If you read any of Stevenson's poems at school, you probably already know of Leerie, the lamplighter.
THE LAMPLIGHTER
My tea is nearly ready and the sun has left the sky;
It’s time to take the window to see Leerie going by;
For every night at teatime and before you take your seat,
With lantern and with ladder he comes posting up the street.
Now Tom would be a driver and Maria go to sea,
And my papa’s a banker and as rich as he can be;
But I, when I am stronger and can choose what I’m to do,
O Leerie, I’ll go round at night and light the lamps with you!
For we are very lucky, with a lamp before the door,
And Leerie stops to light it as he lights so many more;
And O! before you hurry by with ladder and with light;
O Leerie, see a little child and nod to him to-night!
Robert Louis Stevenson
P.S. When I was a child we didn't have a lamplighter - but the street lamps were gas-lit and someone came round (I believe once a week) and climbed a ladder to wind the clockwork time switch.
We used to call him Leerie.
13/12/07 @ 19:50