Miss Peck's Adventures: The Second Part of The Conceited Pig

In Short

This moralistic Victorian fable serves as the sequel to a previous tale about a conceited pig. It follows a hen named Miss Peck who, disillusioned by the perceived neglect of her farm life, sets out on a nocturnal journey to report to the Queen that the stars are falling from the sky. Joined by similarly dissatisfied creatures, she discovers that her quest is driven more by ego than by purpose. The book endures as a charming, if stern, reflection on the Victorian obsession with social order and personal contentment.

The Story

The narrative begins shortly after Miss Peck parts ways with the conceited pig, Wilful, during their shared attempt to reach the Queen’s palace. Alone in the dark and feeling unappreciated, Miss Peck is convinced that her "delicate health" and superior intelligence entitle her to a life beyond the drudgery of the henhouse. Her journey is interrupted by a terrifying encounter with two "giants," which turn out to be merely yew trees; she is rescued by a rooster named Cockielockie. Seeking companionship and validation, she invites Cockielockie to join her mission. He is eager to escape his own bickering family and his domineering wife, Mrs. Cockielockie, and finds the prospect of royal society highly appealing.

As they continue down the lane, they encounter a depressed duck named Duckiedaddles. She is distraught because her ducklings have been "stolen" by a proud hen, Mrs. Topknot, who insists on raising them according to chicken customs. Driven by grief and a flair for the dramatic, Duckiedaddles threatens to hang herself in a well-rope, but Miss Peck and Cockielockie convince her that a royal audience is a better solution to her woes. The trio is then joined by a goose named Goosiepoosie, who is on her own misguided mission to petition the Queen for permission to change her family’s white feathers to black, believing this will elevate their social status above the "upstart" turkeys.

The group’s progress is abruptly halted by the arrival of a carrier’s cart. In the ensuing confusion, Miss Peck is struck by a wheel, breaking her leg. She disappears from the narrative, and it is implied she suffers a grim fate. Duckiedaddles, stunned by the collision, eventually finds her way to a new pond, only to eventually succumb to the same fate as her ducklings—being taken to the "great table" for a human meal. Goosiepoosie, frightened by the encounter, returns home and convinces her family to abandon their petition, resigning themselves to their traditional white coats.

Cockielockie is left to wander a copse, eventually encountering the same cat who had previously mocked his family’s domestic struggles. The cat advises him to return home, noting that the Queen has no interest in the trivial concerns of farm animals. Cockielockie returns to his yew-tree, living a quiet, unremarkable life thereafter. The Queen is never informed of the falling stars, and the world continues on exactly as before, proving that the animals' attempts to alter their lot in life were entirely futile.

How It Unfolds

The departure Miss Peck sets off on her journey, brooding over the perceived slights of her daily life and convinced she is destined for greater things. She revels in her solitude, believing her mission is far more important than the mundane activities of her fellow poultry.

The chance meeting Terrified by the shadow of yew trees, Miss Peck meets Cockielockie, who is looking for a reason to escape his domestic unhappiness. They bond over their shared sense of martyrdom and decide to travel to the Queen’s house together.

The gathering of the disgruntled The pair encounters a despondent duck and an ambitious goose, both of whom possess their own grievances regarding their social status and family obligations. They are easily persuaded that the Queen holds the solution to their various personal frustrations.

The sudden tragedy A passing cart disrupts the travelers, leading to a chaotic scene that scatters the group. The injury of Miss Peck serves as the turning point, marking the definitive failure of their collective, self-serving quest.

The quiet return Each survivor learns that the world outside their farm is indifferent to their complaints. Having failed to reach the palace or secure a higher station, they return to the fold, accepting that their original lives were, in fact, sufficient.

The People

Miss Peck is a neurotic, status-conscious hen who believes her "delicate health" makes her special. She desires recognition and protection, viewing her journey to the Queen as a way to prove her worth, yet her pride blinds her to the simple realities of the farm.

Cockielockie is a vain rooster who values his own importance above his duties to his family. He wants to escape the perceived tyranny of his wife and daughters, but his reliance on the cat’s advice reveals his underlying lack of true character.

Duckiedaddles is a mother duck driven by a sense of loss and victimhood. She seeks external intervention to solve her domestic conflicts, ultimately finding that her search for a better life leads only to the same dangers she hoped to avoid.

Goosiepoosie represents the social climber. She is dissatisfied with her family’s traditions and believes that changing her outward appearance will grant her higher status, a delusion that leads her to waste time on a fruitless errand.

In Its Own Voice

“I am sure if it were not for the early walk into the rick-pen, which I make a point of taking every morning, and the little bit of support that I get there, I should be dead with hunger long before breakfast time.”

Miss Peck describes her daily life, revealing her tendency to view herself as the victim of her environment.

“I am going to beg the Queen to give an order for our having in future black coats, which will be much more becoming, and will entitle us to as high a place in society as the Turkey family.”

Goosiepoosie explains her ridiculous motivation for seeking out the Queen, illustrating the absurdity of her social aspirations.

What It's Really About

The book is a direct critique of the "meddlesome" desire to rise above one’s natural sphere. It posits that dissatisfaction is a choice made by those who are too self-absorbed to appreciate their own station. By linking the animals' personal complaints to the "falling of the stars," the author mocks the way individuals inflate their minor problems into existential crises. The underlying argument is one of social conservatism: duty, tradition, and accepting one's place are presented as the only pathways to safety. The central question is whether the pursuit of change is a noble ambition or merely a symptom of vanity, and the book answers with a firm, cautionary "no."

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate the dry, dark humor of early 19th-century moral fables will find much to admire here. The narrative feels like a Victorian precursor to the modern "cautionary tale," where the tone is consistently skeptical of its own protagonists. You will notice the period’s rigid focus on hierarchy and duty, which can feel quite severe; however, this severity is exactly what provides the story’s biting wit. It is a slim, fast-paced read, though modern readers may occasionally stumble over the antiquated phrasing and the unapologetic cruelty of the ending.

The book remains surprisingly effective at capturing that universal human tendency to blame the world for one's own unhappiness. If you have ever felt that your life was being held back by "Jem the carter" or some other external force, you might find the animals' foolishness both recognizable and deeply uncomfortable. It is a cold drink of water for those who prefer their stories without the comfort of a happy ending, leaving you with a lingering sense that the world is indifferent to your complaints, and that perhaps, as the cat suggests, you should just go home and mind your business.