.308 .316 XL. MISS LARK SOARS INTO A NEW SPHERE, XLI. MR. PEPPERY PROVES INCORRIGIBLE, XLII. BROTHER STRINGENT SEES BETTER DAys, PRELIMINARY AND CRITICAL. AFTER Some dozen of the ensuing "Records" had circulated through the columns of a periodical, it became evident that they were causing some disturbance in those places to which they had gained access-particularly in the ancient and reputable town of Scandalburgh. The editor began to be plied with letters from various dignitaries of that town, making inquiries concerning the authorship of these objectionable papers, and offering some rather free criticisms upon their merits. Whereupon the author -in considerable alarm-made haste to secure the silence of the periodical editor, and pursued his task under a thick cloud of mystery. Only two of the Scandalburgh letters have fallen into the author's possession, and they are of such an instructive nature that he would fain put them to some good use. After mature deliberation, therefore, and with the approbation of the publisher, he has resolved to incorporate the substance of them into this introductory paper, asking of their writers the pleasant service of ushering his book before the public, as an offset to the ravages which their strictures have committed upon his peace. The first of these letters purports to come from “PHILEMON PENDERGRASS, Esq." It opens like a royal missive, with an array of personal titles and dignities, together with a most perplexing confession of diffidence after which it becomes intelligible. I begin to transcribe at the second paragraph. "Without further circumlocution, I proceed to state that no small sensation has been created in our worthy village, by the publication, in your journal, of those papers concerning 'The Bubbleton Parish.' The first thing, I believe, that provoked the interest of our people, was their anonymous character. It was very annoying not to know who wrote them. There was an amazing exercise of conjecture. Our people, sir, have a very inquiring turn of mind. They went, in a body, to the minister's house, supposing that he must be in the secret. But he, excellent man! being wholly devoted to grave and solid studies, had not even read the exciting papers. Indeed, so earnestly did he disavow all knowledge concerning the said papers, that one of the deacons — who prides himself on his sagacity and knowledge of human nature quite as much as a deacon should deliberately charged him with having written them himself, a charge which greatly distressed our honest pastor, both because it implied a doubt of his word, and because it supposed him capable of 'frittering away his time,' as he said, in such superficial employment. Well, as the minister could give them no information, the people came to me, with a confidence quite flattering. It was very humiliating to confess myself equally ignorant, for I remembered that I had sat in the State-house, and helped to support the majesty of the Commonwealth; but I did not know the author of the papers in question, and condescended to tell my neighbors so, frankly. I have understood, by the by, that several of them wrote to you on the subject; but as I have good |