"The costermongers' boys will, I am informed, cheat their employers, but they do not steal from them"

In this quote, Henry Mayhew is talking about the habits of costermongers' boys, who were young kids who worked as assistants to street vendors in 19th century London. Mayhew specifies that these kids were known to cheat their companies, meaning they would trick or trick them in some way. However, he clarifies that they do not steal from their companies. This suggests that while the young boys may engage in dishonest practices, they still have a sense of commitment and regard towards their employers. Mayhew's declaration sheds light on the complex dynamics of the costermonger trade and the relationships between employers and their young assistants.