Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-05-08
A SUCCESSFUL CAREER.

Mr.. Stephenson, the engineer, who built lna' mlr
acle of modern SCIENCE the Britannia and conway
Tubular Bridge, was once poor lad, and rose 10 MI
present exalted position by the exercise of economy
and the industrious application of his talents In
late letter 10 friend, he gives the following nara
tive of his early life.
81 was the son Of poor man who with his dying
breath charged me hen but ten years old 10 90 the
best could for my mother and my two sisters, who
bv the death of my father were left destitute. was
verv fond of my mother, and got employment to
emnv ships of their ballast; and in various other
ways earned from eighteen pence to two shllllngs
day, and thus supported my mother and sisters TIL
was about fourteen years old. had taught my
self to read and write little, and about that time !
met with little book which set me thinking, and
thought, why should man get bread through the
exerto,r ~c his muscles when he has got brains. ]
had GREAT taste for Mechanics, anu uuit~-l ofnny
uncle an old watch that never went well, because
I wanted TO examine its works. took 1t TO pieces
and nut /, together three times, having BY that llne
made myself acquainted with its mechanism then
wrote in large characters on piece OF Paste-ooaro'
which placed in my mothers window, "ClocKs'
Watches, and Jacks cleaned here" soon had Pieh-
tv of work, which would do of an evening" ana en-
abled 10 add greatly to the comforts OF my mother
and mt nv sisters 10 school, One evening gentle
man came to enquire if the man who cleaned watch
es was at home, and upon my saying, es' oir'
am at home.n he looked at me with some surprise
and some contempt, as thought, and said ~ ou
cannot leave nv watch with YOU" Well, dld not
wonder at this, for was always an Unlocking boy
but | said "do as you please, Sir, but am honest
though poor.'
The gentleman, who was a commercial traveller,le'
his watch and said he would call for 1t on his return III
IL oI,t NrIo-
few DAYS from that time took the watch 10 PIE
ces ard found it wanted what is called new hai'
spring, which put but this watch baffied my EN-
deavors 20 make it 60 well. got irlghted, Tearing
the gentleman would think had spoiled his walch;
In the night, whilst lay awake thinking what j.
should do, bethought me III town some mics on
there lived Matchmaker who was said TO have great
skill in his trade got up early, and went to him
with the watch. and drawing it out Of my pocket as
if it had been my own said, pray, Sir, can you tell
me what IS the matter with this watch' lie look
ed a il and said, some precious idiot has pnt on
new hair spring without reducing it, 'Whatls that
| enquired 'Why,' replied he, q was doing one wheh
Won interrupted me- 'Il is done thus, SAID me- con-
tpuing the work which my arrival had interrupted
I asked him 10 do mine Immediately, as wanled 10
return home This he could not do, belngb busy; ou'
did not care, for had caught the idea ana weh'
home. and soon made the watch 60 to the satisiac-
ton the gentleman who had entrusted it to my care
Sometime after this wen. to see Colliery,and the
pit was so deep that it was dicuto get up the Goals
as thew were then raised by manual exertlon'
tbouoht bit. and then said-'if you will find the
money, will soon make you something which Will
brno up the coal without all that labor and expense
will you p said the proprietor. Eyes; that w' 81
replied. lie did find the money, and found 'ne
engine, which, though made forty-five years ago, is
still at work in that Coery. By this time had
saved fifty old guneas, which sold to Jew VINO
came to our town for twenty seven shilllngs each,
and this, gentlemen" said Mr. Stephenson; ,'was me
foundation ofmy fortune. am now wealthy; lh'S
place is my own property; have given my son a
scientific education for an engineer, and ne mas Tie
honor TO sit IN Parliament for Whtby."