Some clays before I caused several thousand handbills to be struck off at my printing office, and circulated freely in the town, to the effect that I con templated matrimony, and that anyone paying three months' subscription in advance for groceries at my store would be entitled to a handsome wedding gift, which I should present to them ou the day of my nuptials. This announcement made a profound sensation, and subscriptions poured in \ from all sides, whilst the town and suburbs rang with but one question : Who is the fortunate candidate for the hand of Alexis Jones? In spite of solicitation, however, I steadfastly refused to give any informa tion until the proper time arrived. That time was the day of the opening of the telegraph office, and upon that day I, regardless of expense, sent this telegram to England and paid for a reply :—: — To Miss Smith, Mornington Crescent, Camden Town, from Alexis Jones Mayor, etc., etc. I have been meaning to write for some time. Would you like to marry me, and come out and settle here. If so, apply to Messrs. Dodson and Ferwin, my agents, in Old Broad Street, for all necessary travelling expenses. Excuse brevity. Lome at once, Answer paid. The answer ran thus :—: — With pleasure ; I will start in a week. i The day fixed for the arrival of Miss- Smith, of Camden Town, was one of the greatest possible excitement. From early dawn a band played loudly in front of the grocery store, and there were illuminations the night bafore, both here and at the newspaper office, on a really extensive scale. I must own that I, too, was a little anxious. Supposing she should not come at all, aud that, all this expense of gas, music, etc., had been gone to for nothing. Then, again, I knew that much was expected of me, and that my future. bride would be criticised severely. But I felt pretty sure of her ; my Lavinia was tall and majestic, nothing like the little turned up nosed thing, her sister Aurora. No ; what I wanted to adorn my store was a majestic presenca, and that I had got in Lavinia. I therefore felt happy. At length the train arrived. I waited on the platform. 