’Twas in the pleasant month of June, their hands and faces clean, The children walking two and two, in red, and blue, and green; Grey-headed beadles walked before, with wands as white as snow, Till into the high dome of St. Paul’s, they, like Thames’ waters, flow. Oh! what a multitude they seem’d, these flowers of London town! Seated in companies they sit, with radiance all their own! The hum of multitudes was there, but multitudes of lambs; Thousands of little boys and girls, raising their innocent hands; Now like a mighty wind they raise to heaven the voice of song, Or like harmonious thunderings, the seats of heav’n among. Beneath them sit the aged men, wise guardians of the poor: Then cherish pity, lest you drive an angel from your door. 75. Highgate Tunnel. [Picture: Highgate Tunnel] This grand excavation was made in 1821, through the eastern side of Highgate-hill, for the purpose of easing the draught of horses in passing in this direction. There is also a grand archway across, over the Tunnel, which connects Highgate with Hornsey. 76. Watering the Streets. [Picture: Watering the streets] London streets, in dry weather, are very dusty; this, when the wind blows briskly, annoys not only the eyes of those who walk, and of those who ride, but spoils the look of many a joint of meat. Pastry-cooks’ and many other shops are much hurt by the dust; so that, at an early hour in the morning, many streets are watered by means of a scoop, and water pent up in the kennels, on each side of the carriageway. 77. Little Boy at the Crossing. [Picture: Little boy at the crossing] That’s right, sweep away there, my good little man, And earn a few halfpence, whenever you can. Many of the crossings in London streets are often very dirty, and some little lads, who prefer doing even a dirty job to being idle, put down a board for the passengers to walk upon, which they sweep clean continually from mud or snow. They do not forget to hold their hats to those who make use of this convenience; and good-natured people seldom fail to drop a halfpenny into them, like the gentleman in the picture. Though some persons may be incommoded by wet weather, yet the poor little street-sweeper, the hackney-coachman, the dealer in umbrellas, and various other tradesmen in London, are much benefited by it; and in the country it is often welcome to the farmer, whose corn and grass are made to grow by the timely succession of wet and dry, heat and cold. 78. The Flower-pot Man. [Picture: The Flower-pot man] Here comes the old man with his flowers to sell, Along the streets merrily going; Full many a year I’ve remember’d him well, With, “_Flowers_, _a growing_, _a blowing_!”