nd privations, with
the assurance that they would certainly meet with a kindly sympathy and
a word of comfort, in addition to as much practical assistance in their
adversity and physical consolation in their need as "little" Miss
Pimpernell--that was the fond title she was always known by--could
compass or give.

The worst of it was, that she was in such general request, that we had
to make up our minds to lose her sometimes.

Of course it was a selfish consideration, but we missed her and grumbled
at her visits and absences sadly; for, when she was away, everything
appeared to go wrong in the parish. Still none, knowing the
gratification that her ministrations gave her, would have grudged her
their indulgence.

She was never so happy as when she was helping somebody; and, of course,
people took advantage of her weakness, and were merciless in their calls
upon her time.

Whenever the most distant cousin or stray relative happened to be ill--
or about to move into a new house, or be married, or increase the
population in defiance of Malthus, or depart from the pomps and vanities
of this wicked world--as sure as possible would Miss Pimpernell be sent
for post haste. She had, as a matter of course, to nurse the patient,
assist the flitting, accelerate the wedding, welcome the little
stranger, or console the mourners as the case might be.

We, the inhabitants of the suburb which she blessed with her presence,
thought all this a gross infringement of our rights in her possession,
although we welcomed the dear old lady all the more gladly when we got
her back again amongst us once more.

As for confidences, I believe she had the skeleton secret of every soul
in the place confided to her sacred keeping at some one time or other;
and love stories! why, she must have been cram full of them--from the
heart-breaking affair of poor little Polly Skittles, the laundress'
pretty daughter, up to Baby Blake's last flirtation.

What her brother would have done without her, it would be impossible to
tell. She had quite as much to do with the parish as he; and, I'm sure,
if little Miss Pimpernell had not kept house for him and minded all his
temporal affairs, he would never have known what to eat or drink, or
what to put on.

The vicar had lost his wife soon after his marriage, when he was quite a
young man; but, instead of being bowed down by his affliction, as might
have been the case with a good many ardent natures like his