The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-12-15


But there was one cry, generally OF
the early morning, that was tull of
mournful suggestion to every kind
heart. This was "Sweep, sweepI for
it meant that some miserable ''climb-
ing-bcy" was ready to perform his
painful and often dangerous task.
remember such poor boys very well,
but always as thin, halt-starved crsa-
lures, with only some light sooty rail-
ment; and L think it was with bare feet
they always climbed. They were
obliged TO prove that they mounted to
the op of the chimney by thrusting
their brush out Of the chinney-pot, the
master sweep going into the street to
watch ior the sign of achievement.
Often and often these poor little crea-
lures came down the chimney bleeding
at the knees and elbows, and nearly
always, / think, IN tears. The poor
little sweep was held up as an object OF
compassion to happier children, who,
hope, sometimes saved bit of cake
or penny to give him. a.F'f
Since machines have happily super
seded climbing-boys, class of people
certainly superior to the old chimney
sweeps have taken up the business.
and, as consequence, the mummeries
of the sweeps on the first of every May
nave been very much abated. But
these mummeries are said to have had
their origin in romantic story, which,
whether literally true or not, was very
characteristic and quite believed iii by
multitude of people when ! was
child.
1t was said that about the middle of
the eighteenth century a little boy of
noble birth was lost by his nurse in
London streets, probably stolen for the
sake OF the rich clothing he wore. The
child was of tender age, only about
three or four years old, and though
every effort was made to recover him
tune passed on without any tldings OF
the boy reaching the bereaved parents.
One first of May, however, fine Londl
on house was undergoing the process
known as spring. cleaning, when, OF
course, chimneys must be swept, and
miserable, ragged little climbing-boy,
OF eight or nine years old, was intro
duced into the drawing-room for the
purpose of executing his allotted task,
We can imagine that, accompanied by
his master, he had no time. to look
around the room before entering the
dark chimney; but 4 it would appear
that he descended little sooner than
expected and found himself alene in the
spacious apartment, When he was
discovered the chlld was in a food OF
tears, yet gazing through them on 8
portrait of lady which hung ON the
wall. On being interrogated, he ex-
claimed:
81 know that picture-it is my
motheal'
Perhaps the child remembered other
\ things which served to convince his
parents of his identity; or perhaps
there was family likeness winch per-
suaded them. However this might be,
they were satisfied that they had re-
covered their lost darling, and rescued
HIM at once from his bondage. So the
tale runs; though / never heard what
account the master sweep gave of his
acquaintance with the poor child, But
kidnapping was a not uncommon crime
in those days; and it is to be feared,
when q little boy was brought to a
master sweep to be apprenticed, few
questions were asked.
1t was said to bs in commemoration
of the rescue of this child from his
cruel servltude that for many years the
: first of May was kept as festival by
London chimney-sweepers. The Mrs.
J Montague of blue-stocking celebrity
used annually to entei tam all the little
ehimney-sweepers in London, inviting
, them to her own mansion and garden,
wishing them, as she said, to enjoy one
! happy day In the year. But sooner OF
: later an end comes to such observances,
: and when the Montague hospitality
: ceased the May-day merry-making OF
the sooty fraternity seemed mainly to
consist i'll the Jack-in-the-green mum
: meries, tambour beating and grotesque
) tinery of the groups who paraded the
streets, begging for pence with as
. little shame as a few days previously
: they had at houses for cast Oft feathers
) and flowers and ribbons, or in fact any
I sort of articles which could be utilized
> for tawdy display, Playing at Jack.
ln-the-green and dancing about London
: streets for many hours must have beer
: nearly as hard work as sweeping chin
! neys; but fancy the sweeps picked uI
: good deal OF money by their May-day
} frolics. and for once in the year were
, seen with washed fases. 1t was general
ly a woman bedizened with trampery
finery who went about to the by-stand
ers, extending great ladle to collect
coppers,