Rowlandson Delin. 1819.
“Curds and Whey!”
up separately or in fitful chorus by the men and women of a travelling store. The Flemish “Buy a Broom” criers, whose trade is gone, generally went in couples or threes. Their figures are described by Hone as exactly miniatured in the unpainted wooden doll, shaped the same before and behind, and sold in the toy shops for the amusement of the little ones. In the comedy of “The Three Ladies of London,” printed in quarto in Queen Elizabeth’s reign (A.D. 1584), is this passage:—
“Enter Conscience with brooms at her back, singing as follows:—
New brooms, green brooms, will you buy any?
Maydens come quickly, let me take a penny.”
Hot rolls, which were sold at one and two a penny, were carried during the summer months between the hours of 8 and 9 in the morning, and from 4 to 6 in the afternoon.
Let Fame puff her trumpet, for muffin and crumpet,
They cannot compare with my dainty hot rolls;
When mornings are chilly, sweet Fanny, young Billy,
Your hearts they will comfort, my gay little souls.
Muffins and crumpets were then, as now, principally cried during the winter months.
Hot pudding, sweet, heavy and indigestible, was sold in halfpenny slabs.