Altogether, therefore, Centreville was quite a lively place, and a town of considerable local importance.

The fact that it had a weekly paper of its own, contributed to bring it into notice.

Nor was that all.
Situated on a little hillock was a building with a belfry, which might have been taken for a church but for a play-ground near by, which indicated that it had a different character.

It was in fact the Prescott Academy, so called from the name of its founder, who had endowed it with a fund of ten thousand dollars, besides erecting the building at his own expense on land bought for the purpose.

This academy also had a local reputation, and its benefits were not confined to the children of Centreville.