PETER PIGSKIN l-")5 



probationary saddle-work being struck off the account, and it 

 says much for Cottonwool's sense that he has stemmed the 

 displeasure of his fine, tight-sleeved, highly-flounced daughters, 

 and stood by the " friend of his youth," as Lord Melbourne 

 would say. 



Punch says, " the retired wholesales never visit the retired 

 retails," and we believe something of the same sort of dignity 

 pervades country life. 



In point of breeding there was not much to choose between 

 the progenitors, Cottonwool being the son of the Duke of 

 Blazington's saddler, his mother by a butler out of a buxom 

 dairymaid ; while Peter's maternal descent was a cross between 

 a very respectable market gardener and a milliner. 



The Miss Cottonwools, however, do not carry their inquiries 

 into the region of pedigree ; they take things as they are. 

 Here are they, three fine strapping, slapping lasses, with a 

 great green coach to ride in, a sky-blue man to drive it, and 

 another sky-blue man to loll behind, accustomed to receive the 

 admiration of the first-class country bucks, at the race and 

 assize balls, and they cannot be expected to tolerate this 

 dowdy old man in his drab shorts and gray worsted stockings. 

 " Really, if papa chooses to invite such people to the house on 

 company days, they ought to dine in the kitchen," they say. 



Pigskin, indeed, according to the strict letter of right, we 

 believe, ought to take precedence of Cottonwool, he being a 

 retired tradesman, while our friend of the fine daughters still 

 drives a brisk business, and discourses learnedly on the 

 produce? of Albama, Demerara, Carthagena, the raw article, 

 long and short stapled. And speaking of that, it is an extra- 

 ordinary thing how Pigskin and he ever delude themselves . 

 into the idea that they are driving a conversation, for the talk 

 of one is of nothing but trade, while Pigskin's conversation 

 runs upon horses and hunting. Nevertheless they get through 

 their long evenings together most plainly, and each thinks the 



