ilikeomeeasweep——undersandme——noagrownsweeper——oldchimneysweepersarebynomeansaracive——buoneofhoseendernovices,bloominghroughheirfirsnigriude,hemaernalwashingsnoquieeffacedfromhecheek——suchaseforhwihhedawn,orsomewhaearlier,wihheirlileprofessionalnoessoundinglikehepeeppeepofayoungsparrow;orlikerohemainrkshouldipronouncehem,inheiraeriascensnoseldomanicipainghesunrise?

ihaveakindlyyearningowardshesedimspecks——poorblos——i

ocenbcknesses

ireverenceheseyoungafricansofourowngrowh——hesealmosclergyimps,whosporheirclohwihouassumpion;andfromheirlilepulpis(heopsofchimneys),inhenippingairofadecembermorning,preachalessonofpaienceomankind

whenachild,whaamyseriouspleasureiwasowinessheiroperaion!oseeachinobiggerhanonesselfener,oneknewnobywhaprocess,inowhaseemedhefaucesaverni——opursuehiminimaginaion,ashewensoundingonhroughsomanydarksiflingcaverns,horridshades——oshudderwihheideaha”now,surely,hemusbelosforever!”——oreviveahearinghisfeebleshouofdiscovereddayligh——andhen(ofulnessofdeligh)ru

ingouofdoors,oejusinimeoseehesablephenomenonemergeinsafey,hebrandishedweaponofhisarvicoriouslikesomefgwavedoveraconqueredciadel!iseemorememberhavingbeenold,haabadsweepwasoncelefinasackwihhisbrush,oindicaewhichwayhewindblewiwasanawfulspecaclecerainly;nomuchunlikeheoldsagedirecioninmacbeh,wherehe”appariionofachildcrownedwihareeinhishandrises”

reader,ifhoumeeesoneofhesesmallgenryinhyearlyrambles,iisgoodogivehimape

yiisbeerogivehimwopenceifibesarvingweaher,andoheproperroublesofhishardoccupaion,apairofkibedheels(nounusuacpanimen)besuperadded,hedemandonhyhumaniywillsurelyriseoaeser

hereisaposiion,hegroundworkofwhichihaveundersoodobehesweewoodyclepsassafrashiswoodboileddownoakindofea,andemperedwihaninfusionofmilkandsugar,hahosomeasesadelicacybeyondhechinaluxuryiknownohowhypaemayrelishi;formyself,wiheverydeferenceohejudiciousmrread,whohahimeouofmindkepopenashop(heonlyoneheaversinlondon)forhevendingofhis”wholesomeandpleasanbeverage,onhesouhsideoffleesree,ashouapproachesbridgesree——heonlysalopianhouse,——ihaveneveryeadvenuredodipmyownparicurlipinabasinofhismendedingredien——acauiouspremoniionoheolfacoriesconsanlywhisperingome,hamysomachmusinfallibly,wihallduecouresy,declineiyeihaveseenpaes,oherwisenouninsrucedindieeicalelegances,supiupwihavidiy

iknownobywhaparicurconformaionofheorganihappens,buihavealwaysfoundhahisposiionissurprisinglygraifyingohepaeofayoungchimneysweeper——wheherheoilyparicles(sassafrasisslighlyoleaginous)doaenuaeandsofenhefuliginousconcreions,whicharesomeimesfound(indissecions)oadhereoheroofofhemouhinheseunfledgedpraciionersorwhehernaure,sensiblehashehadmingledoomuchofbierwoodinheloofheserawvicims,causedogrowouofheearhhersassafrasforasweeleniivebusoiis,hanopossibleaseorodourohesensesofayoungchimneysweepercanconveyadelicaeexciemenparableohismixurebeingpe

iless,heywillyehangheirbckheadsoverheascendingseam,ograifyonesenseifpossible,seeminglynolesspleasedhanhosedomesicanimals——cas——whenheypurroveranewfoundsprigofvalerianhereissomehingmoreinhesesympahieshanphilosophycaninculcae

nowalbeimrreadboaseh,nowihoureason,hahisisheonlysalopionhouse;yeheiknownohee,reader——ifhouaronewhokeepeswhaarecalledgoodhours,houarhaplyignoranofhefac——hehaharaceofindusriousimiaors,whofromsalls,andunderopensky,dispensehesamesavourymessohumblercusomers,ahadeadimeofhedawn,when(asexremesmee)herake,reelinghomefromhismidnighcups,andhehardhandedarisanleavinghisbedoresumehepremaureboursofheday,josle,nounfrequenlyohemanifesdisconceringofheformer,forhehonoursofhepavemeniisheimewhen,insummer,beweenheexpiredandhenoyereluminedkichenfires,heke

elsofourfairmeropolisgiveforhheirleassaisfacoryodoursherake,whowishehodissipaehisoernighvapoursinmoregraefulcoffee,cursesheungenialfume,ashepasseh;buhearisansopsoase,andblesseshefragranbreakfas

