slily to slip a half crown into the end of a certain pint, and
hand it forward to bear the scrutiny; a bystander, who watched the trick,
a moment after laid his finger on the identical pint and begged to
purchase it, resisting all evasion on the part of the discomfited
saleswoman, who, compelled to submit, turned out eventually the "biter
bit."

Thronging around this neighbourhood, and proffering their services with
most assiduous perseverance, are a host of most amiable-looking porter
women, liveried in white aprons and sleeves, with a pair of huge peck
baskets dangling on their arms. Tumbling, and bumping, and jostling
among them, drowning their pleadings in a deafening chorus of discordant
cries, come the itinerant venders of small wares--"lucifers three boxes a
penny," "cabbage-nets only a penny," "reels of cotton two for a penny,"
little dangling bunches of skewers, ranged in progressive order on queer
and mysteriously twisted holders, that seem designed to puzzle any
mechanical skill to get them off again, "only a penny;" laces, and
saucepans, and stationery, and kettles, thrust into notice as though
haberdashers, and tinmen, and stationers were simultaneously rushing off
to the gold diggings, and disposing of their goods piecemeal by auction.
Ere the next range of stalls may be explored, the pathway is obstructed
by some "literate" specimen of the blind, with an attendant concourse of
listeners eagerly drinking in the titles of his sheet of hundred songs
for a penny. "There's a good time coming," "All's lost now," "My bark is
on the shore," and "I'm on the Sea," &c. &c.; or should any great tragedy
or judicial murder have occurred recently, to furnish him with a still
more profitable stock in trade, such as a "last dying speech and
confession," or "full, true, and particular account" of some "shocking
and brutal outrage," somewhat may be seen and heard of how the minds and
tastes of the ignorant are vitiated, and the morbid cravings of diseased
imaginations fed; and the hawker of this food for the million, forms
living evidence that the eye is not the only member through whose aid
vice may gain entrance to the soul. But there is little time or
opportunity to philosophize amid the din of importunity that is ringing
upon the ears, "What d'ye luke for? fine guse? butifull fowill?" And
there stands one who claims especial notice--the merry bacon woman, amid
her throng of earnest customers. There she stands, or r