height of her comb, and
the length of her earrings, whom she addressed sometimes as Miss Wolfe,
sometimes as Marianne, and sometimes as Polly, thus multiplying the
young lady's individuality by three; and a little shopman in apron
and sleeves, whom, with equal ingenuity, she called by the several
appellations of Jack, Jonathan, and Mr. Lamb--mister!--but who was
really such a cock-o'-my-thumb as might have been served up in a tureen,
or baked in a pie-dish, without in the slightest degree abridging his
personal dimensions. I have known him quite hidden behind a china jar,
and as completely buried, whilst standing on tip-toe, in a crate, as the
dessert-service which he was engaged in unpacking. Whether this pair
of originals was transferred from a show at a fair to Miss Philips
warehouse, or whether she had picked them up accidentally, first one and
then the other, guided by a fine sense of congruity, as she might match
a wineglass or a tea-cup, must be left to conjecture. Certain they
answered her purpose, as well as if they had been the size of Gog and
Magog; were attentive to the customers, faithful to their employer, and
crept about amongst the china as softly as two mice.

The world went well with Miss Philly Firkin in the shop and out She won
favour in the sight of her betters by a certain prim, demure, simpering
civility, and a power of multiplying herself as well as her little
officials, like Yates or Matthews in a monopolologue, and attending to
half-a-dozen persons at once; whilst she was no less popular amongst her
equals in virtue of her excellent gift in gossiping. Nobody better loved
a gentle tale of scandal, to sweeten a quiet cup of tea. Nobody evinced
a finer talent for picking up whatever news happened to be stirring, or
greater liberality in its diffusion. She was the intelligencer of the
place--a walking chronicle.

In a word, Miss Philly Firkin was certainly a prosperous, and, as times
go, a tolerably happy woman. To be sure, her closest intimates, those
very dear friends, who as our confidence gives them the opportunity, are
so obliging as to watch our weaknesses and report our foibles,--certain
of these bosom companions had been heard to hint, that Miss Philly, who
had refused two or three good matches in her bloom, repented her of this
cruelty, and would probably be found less obdurate now that suitors had
ceased to offer. This, if true, was one hidden grievance, a flitting
shadow upon a sunny de