“I don’t know what induced me to take that crossing, except it was that
no one was there, and the traffic was so good--fact is, the traffic is
too good, and people won’t stop as they cross over, they’re very glad
to get out of the way of the cabs and the omnibuses.
“Tradespeople never give me anything--not even a bit of bread. The
only thing I get is a few cuttings, such as crusts of sandwiches and
remains of cheese, from the public-house at the corner of the court.
The tradespeople are as distant to me now as they were when I came, but
if I should pitch up a tale I should soon get acquainted with them.
“We have lived in this lodging two years and a half, and we pay
one-and-ninepence a-week, as you may see from the rent-book, and that I
manage to earn on Sundays. We owe four weeks now, and, thank God, it’s
no more.
“I was born, sir, in ---- street, Berkeley-square, at Lord ----’s
house, when my mother was minding the house. I have been used to London
all my life, but not to this part; I have always been at the west-end,
which is what I call the best end.
“I did not like the idea of crossing-sweeping at first, till I reasoned
with myself, Why should I mind? I’m not doing any hurt to anybody. I
don’t care at all now--I know I’m doing what I ought to do.
“A man had better be killed out of the way than be disabled. It’s not
pleasant to know that my wife is suckling that great child, and, though
she is so weakly, she can’t get no meat.
[Illustration: THE ONE-LEGGED SWEEPER AT CHANCERY-LANE.
[_From a Photograph._]]
“I’ve been knocked down twice, sir--both times by cabs. The last time
it was a fortnight before I could get about comfortably again. The fool
of a fellow was coming along, not looking at his horse, but talking
to somebody on the cab-rank. The place was as free as this room, if
he had only been looking before him. Nobody hollered till I was down,
but plenty hollered then. Ah, I often notice such carelessness--it’s
really shameful. I don’t think those ‘shofuls’ (Hansoms) should be
allowed--the fact is, if the driver is not a tall man he can’t see his
horse’s head.
“A nasty place is end of ---- street: it narrows so suddenly. There’s
more confusion and more bother about it than any place in London. When
two cabs gets in at once, one one way and one the other, there’s sure
to be a row to know which was the first in.”