Well, as an Orphan and forced to be a Chimney Sweep I'd have to say yes, it was.
One eventful afternoon comes to me in Memory as fresh as it were yesterday, Begad it does.
I was stationed up this particularly narrow and terribly high Chimney, a six storey Gin House of ill repute in Bradford. And, as I finished the last section of soot infested grime, and after a severe beating from my evil Master, plus some Pork Pie crusts and an Apple Core, I ran off full of vim and woe to the nearby River to wash the day's hardship from my battered and tired form, I dropped at the river's edge and saw a terrible reflection of my Soot Black face. I resolved then and there, I wouldn't be want of another Day's toil again, and fell into the River's depth head first.
Expecting to be engulfed by the Water's blissful deathly sleep, I was shocked to find myself swimming around, able to breathe!
Something Magical had truly happened, I was shod of my Pauper's attire and had adapted to a tiny human form. Swimming like a spritely fish, zig zagging amongst the River Bed's Reed, oh it was Heaven!
What larks! I bubbled. Just then I happened upon a Kingly looking Lobster sat on a throne, surrounded by his Subjects, a splendid array of the most delightfully colorful and joyful Water creatures imaginable!
"Welcome Land Boy!" Says the stately Lobster. . . "We have granted you the freedom of our World, come you are to forget your troubles and begin life anew in your new home!"
Oh, wasn't I the most happiest of Chimney Sweeps? Just then, a booming voice could be heard from above!
"Oi! Get out of the bloody pond you daft old B*stard! And, put that bloody Koi down!"
My neighbor isn't usually so bad tempered, I explained Charles Kingsley was a particular favorite of mine, I still have the penny editions of The Water Babies you know.
Also, I reasoned to him, as it was hot and I haven't had a pond built yet could he keep Mum and fill the Pond back up himself, eh? There's a lad I chuckled squeezing his cheeks, his flummoxed face was a picture, heh heh!
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