The Olden Time Series Volume IV Part 13

_To be SOLD_,

_And entered upon next April,_

THE House and Land now occupied by the subscriber, pleasently situated at a very public corner, in the main street, at the West part of the town.----After serving the public faithfully, for several years, as a private soldier in the army, and suffering most intolerable hards.h.i.+ps, I am now, on account of my country's unfaithfulness, in not paying what they owe 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 advertis.e.m.e.nt like the following is not only "quaint or curious," but it is also rare:--

ONE evening last week, a piece of Gold was pa.s.sed, 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 princ.i.p.al 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 advertis.e.m.e.nt can excite, and prove a real living Animal, shall have the Money returned, or be at liberty to pay after they have convinced themselves by seeing him perform.

To be seen in a convenient room under the western side of Concert-Hall, Market-Street.

_Admittance, for grown persons, one Quarter of a Dollar.----Children half price._

N.B. Strict attention paid to keep the place fit for the reception of Ladies.

MAY 4, 1798.

_Salem Gazette._

This is a quiet way of asking a favor; taken from a paper of 1811:--

--> Mr. LANG would thank the person that took a _Camblet Cloak_ from his entry the last summer to return it, as he expects to want it the approaching cold weather.

Mr. George W. Felt seems not to have been accustomed to show much gallantry, judging from his notice in the "Salem Gazette," Sept. 4, 1804.

_WHEREAS two GIRLS were seen taking_ APPLES _from the Subscriber's Field, on Sunday last, in North Fields, so called, if they will call and settle for the same, THIS DAY, they will avoid further trouble!_

GEORGE W. FELT.

_Salem, Sept. 4, 1804._

Females seem to have been often in difficulty in "old times," as appears from some of the advertis.e.m.e.nts, of which we give a few specimens. But perhaps this was due in part, at least, to "kleptomania,"--a disease then but little understood.

--> _The_ FEMALE, _who a few days since took_ 4 _Pair of_ SLIPPERS _from a shop in old Paved Street, is_ requested _to return them, and no questions will be asked; if she does not return them in 6 days she will hear from the owner another way._

Jan. 5, 1792.

_The Female who offered a Counterfeit Seven Dollar Bill at Mr.

Dow's Shop, on Wednesday afternoon, and afterwards pa.s.sed it upon a small Lad at another shop, is desired to call and exchange the same, if she wishes to avoid trouble, as her name is known._

_Nov. 1, 1805._

The Female that took from the Shop of the subscriber on Monday, 19th of June, four pair COTTON HOSE, is requested to return them to prevent further exposure.

June 20, 1815. JOHN RUST.

An indiscreet and ungrateful servant advertised as missing. We take the following from the "Columbian Centinel," Sept. 30, 1807:--

[Ill.u.s.tration]

A GOOD _LIKENESS_ OF _SANCHO_, A NEGRO MAN, thirty years of age, about 5 feet high, very black complexion, good teeth, not corpulent, but well formed, and of erect position of body & a _fast walker_, WHO absented himself (supposed to have been inveigled away by some artful villains for their own use and benefit) upon the Evening of the 17th inst. from his Master, WINTHROP SARGENT, late Governor of the Missisippi Territory. He had learned the trade of a Barber, and is in every respect a most accomplished servant for a gentleman or a family; was born and educated in his Master's house; endeared to _him_, his _mistress_, and his own _wife_ and _children_, as well as the numerous blacks of his Master's Plantations, by long, affectionate, and faithful services, and ere this _solitary_ instance of malconduct, there was not a single doubt entertained that the attachments were mutual and inviolable. If he voluntarily returns to the service of his Master, he shall be received with wonted kindness and affection, but no expense will be spared to punish to the utmost limits of the law, all persons who may be accessory in harboring or concealing him, and the sum of FIFTY DOLLARS shall be paid to any person who will apprehend and deliver him to his Master, or in his absence to Mr. IGNATIUS SARGENT, in _Boston_; to Messrs. G. & T. ASPINWALLE, in _New-York_; or Col. HODGDON, in _Philadelphia_;--or the sum of ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS for delivering him to Mr. DAVID URQUHART, Merchant, _New-Orleans_.

WINTHROP SARGENT.