when the chimney sweepers stop daydreaming and continue cleaning the chimneys. In the last stanza, Blake shows still inner optimism in the young sweeps, even as they buckle back down to do work that sends shivers down their spine. In some way, the ending sends out the message that even th...
law in 1834 prohibiting children younger than 10 years to work, and children younger than 14 years to be engaged in cleaning chimneys. In 1840, the law changed and the minimum age of apprenticeship for chimney sweeps was 16 years. However, as with previous legislation, these age thresholds we...