Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-12-28
london Chimney-sweeps in the OIden
Time,


Time.
But there was one cry, generally Of the early
morning, that was full of mournful sugges-
tion to every kind heart This was "Sweep!
sweep" for 1t meant that some miserable
climbing boy" was ready to perform his pain
ful and often dangerous task. l remember
such poor boys very we'll, but always as thin,
haif-starved creatures, with only some slight
sooty raiment; and think il was with bare
feet they always climbed They we're obliged
to prove that they mounted to the top of the
chimney by thrusting their brush out of the
chimney-pot, the master sweep going into the
street to watch for the sign of achievement.
Often and often these poor little creatures
came down the chimney bleeding at knees and
elbows, and nearly always, think, in tears.
The poor little sweep was held up as an OBJ
ject of compassion to happier children, who,
| hope, sometimes saved bit of cake or q
penny to give him.
Since machines have happily superseded
climbing boys a class of people certainly su-
perior to the old chimney.sweepers have taken
up the business, and as a consequence the
mummeries of the London sweeps on the 1st
of every May have very much sbated. But
these mummeres we're said to have had their
origin in a romantic story, which, whether
literally true or not, was very characteristic,
and quite believed in by multitude of peo-
pie when l was a child.
1t was said that about the middle of the
eighteenth century little boy of noble birth
was lost by his nurse in London streets, pro-
badly 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, time
passed on without any tidings of the boy reach
ing the bereaved parents. One 1st of May,
however, fine house was undergoing the
process known as spring cleaning when, of
course, chimneys must be swept and a miser-
able ragged little climbing boy of eight or
nine years old was introduced into the draw
ing-room for the purpose of executing his al
lotted task. We can imagine that, accom-
panied by his master, he had no time to look
round the room before entering the dark
chimney; but it would appear that he de-
scended little sooner than was expected, and
found himself alone in the spacious apart
ment. When he was discovered the child
was in floods OF tears, yet gazing through
them on the portrait of a lady which hung on
the wall. On being interrogated he exclaim-
ed II know that picture-it is my mother !"
Perhaps the child remembered other things
which served to convince his parents of his
identity or perhaps there was family like
ness which persuaded them. However this
might be, they were sa tisied that they had
recovered their lost darling, and rescued him
at once from his bondage. SO the tale runs
though never heard what acc cunt the mas
ter sweeper gave of his acquaintance with the
poor child. But kidnapping was not an un.
common crime in those days; and it is to be
feared, when a little boy was brought to a
master sweeper to be apprenticed. few ques-
tions were asked. 1t is said to be in com.
memoration of the rescue of this ohild from
his cruel servitude that for very many years
the LIST of May was kept as a festival by Lon
don chimney