Crossing-sweeper

There was one giant — a black 'un — as left his carawan some year ago and took to carrying coach-bills about London, making himself as cheap as crossing-sweepers.

But the streets were also a place of work: for the humble crossing-sweeper, for example, who tried to ensure, in return for a tip, that when persons of quality crossed the road they did so without having to pick their way through dust, mud and horse dung.