Standing in the
bow of the boat, with folded arms, as if calmly contemplating the
scenery, was the figure of a man--suppositively Peterkin--who swore
'he'd keep this picter in spite of 'em;' and as his wife did not
seriously object, the sketch was transferred in oil to a pannel and
inserted in the carriage, which, when drawn by two shining bays and
driven by a colored man in long coat and tall hat, with Peterkin sitting
back in it with all the pride and pompousness of a two-millionaire, and
May Jane at his side, covered with diamonds, attracted general attention
and comment. Billy seldom patronized the carriage, but frequently rode
beside it, talking to his mother, of whom he was very fond, and taking
off his hat to every person he met, whether old or young, rich or poor.
'Billy is an idiot, but very kind-hearted,' people said of him, and in
truth he was popular with everybody, especially with the men in his
father's employ, who all went to him for favors, or for an increase of
wages; for if Billy had any business it was in his father's office,
where he pretended to look after matters and keep the books straight.
Such had been the growth of Peterkin during the past nine years. 'He had
got clean to the front,' he said, 'and was hob-nobbin' with Squire
Harrenton, and Judge St.
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