But, was it the maidens of humble life only, who soothed, consoled, and supported him?
No! 'He was always first oars with the fine city ladies.' (Immense cheering.) The soft sex to a man--he begged pardon, to a female--rallied round the young waterman, and turned with disgust from the drinker of spirits (cheers).

The Brick Lane Branch brothers were watermen (cheers and laughter).

That room was their boat; that audience were the maidens; and he (Mr.Anthony Humm), however unworthily, was 'first oars' (unbounded applause).
'Wot does he mean by the soft sex, Sammy ?' inquired Mr.Weller, in a whisper.
'The womin,' said Sam, in the same tone.
'He ain't far out there, Sammy,' replied Mr.Weller; 'they MUST be a soft sex--a wery soft sex, indeed--if they let themselves be gammoned by such fellers as him.' Any further observations from the indignant old gentleman were cut short by the announcement of the song, which Mr.Anthony Humm gave out two lines at a time, for the information of such of his hearers as were unacquainted with the legend.

While it was being sung, the little man with the drab shorts disappeared; he returned immediately on its conclusion, and whispered Mr.Anthony Humm, with a face of the deepest importance.

'My friends,' said Mr.Humm, holding up his hand in a deprecatory manner, to bespeak the silence of such of the stout old ladies as were yet a line or two behind; 'my friends, a delegate from the Dorking Branch of our society, Brother Stiggins, attends below.' Out came the pocket-handkerchiefs again, in greater force than ever; for Mr.Stiggins was excessively popular among the female constituency of Brick Lane.
'He may approach, I think,' said Mr.Humm, looking round him, with a fat smile.