The crossing sweeper in Bleak House is Jo.
Jo is a homeless boy who earns small amounts by sweeping mud from a London street crossing. He is one of the novel’s most memorable figures because Dickens places a neglected child at the centre of the novel’s wider criticism of poverty, bureaucracy and social indifference. Jo repeatedly hears the command to “move on,” a phrase that captures how authorities treat him as a nuisance rather than as a child in need.
Jo has a connection with Nemo, the mysterious law-copyist whose death helps drive the novel’s investigation. Nemo had shown Jo unusual kindness, sharing money with him when he could. Jo is later questioned about Nemo but knows little that can resolve the case. Mr Tulkinghorn nevertheless has Inspector Bucket force him out of London because Jo may know something about the Dedlock connection.
The other options belong to different parts of the story. Harold Skimpole is an irresponsible adult, William Guppy is a law clerk, and Nemo is the dead copyist whose identity becomes important. Jo eventually dies of pneumonia after earlier suffering from smallpox.