The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Linkboy \Link"boy`\ (l[i^][ng]k"boi`), Linkman \Link"man\
   (l[i^][ng]k"m[a^]n), n. [See 1st Link.]
   A boy or man that carried a link or torch to light
   passengers.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

linkboy
    n 1: (formerly) an attendant hired to carry a torch for
         pedestrians in dark streets [syn: linkboy, linkman]