84 BRAMBLES AND BAY LEAVES. 



The pennant, which the horsewhip symbolized, has ever since been 

 the distinguishing mark of English ships of war.* The custom of 

 hanging out the broom has another meaning in Russia; there it is 

 the custom in the villages for parents who have marriageable and un- 

 betrothed daughters to hoist a broom over the cottage doorway, that 

 the swains may know where to seek for virgins. 



Few associations of the broomstick are more interesting than those 

 of the poor Flanders' peasantry, who a few years ago came to this 

 country in vast numbers to penetrate into every nook and corner of 

 every town in the land with the cry, " Buy a broom ! " There are few 

 of them left, and those few have modern airs and modem dress, which 

 separate them entirely from the upright, short-coated, wooden-featured. 

 ^ Buy-a-brooms " of our infancy. We well remember the favourite 

 ditty, sung in a plaintive voice at the parlour window, or on the 

 doorstep, — 



A large one for a lady, 

 A small one for a baby, 

 Come buy my pretty lady, 



Come buy of me a broom,— 



which touched many a heart, and secured for the singer many a basin 

 of warm soup and lapful of kitchen -pieces, besides some halfpence for 

 the immortal "brooms." In the most squalid wretchedness, con- 

 fined within the precincts of Whitechapel and Petticoat Lane, these 

 modest broom-merchants took up their abode, to sally forth every 

 morning into the genteel squares and by-streets of London, having a 

 bobbing curtsey ready the moment a face was seen at a window, and 

 a song at the first appearance of a child. William Hone published an 

 engraving of them in his inimitable " Year Book," with the following 

 doggrel of his own composition attached to the print : — 



These poor " Buy-a-broom " girls exactly dress now 



As Hollar etched such girls two centuries ago; 



All formal and stiff, with legs only at ease, — 



Yet pray, judge for yourself; and don't if you please, 



Like Matthews's " Chyle," in his Monolo-play, 



Cry " The Every-Day Book is quite right, I dare say." 



But ask for the print at old shops (they'll show it), 



And look at it "with your own eyes," and you'll know it. 



We took Hone's advice, and found they wouldn't "show it" at the 

 * Notes and Queries. 



