Instructions: Guess the words defined by the cryptic clues (answers vary in length from four to eleven letters, and six are capitalized) then enter them in the grid one after another in the same order as their clues, starting in the upper left corner. Across words that don't end at the right continue on the next row, and down words that don't end at the bottom continue in the next column. Eleven across words and ten down words won't fit in the grid unless one of their letters is omitted. Those twenty-one letters, taken in order as they occur in across and down words, spell a seven-word message related to the mystery entry. Thanks to Kevin Wald for test-solving and editing this puzzle. (If you are having trouble printing these puzzles, you can download an Adobe Acrobat version of the puzzle and grid). [Want to see some hints?]

1. Fixed a stiff hair
2. Sloppy model keeps nothing woven
3. Undergarment that supports Berman oddly
4. Wracked, O Lord, with sorrow
5. Cat loses heart in row
6. Countess of Lovelace takes in one opera
7. Tailless redwing flying in reverse
8. Papa, ailing, gets a dose of medicine
9. Apprentice at home with bird
10. He denies having a garden
11. Wild mice keeping south of a habitat that's characterized by not too much moisture
12. Style of major poem, Lowell's last
13. English cheat gets time in African republic
14. Fine-grained rock overturned in metal seam
15. Satanic vessel is filled with wickedness
16. Parrot of verbal expressiveness
17. One in need pillaged base
18. Expected late start for contest
19. Styptic chemical reflected in simulation
20. Agreement about a tree
21. Mistakenly dials M for melancholy
22. One in use at another time
23. Equipment aboard dirigible
24. Main C sound
25. Drained last of oil intruded in layer
26. Hear indecent slang for methaqualone brand

1. Goes a distance to capture sexual deviant
2. Carex plant seeded initially at border
3. Plate holds one pastry
4. Pervert and sot floundering in filth
5. Reason to keep Latin part of sentence
6. Gore at ease, so to speak, on the sheltered side
7. Mom and the Gallic stud
8. Rock band in formal opera
9. Penned in crumbling tower
10. Large, wild boar in the act of giving birth
11. Mystery entry
12. A returned payment set aside
13. Born and died in want
14. In the style of Eastern wings
15. Mystery entry
16. Scottish city's gray-brown metal loop
17. Hope everyone will get put out
18. Fungi form
19. Mystery entry
20. Turkey's second president disbanded union
21. Aromatic roasted lamb with yogurt topping
22. Fabricator started digging for French coin
23. Firearm loses force in upset
24. Mystery entry