Little Chimney Sweep, The

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
AUTHOR: Unknown, possibly a Mr. Upton
EARLIEST DATE: 1962 (collected from William Hughes) -- but a broadside in the Madden collection, possibly called "The Lost Child Found", long predates it
KEYWORDS: reunion abduction crime mother worker children
FOUND IN: Britain(England)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Gardham-EarliestVersions, "LITTLE CHIMNEY SWEEP, THE"
MacColl/Seeger-TravellersSongsFromEnglandAndScotland 124, "The Little Chimney Sweep" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #1549
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Little Lost Child" (plot)
NOTES [52 words]: 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
Last updated in version 6.8
File: McCST121

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