miles from Constitution Cottage. It seems that a _laison_ once subsisted
between him and a young lady of great personal attractions, and, at
that time, supposed (erroneously) to be entitled to a handsome dowry,
considering that the fair creature worships at the Mallet Office, and
bestows, in the exercise of her usual devotion, some soft blows upon
her fair, but not insensible bosom. Our readers will understand us. The
young gentleman in question, however, hearing that the lady had been
recently betrothed to a partner of her father's, prompted by that spirit
of gallant mischief or dare-devilism for which he is so remarkable, did,
under very dangerous circumstances, actually renew his intimacy, and
had several stolen, and, consequently, sweet meetings with the charming
creature. This, however, reached his father's ears, who, on proper
information, despatched a troop of his own cavalry to bring the young
gentleman home--and so accurate was the intelligence received, that,
on reaching her father's house, they went directly to the young lady's
chamber, from which they led out the object of their search, after
several vain but resolute attempts to exclude them from his bower
of love. This unfortunate discovery has occasioned a great deal of
embarrassment in the family, and broken up the lady's intended marriage
with her father's partner. But what strikes us, is the daring courage of
the hero who thus gallantly risked life and limb, rather than that the
lady of his love should pine in vain. Except Leander's, of old, we know
of no such feat of love and gallantry in these degenerate days.'

"This other is equally malignant and vindictive

"'Messrs. Harman and M'Loughlin.

"'We shall be very happy, indeed exceedingly so, to contradict
an unpleasing rumor, affecting the solvency of our respected
fellow-townsmen, Messrs. Harman and M'Loughlin. We. do not ourselves
give any credit to such rumors; but how strange, by the way, that such
an expression should drop from our pen on such a subject? No, we
believe them to be perfectly solvent; or, if we err in supposing so, we
certainly err in the company of those on whose opinions, we, in general,
are disposed to rely. We are inclined to believe, and we think, that for
the c