Country Storekeeper. American wit and humor. Social classes -- Caricatures and cartoons. Merchants -- Caricatures and cartoons. Country life -- Caricatures and cartoons. The storekeeper daintly holds a napkin in one hand and pours coffee on the table with the other. He is thin, has thick catfish-like whiskers, and opens his mouth either yelling or shocked. A vase and a book are on the counter in front of him. A "codfish" was a wealthy New Englander whose family fortune originated in maritime business. Text: Magnificent merchant! you much I admire, / O! you prince of the counter -- you odd fish! / No doubt in the future I'll see you aspire / To a place 'mong the regular codfish. Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector. [S.l. : s.n.] [between 1840 and 1880?] Caricatures and cartoons. Comic valentines. digitool:5734 Comic Valentines, 3.7