 only Jarley« - »Jarley's unrivalled collection« - »Jarley is the delight of
the Nobility and Gentry« - »The Royal Family are the patrons of Jarley.« When
she had exhibited these leviathans of public announcement to the astonished
child, she brought forth specimens of the lesser fry in the shape of handbills,
some of which were couched in the form of parodies on popular melodies, as
»Believe me if all Jarley's wax-work so rare« - »I saw thy show in youthful
prime« - »Over the water to Jarley;« while, to consult all tastes, others were
composed with a view to the lighter and more facetious spirits, as a parody on
the favourite of »If I had a donkey,« beginning
 
If I know'd a donkey wot wouldn't go
To see Mrs. JARLEY'S wax-work show,
Do you think I'd acknowledge him?
Oh no no!
Then run to Jarley's -
 
- besides several compositions in prose, purporting to be dialogues between the
Emperor of China and an oyster, or the Archbishop of Canterbury and a dissenter
on the subject of church-rates, but all having the same moral, namely, that the
reader must make haste to Jarley's, and that children and servants were admitted
at half-price. When she had brought all these testimonials of her important
position in society to bear upon her young companion, Mrs. Jarley rolled them
up, and having put them carefully away, sat down again, and looked at the child
in triumph.
    »Never go into the company of a filthy Punch any more,« said Mrs. Jarley,
»after this.«
    »I never saw any wax-work, ma'am,« said Nell. »Is it funnier than Punch?«
    »Funnier!« said Mrs. Jarley in a shrill voice. »It is not funny at all.«
    »Oh!« said Nell, with all possible humility.
    »It isn't funny at all,« repeated Mrs. Jarley. »It's calm and - what's that
word again - critical? - no - classical, that's it - it's calm and classical. No
low beatings and knockings about, no jokings and squeakings like your precious
Punches, but always the same, with a constantly unchanging air of coldness and
gentility; and so like life, that if wax-work only spoke and walked about, you'd
hardly know the difference. I won't go so far as
