University of Virginia Library



“RAGS! RAGS! ANY RAGS TO SELL?”

Scorn not the rag-man's poor employ!
This very page, his form revealing,
Where now thy young eyes rest in joy,
Was formed from bits like those he's wheeling.
Those “airy nothings” yet may turn,
To some rare page of song or sermon,
Where “thoughts that breathe and words that burn,”
May charm you, when you're grown a woman.
 

The Rag-man goes about the city with a hand-cart and bells, purchasing Rags. As quantities of Rags are imported from countries on the Mediterranean, every family should be prudent and save them. Paper of all kinds is made in the United States.


5

“SWEEP! SWEEP! O!”

Sweep! Sweep! in rags and cold,
The poor—the lonely sweep behold!
Yet even he—tho' dark his way—
Tho' half his life shut out from day—
Tho' pain and want go hand in hand,
With him—the wanderer thro' the land—
May hold some ray from Heaven, within,
To guard his heart from grief and sin.
 

It is indispensable that chimneys should be swept often and thoroughly, as a provision against fire. The poor sweep, therefore, as he follows a useful and indispensable occupation, should not only be treated kindly but be also well paid for his labor. In this city the business of sweeping chimneys is confined to colored men and boys, although in London white men and boys are thus employed. There are two kinds of Sweeps in New York, the climbing boys, with brush and scraper, and the patent sweep men, who use machines.


7

THE BAKER'S-MAN.

“One loaf of bread, if you please, sir, to-day—
And half-a-dozen seed-cakes for dear little May.”
Do you think the hidden face, 'neath that funny looking bonnet,
Is worth the long gaze that the baker bends upon it?
He looks like a loafer—that crusty young man,—
And his face is a rye face, do all that he can.
 

Early in the morning the Baker's-men are to be seen calling at the dwelling-houses to supply families with bread. The large loaves of Bread are sold at one shilling, and the small ones at five pence or six pence each. These are placed in large baskets, which, being put into long, narrow wagons, are drawn rapidly by one horse, through the streets. The baking of Bread is a profitable business, and many fortunes have been made by it, in this city. It was one of the principal occupations of the first Dutch inhabitants.


9

“SOAP-FAT! SOAP-FAT!”

“Angels and ministers of grace defend us!”
One drop from Helicon,—sweet muses, lend us!—
The angels fly—askance the muses scan!
What could they say about a soap-fat man?
 

The collecting of Soap-Fat (the grease saved from cooked meat) is a business followed principally by Irishmen, and this enables a family to save a considerable sum in the course of a year, by the sale of the soap-fat which accumulates in their kitchen. The object in purchasing it, is to dispose of it again to the manufacturers of soap, which is an extensive business in this city and vicinity. In the more select and fancy scented Soaps, made from refined lard, tallow, oils, &c., Johnson, No. 3, Courtlandt street, has a peculiar method of finishing to perfection and putting up with beauty, the most elegant kinds to be found in the city.


11

THE ICE-MAN!

The Fahrenheit was rising fast,
When down our area steps there passed,
A youth who bore, as in a vice,
A glorious lump of gleaming ice,—
“Ice! Rockland Ice!”
His glance was cool,—his brow above,
Serene and gentle as a dove,
And like the gong for dinner rung,
The tones of that stentorian tongue,
“Ice! Rockland Ice!”
 

What is more refreshing, during the warm days of summer, than a glass of Iced water? To supply this luxury, the Ice-man makes his appearance, with his cart, early in the morning. The supply of Ice, for New York, is chiefly brought from the Lakes in Rockland, and other counties, on the North River.


13

THE SCISSORS GRINDER.

“Scissors to grind! Scissors and knives!
Send out your scissors, ye thrifty housewives!”
Tinkle! linkle! goes the bell!
He will grind them bright and well,
Well to clip the broidery thread,
Or the curls, that grace y'r head—
“There my lady! look at those!”
Tinkle! linkle! on he goes.
 

No one likes a dull knife, or pair of scissors. The man, therefore, who goes round with his small grindstone, striking a bell, has many a customer. The grindstone is turned by a lathe, worked with the foot, and the knife or scissors being thus soon sharpened, the sixpence or shilling is as quickly earned.


15

OYSTER MAN.

He was a phantom of a fright,
When first he burst upon my sight,
A ragged apparition lent
To charm away my latest cent!
His eyes like bits of charcoal were,
Like charcoal too, his dusky hair;
But all things else about him drawn,
From dust and mud and ways forlorn;
A wondrous shape—a lump of clay—
To haunt—to startle—and waylay!
 

The Bays of Long Island, Staten Island and New Jersey, abound in Oysters, which are taken by men in boats, who raise the Oysters by means of tongs, shaped like two rakes. It is estimated that one and a half million of dollars are paid for Oysters in one year by the citizens of New York.


17

STRAWBERRY GIRL.

“Strawberries! Strawberries! fine, ripe and red!
As your lips, little lady, that smile at the sight,”
See how the glow from that sad face has fled!
Buy—buy her Strawberries! buy ere the night!
 

Strawberries are among the earliest, as well as the most delicious fruits with which we are favored. In the month of June this welcome fruit makes its appearance in the markets, soon after which the Strawberry girls are seen with their large baskets, filled with smaller ones, in which the tempting fruit is placed, carefully covered with fresh green leaves. Four or five of these small baskets are required to make a quart. The early price is twenty-five cents the basket, which is reduced, as they become plenty, to five or six cents. The season of Strawberries, which lasts but three or four weeks, is followed by that of Raspberries, Blackberries and Whortleberries.


