The Crossing Sweeper by Felix Leigh
The Crossing Sweeper is a novel by Felix Leigh that follows the story of a young woman named Eliza, who is a crossing sweeper in Victorian London. Eliza is a poor girl who works as a crossing sweeper, helping people cross the street for a few pennies. Despite her poverty, Eliza is determined to make something of her life and dreams of a better future. When Eliza meets a wealthy gentleman, she is offered a chance to escape her life of poverty and become a lady. But Eliza soon discovers that the path to a better life is not as easy as she thought. She must face the harsh realities of Victorian society and the dangers of the city streets. Along the way, Eliza learns valuable lessons about friendship, loyalty, and the power of hope. The Crossing Sweeper is a heartwarming story of a young woman's journey to find her place in the world. It is a story of courage, resilience, and the power of dreams.
By Felix Leigh · First published 1883 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Romance · 137 words
First lines
He is weak and old, and he feels the cold,
But a nice clean path he keeps, For passengers all, both great and small, As the mud to each side he sweeps. The people stare, in London Town, At his turban rare, and his face so brown, But the poor old Hindoo does not mind, So long as a coin for him they find. And he nods and smiles, as he sweeps away, As if to the passer-by he'd say, -- "Think of your shining boots and shoes, And a copper to me you can't refuse. For each penny I get I sweep the faster -- Ah! thank you, Thank you, Kind young master!"
What this Textopian page supports
The Crossing Sweeper is listed on Textopian as a short story by Felix Leigh, dated 1883 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Felix Leigh
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Romance, Adventure
- Length: 137 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Crossing Sweeper by Felix Leigh
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Crossing Sweeper?
- How does this short story by Felix Leigh fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The Crossing Sweeper is set in Victorian England and follows the story of a young girl who works as a crossing sweeper, a job that was common during this time period.
- Coming of Age — The Crossing Sweeper follows the protagonist's journey of self-discovery and growth as she navigates the challenges of life in Victorian England.
- Romance — The Crossing Sweeper features a romantic subplot between the protagonist and a young man she meets during her journey.
- Adventure — The Crossing Sweeper follows the protagonist's adventures as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and exploration.
Tags
Children's Picture Books · Children's poetry · English · Juvenile poetry · London (England) · boots · brown · children's poetry, english · clean · coin · cold · copper