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Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 307, 31 December 1909, Page 6

Mr James Seaward, chimney sweep, of Wokingham, Perils, wJho has just been elected an alderman of tha Borough Council, claims to be the original of "Tom" the little sweep-boy of Kingsiey's "Water Babies.' J "I was only six years old when I v/ent up my first chimney," sai«l Mr Seaward. "I v£as an orphan and fell into the hands of a chimney sweep, and a cruel master he ■ was. I .Jja-ve known what-it was to have straw lighted under me and pins stuck into the soles of my feet to force me up the chimney; and I have known, too> what it was to come down covered with blood and soot after climbing ;vvith my knees aaid elJoojvs. No one knows the terrible cruelty inflicted on boys in those days. They* used to be steeped in strong brine to harden their .flesh. Irvmy own'case soda was used. Sometimes I used to have to stay up a difficult chimney five or six hours at a stretch." Mr Seaward has his little joke. He has never smoked and has been a total abstainer for over forty years. "So you see I am still a water baby," he boasts.