ver so ill to
do, and comfort us, and clothe us, and give us her money, and her silver
forks? Alas and alas! what mortal man that speaks the truth can hope
for such a landlady? And yet, all these instances of fond and credulous
Snobbishness have occurred in the same week's paper, with who knows how
many score more?

Just as we had concluded the above remarks comes a pretty little note
sealed with a pretty little butterfly--bearing a northern postmark--and
to the following effect:--

'19th November.

'Mr. Punch,--'Taking great interest in your Snob Papers, we are very
anxious to know under what class of that respectable fraternity you
would designate us.

'We are three sisters, from seventeen to twenty-two. Our father is
HONESTLY AND TRULY of a very good family (you will say it is Snobbish
to mention that, but I wish to state the plain fact); our maternal
grandfather was an Earl.' (1)

'We CAN afford to take in a stamped edition of YOU, and all Dickens'
works as fast as they come out, but we do NOT keep such a thing as a
PEERAGE or even a BARONETAGE in the house.

'We live with every comfort, excellent cellar, &c. &c.; but as we cannot
well afford a butler, we have a neat table-maid (though our father was a
military man, has travelled much, been in the best society, &c.) We HAVE
a coachman and helper, but we don't put the latter into buttons, nor
make them wait at table, like Stripes and Tummus.' (2)

'We are just the same to persons with a handle to their name as to those
without it. We wear a moderate modicum of crinoline, (3)and are never
limp (4) in the morning. We have good and abundant dinners on CHINA
though we have plate (5), and just as good when alone as with company.

'Now, my dear MR. PUNCH, will you PLEASE give us a short answer in your
next number, and I will be SO much obliged to you. Nobody knows we are
writing to you, not even our father; nor will we ever tease (6) you
again if you will only give us an answer--just for FUN, now do!

'If you get as far as this, which is doubtful, you will probably fling
it into the fire. If you do, I cannot help it; but I am of a sanguine
disposition, and entertain a lingering hope. At all events, I shall
be impatient for next Sunday, for you reach us on that day, and I am
ashamed to confess, we CANNOT resist opening you in the carriage driving
home from church. (7)

'I remain, &c. &c., for myself and sisters.

Excuse this scrawl, but I always write headlong