“The Little Chimney Sweep”
Description
A chimney sweep steals the child while his mother spins. After three years, the child is not found. The sweep returns and is hired by the woman; when his boy appears, she recognizes him. Women are warned to keep their children close at hand
Notes
The resemblance of this song to "The Little Lost Child" (composed 1894) is sufficient that I strongly suspect the author of the latter was familiar with "The Little Chimney Sweep", also known as "The Lost Child Found." According to MacColl & Seeger, it was quite popular among 19th-century broadside printers. - PJS
Cross references
- cf. "The Little Lost Child" (plot)
References
- MacSeegTrav 124, "The Little Chimney Sweep" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #1549
- BI, McCST124