is used to indicate the combining of two words in one,--as John's book, instead of John, his book; or to show the omission of parts of words, as Glo'ster, for Gloucester--tho' for though. These abbreviations should be avoided as much as possible. Cobbett says the apostrophe "ought to be called the mark of _laziness_ and vulgarity." The first use, however, of which we gave an example, is a necessary and proper one.