THB LAST OF TIIK PIG-TAILS. 193 



Tidpole kept the secret, would wear the finest queue. A host of 

 rivals instantly sprung into existence, who were detennined, if pos- 

 sible, to outstrip him in the length and beauty of their pig-tails, and 

 one tail especially, the property of a joiner in Blackfriarsgate, ran so 

 hard a race with him, that for a long time it was difficult to say 

 which was the best ; but the profound knowledge of Richard in the 

 matter of tails, at length enabled him to beat down every antagonist ; 

 he distanced the joiner, and no other competitor was left of any con- 

 sequence : bright visions of glory and renown were before him, and 

 for once, again, his slumbers were peaceful and sound. Time rolled 

 on. Richard was independent — he retired from business ; but, alas ! 

 for hiunan nature, that fickle goddess Fashion, which he had wooed 

 and won, was again in the fidgets, and, like many married ladies, 

 wanted another new dress, although she had already plenty. Her 

 fiat went forth against the wearing of pig-tails; soon the world 

 adopted the new fashion, save here and there a remnant of the olden 

 time persisted in adhering to what soon became of little moment in 

 the fashionable world ; but Richard was one who held on to the last. 

 He was the last of the pig-tails in Hull, 



All things in this mortal world must have an end, or a change, at 

 least ; and we now approach the time which marred his happiness, 

 and caused him to be shorn of his pig-tail. Amongst the host of 

 defeated rivals, no wonder that some one should be left with revenge 

 still rankling in his heart, and ready to gratify it on the first oppor- 

 tunity, this soon offered itself to the rival joiner, of which he 

 availed himself to the utmost. The annual election of municipal 

 officers had come on ; the oflSce of sheriff was hotly contested by 

 the candidates and their friends. The worthy and independent free- 

 men of that day, as well as the present, were what are tenned rum 

 customers, and the spirited manner in which they ddvocated the 

 clauns of each candidate, drew down the applause of the town. So 

 severe a contest had not taken place for many years, and the 

 utmost strength of each party was tried. Neck and neck was the 

 polling of the day, till noon, when one of the parties having gained 

 a trifling majority, a determined push was made by his opponent, 

 and, they were again equal. At four o'clock not a man was 

 left unpolled, save Richard Sagg, who, under other circumstances, 

 would have declined voting; but the idea of securing the election for 



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