hisissaloop——heprecociousherbwomansdarling——hedelighofheearlygardener,whoransporshissmokingcabbagesbybreakofdayfromhammersmihocovengardensfamedpiazzas——hedeligh,and,ohifear,ooofenheenvy,ofheunpe

iedsweephimshouldeshouhaplyencouner,wihhisdimvisagependenoverhegraefulseam,regalehimwihasumpuousbasin(iwillcosheebuhreehalfpe

ies)andasliceofdelicaebreadandbuer(anaddedhalfpe

y)——somayhyculinaryfires,easedofheoerchargedsecreionsfromhyworsepcedhospialiies,curlupalighervolumeohewelkin——somayhedescendingsooneverainhycoslywellingrediencedsoups——norheodiouscry,quickreachingfromsreeosree,ofhefiredchimney,invieheralingenginesfromenadjacenparishes,odisurbforacasualscinilionhypeaceandpocke!

iambynaureexremelysuscepibleofsreeaffrons;hejeersandaunsofhepopuce;helowbredriumphheydispyoverhecasualrip,orspshedsocking,ofagenlemanyecaniendurehejocuriyofayoungsweepwihsomehingmorehanforgivenessinheswinerbuone,pacingalongcheapsidewihmyaccusomedprecipiaionwheniwalkwesward,areacherousslidebroughmeuponmybackinaninsaniscrambledupwihpainandshameenough——yeouwardlyryingofaceidown,asifnohinghadhappened——whenheroguishgrinofoneofheseyoungwisencouneredmeherehesood,poiningmeouwihhisduskyfingerohemob,andoapoorwoman(isupposehismoher)inparicur,illheearsforheexquisienessofhefun(sohehoughi)workedhemselvesouahecornersofhispoorredeyes,redfrommanyapreviousweeping,andsooinfmed,yewinklinghroughallwihsuchajoy,snachedouofdesoion,hahogarh——buhogarhhasgohimalready(howcouldhemisshim?)inhemarchofinchley,gri

ingahepyeman——herehesood,ashesandsinhepicure,irremovable,asifhejeswasosforever——wihsuchamaximumofglee,andminimumofmischief,inhismirh——forhegrinofagenuinesweephahabsoluelynomaliceini——haicouldhavebeenconen,ifhehonourofagenlemanmighendurei,ohaveremainedhisbuandhismockeryillmidnigh

iambyheoryobduraeoheseducivenessofwhaarecalledafineseofeeheverypairofrosylips(hediesmuspardonme)isacaske,presumablyholdingsuchjewels;bu,mehinks,heyshouldakeleaveo”air”hemasfrugallyaspossiblehefinedy,orfinegenleman,whoshowmeheireeh,showmebonesyemusiconfess,hafromhemouhofaruesweepadispy(evenoosenaion)ofhosewhieandshiningossificaions,srikesmeasanagreeableanomalyinma

ers,andanallowablepieceoffopperyiis,aswhen

asablecloud

urnsforhhersilverliningonhenigh

iislikesomeremnanofgenrynoquieexinc;abadgeofbeerdays;ahinofnobiliy——and,doubless,underheobscuringdarknessanddoublenighofheirforlorndisguisemen,ofenimeslurkehgoodblood,andgenlecondiions,derivedfromlosancesry,andapsedpedigreehepremaureapprenicemensofheseendervicimsgivebuoomuchencouragemen,ifear,ocndesine,andalmosinfanileabducions;heseedsofciviliyandruecouresy,soofendiscernibleinheseyounggrafs(nooherwiseobeaccounedfor)pinlyhinasomeforcedadopions;manynoblerachelsmourningforheirchildren,eveninourdays,counenancehefac;healesoffairyspiriingmayshadowamenableveriy,andherecoveryofheyoungmonagubebuasoliaryinsanceofgoodforune,ouofmanyirreparableandhopelessdefiliaions

inoneofhesaebedsaarundelcasle,afewyearssinceunderaducalcanopy——(haseaofhehowardsisanobjecofcuriosiyovisiors,chieflyforisbeds,inwhichheedukewasespeciallyaco

oisseur)encircledwihcurainsofdelicaescrimson,wihsarrycorosinwoven——foldedbeweenapairofsheeswhierandsoferhanhepwherevenuslulledascaniuswasdiscoveredbychance,aferallmehodsofsearchhadfailed,anoonday,fasasleep,aloschimneysweeperhelilecreaure,havingsomehowconfoundedhispassageamongheinricaciesofhoselordlychimneys,bysomeunknownaperurehadaligheduponhismagnificenchamber;and,iredwihhisediousexploraions,wasunableoresishedeliciousinviemenorepose,whichheheresawexhibied;so,creepingbeweenhesheesveryquiely,idhisbckheaduponhepillow,andsleplikeayounghoward

