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.