Another who got Permission to Sweep.
An old Irishman, who comes from Cork, was spoken of to us as a crossing-sweeper who had formally obtained permission before exercising his calling; but I found, upon questioning him, that it was but little more than a true Hibernian piece of conciliation on his part; and, indeed, that out of fear of competition, he had asked leave of the servants and policeman in the neighbourhood.
It seems somewhat curious, as illustrative of the rights of property among crossing-sweepers, that three or four “intending” sweepers, when they found themselves forestalled by the old man in question, had no idea of supplanting the Irishman, and merely remarked,—
“Well, you’re lucky to get it so soon, for we meant to take it.”
In reply to our questions, the man said,—
“I came here in January last: I knew the old man was did who used to keep the crossin’, and I thought I would like the kind of worruk, for I am getting blind, and hard of hearing likewise. I’ve got no parish; since the passing of the last Act, I’ve niver lived long enough in any one parish for that. I applied to Marabone, and they offered to sind me back to Ireland, but I’d got no one to go to, no friends or relations, or if I have, they’re as poor there as I am mysilf, sir.
“There was an ould man here before me. He used to have a stool to rest himsilf on, and whin he died, last Christmas, a man as knew him and me asked me whither I would take it or no, and I said I would. His broom and stool were in the coal-cellar at this corner house, Mr. ——’s, where he used to leave them at night times, and they gave them up to me; but I didn’t use the stool, sir, it might be an obsthruction to the passers-by; and, sir, it looks as if it was infirrumity. But, plaise the Lord, I’ll git and make a stool for myself against the hard winter, I will, bein’ a carpenter by thrade.
“I didn’t ask the gintlefolks’ permission to come here, but I asked the police and the servants, and such as that. I asked the servants at the corner-house. I don’t know whither they could have kept me away if I had not asked. Soon after I came here the gintlefolks—some of them—stopped and spoke to me. ‘So,’ says they, ‘you’ve taken the place of the old man that’s did?’ ‘Yes, I have,’ says I. ‘Very will,’ says they, and they give me a ha’penny. That was all that occurred upon my takin’ to the crossin’.
“But there were some others who would have taken it if I had not; they tould me I was lucky in gettin’ it so soon, or they would have had it, but I don’t know who they are.
“I am seventy-three years ould the 2d of June last. My wife is about the same age, and very much afflicted with the rheumatis, and she injured hersilf, too, years ago, by fallin’ off a chair while she was takin’ some clothes off the line.