suchisheaccoungivenohevisiorsahecasle——buica

ohelpseemingoperceiveaconfirmaionofwhaihavejushinedainhissoryahighinsincwasaworkinhecase,oriammisakenisiprobablehaapoorchildofhadescripion,wihwhaeverwearinesshemighbevisied,wouldhavevenured,undersuchapenaly,ashewouldbeaughoexpec,ouncoverhesheesofadukesbed,anddeliberaelyoyhimselfdownbeweenhem,whenherug,orhecarpe,presenedanobviouscouch,sillfarabovehispreension——ishisprobable,iwouldask,ifhegreapowerofnaure,whichiconendfor,hadnobeenmanifesedwihinhim,prompingoheadvenure?doublesshisyoungnobleman(forsuchmymindmisgivesmehahemusbe)wasalluredbysomememory,noamouningofullconsciousness,ofhiscondiionininfancy,whenbewasusedobepbyhismoher,orhisnurse,injussuchsheesasheherefound,inowhichhewasnowbucreepingbackasinohisproperincunabu,andresingpce——bynooherheory,hanbyhissenimenofapreexisensae(asimaycalli),caniexpinadeedsovenurous,and,indeed,anyohersysem,soindecorous,inhisender,buunseasonablesleeper

mypleasanfriendjemwhiewassoimpressedwihabeliefofmeamorphoseslikehisfrequenlyakingpce,hainsomesororeversehewrongsofforuneinhesepoorchangelings,heinsiuedana

ualfeasofchimneysweepers,awhichiwashispleasureoofficiaeashosandwaieriwasasolemnsupperheldinsmihfield,uponheyearlyreurnofhefairofsbarholomewcardswereissuedaweekbeforeohemasersweepsinandabouhemeropolis,confiningheinviaionoheiryoungerfrynowandhenanelderlysriplingwouldgeinamongus,andbegoodnauredlywinkeda;buourmainbodywereinfanryoneunforunaewigh,indeed,who,relyinguponhisduskysui,hadinrudedhimselfinoourpary,bubyokenswasprovideniallydiscoveredinimeobenochimneysweeper(allisnosoowhichlooksso),wasquoiedouofhepresencewihuniversalindignaion,asnohavingonheweddinggarmen;buingeneralhegreaesharmonyprevailedhepcechosenwasaconvenienspoamonghepens,ahenorhsideofhefair,nosofardisanasobeimperviousoheagreeablehubhubofhavaniy;buremoeenoughnoobeobviousoheinerrupionofeverygapingspecaoriniheguessassembledabouseveninhoselileemporaryparlourshreeableswerespreadwihnapery,nosofineassubsanial,andaeveryboardaelyhosesspresidedwihherpanofhissingsausageshenosrilsofheyoungroguesdiedahesavourjameswhie,asheadwaier,hadchargeofhefirsable;andmyself,wihourrusypanionbigod,ordinarilyminiseredoheoherwoherewascmberingandjosling,youmayhesure,whoshouldgeahefirsable——forrocheserinhismaddesdayscouldnohavedohehumoursofhescenewihmorespirihanmyfriendafersomegeneralexpressionofhanksforhehonourhepanyhaddonehim,hisinauguralceremonywasocsphegreasywaisofolddameursu(hefaesofhehree),hasoodfryingandfreing,halfblessing,halfcursing”hegenleman,”andimprinuponherchaselipsaendersalue,whereaheuniversalhoswouldseupashouhaoreheconcave,whilehundredsofgri

ingeehsarledhenighwihheirbrighnessoiwasapleasureoseehesableyounkerslickinheuncuousmea,wihhismoreuncuoussayings——howhewouldfiheibisohepunymouhs,reservinghelenghierlinksforheseniors——howhewouldinercepamorseleveninhejawsofsomeyoungdesperado,decringi”musohepanagainobebrowned,foriwasnofiforagenlemanseaing”——howhewouldremendhissliceofwhiebread,orhapieceofkissingcrus,oaenderjuvenile,advisinghemallohaveacareofcrackingheireeh,whichwereheirbesparimony,howgeneellyhewoulddeabouhesmalle,asifiwerewine,naminghebrewer,andproesing,ifiwerenogood,heshouldloseheircusom;wihaspecialremendaionowipehelipbeforedrinkinghenwehadouroass——”heking,”——he”cloh,”——which,wheherheyundersoodorno,wasequallydiveringandfering;——andforacrowningsenimen,whichneverfailed,”mayhebrushsupersedeheurel!”allhese,andfifyoherfancies,whichwereraherfelhanprehendedbyhisguess,wouldheuer,sandinguponables,andprefacingeverysenimenwiha”genlemen,givemeleaveoproposesoandso,”whichwasaprodigiousforohoseyoungorphans;everynowandhensuffinginohismouh(forididnodoobesqueamishonheseoccasions)indiscriminaepiecesofhosereekingsausages,whichpleasedhemmighily,andwashesavouriespar,youmaybelieve,ofheenerainmen

goldendsandssesmus,

aschimneysweepers,eodus

jameswhieisexinc,andwihhimhesesuppershavelongceasedhecarriedawaywihhimhalfhefunofheworldwhenhedied——ofmyworldaleashisoldclienslookforhimamonghepens;and,missinghim,reproachhealeredfeasofsbarholomew,andhegloryofsmihfielddeparedforever