19

THE NEWSBOY.

“Sun! Herald! Tribune! Here they are!”
With all the news, and more than all, sir;—
Puffs for the last dramatic star;
And cuts at Mrs. M.'s last ball, sir!
 

The Newspaper Boys have become a numerous class in this city, and may be seen, daily, in all parts of the city, with the morning and evening papers for sale. They also crowd in great numbers around the Steam-Boats, a few moments before they leave the city; and it is a great convenience to have the different Newspapers thus brought on board of the Boats, where passengers may have an opportunity to purchase such as they may choose to read on the passage, or take to their friends. The Newsboys, if industrious and prudent, may make a good living by their business. Their profits are from thirty cents to one dollar on each hundred papers sold.


21

THE RADISH GIRL.

“Radishes! Radishes!” trip, trip along,
You queer little dumpling! with basket and song,
Somebody sure round that corner you'll spy,
Poor little thing—who'll your Radishes buy!
 

Among the first vegetables with which we are supplied in the Spring, are Radishes. They are carried about the streets of the city in baskets by boys and girls, who make known what they have for sale in a shrill voice, which brings the servant maids to the doors. The Radishes, red, purple, or white, as they may be, are put up in small bunches of five or six in each, and sold at from one to two cents a bunch. The supplying of this article, during a part of the Spring and Summer months, affords employment to many boys and girls, and returns considerable sums of money to the gardeners who cultivate them.


23

THE MILKMAN.

“Milluk! Milluk! Milluk ho!
Quick for I can't wait,—here I go!”
“A quart of Milk, good man, I'll take,
'Tis for my little dark-eyed daughter,—
But tell me, sir, for her sweet sake,
Ah! tell me 'tis not Milk and Water!”
 

The shrill cry of the Milkman awakens many persons from their slumbers. The supply of Milk is brought principally from Orange, Rockland and Westchester counties; also, from Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut; a large proportion comes by the Erie Rail Road to Piermont, on the North River, then to the city in Steamboats. The quantity of Milk consumed in this city in one year, is estimated to be nearly twenty millions of quarts, valued at about one million of dollars.


25

“RIDE UP! BROADWAY!”

'Tis the last 'bus in Broadway,
Left waiting alone,
All its reckless companions
Have raced by and gone!
I'll not leave thee—thou lone one!
My walk to condemn,
Since the Empire Line's racing,
Go! race thou with them!
 

About twenty years ago, there was only one line of Stages running to and from the lower part of the city, to the suburbs on this island. Now numerous Lines of Stages, called Omnibuses, are constantly running through the great thoroughfares. The number of Omnibuses, at present, is 248, of which 134 run in Broadway. They have seats for from ten to twenty persons each; and their average receipts, for passengers, at six pence each, are from 8 to $10 per day.


27

“MATCHES! MATCHES!”

I saw him upon nearer view,
A beggar, yet a Match-boy too,
His ready fingers light and free,
And tricks of playful liberty,
A countenance, in which behold
Bold pleadings, promises as bold!
A creature not too bright or pure.
A little watching to endure,
For transient pilferings, simple wiles,
Rags, dirt, fun, flogging, cries and smiles!
 

The making and selling of Matches affords employment to a large number of persons. Many are, sold by boys at one cent per box. The “Premium Washington Round Friction Matches,” made by Jacobs, 100 West Eighteenth st., are quite celebrated. They are sold at Johnson's, 3 Cortlandt st., Barnes & McKeachnie, 255 Pearl, and by Williams, Mabee & Jones, 83 Maiden Lane.


29

ICE CREAM MAN.

“Ice Cream! Ice Cream!” that fact is very plain—
We hear you scream—don't tell us so again!
 

This well-known and agreeable luxury is particularly acceptable during the hot sultry weather in July and August; indeed it is esteemed by many as a desirable luxury at all seasons. Besides the numerous confectionaries and gardens where it is sold, and which are much patronised by citizens in the summer evenings, some who are not particular as to the quality of this article, are supplied by colored men who take it round the city in covered pails. Gardens where Ice Cream is sold, have been known in this city for at least half a century.

Much of the Ice Cream, however, sold in this city, is in truth Ice Milk merely; which shows the difficulty of obtaining cream. How seldom is it that a New Yorker enjoys that luxury in either tea or coffee!


31

FISHERMAN.

“Porgies! Porgies and Mackerel! ho!
Don't touch the fish, Johnny! whoa! Dobbin! whoa!
Fresh from the water, ma'am, half an hour ago!
Don't contradict! Johnny! whoa! Dobbin! whoa!”
 

Although the markets in various parts of the city are plentifully supplied with Fish, yet to families not favorably situated for going to market, the cries of the Fisherman, in the streets, are frequently welcome. During the Spring months, we have an abundance of Shad, Mackerel and Codfish, at reasonable prices; Salmon, however, is brought, packed in ice, from the Eastern States, and is the most expensive fish in the market. The Summer is the season of Halibut from the East, while Blackfish, Bass, Porgies, Weakfish, Bluefish, Eels, Flounders, Trout, and other fish, are supplied from the bays and rivers in the vicinity of New York.