Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-10-23

we're sent TO work another pumping engine
fixed near Trochloy Bridge. While there hi
work was adiudgcd worthy of a man. hire
One Saturday evening the foreman pnid hin
twelve shillings ioi weeks work, and toll
him that he was, from that date, advanced. -
When he came out he told his fcllow-workmei
his good fortune, and declared in triumph
Now am a made man for life
lie had reached, inch by inch, the natura
object Of a boys ambtion--to be man enough
to do what he has seen done by his father
But he was man enough for more than that
By natural ability, joined to unaaggng in.
dustty. he still won his way slowly up and
at the age of seventeen, worked in new pit
at the same engine with his father the son
taking the higher place as cnginc-man, and
old Bob being still a fireman, as he had beer
from the first.
1t was the duty of the engine-man to watch
the engine. TO correct certain class of hitch
es in its working and, when any thing was
wrong that he could not put to right, to send
word TO the chief engineer. George Steph-
enson fell in love with his engine. and was
never tired Of watching it. In leisure hours,
when his companions went to their sports. he
took his machine to pieces, cleaned every part
/ Of it, and pvt it together again. Thus he
[ but became intimately acquainted with all its
| parts and knew their use lie acquired cred
/ 10 for devotion TO his work. and really was
devoted to it; at the same time he acquired
kind of knowledge that would help him to
get an inch higher in the world.
But there was another kind of knowledge
necessary. At the age Of eighteen he could
not read be could not write his name His
father had been too poor to afford any school
ing TO the children lie was then getting his
friend Coo to teach him the mystery of brake
ing, that he might when opportunity occur
red, advance to the post Of btakosman--neNt
above that which he held. lie became curl
Gus also to know definitely something about
the famous engines that were ia those days
planned by Watt and Bolton. The desire
for knowledge taught him tho necessity Of
learning to read books.
The brave young man resolved. therefore,
to learn his letters and make pot-hooks at a
nght-school among a few collicrs sons. who
paid three pence a week each to a poor thach-
or at Wcllbottle At the age Of nineteen he
could write his name. A night-schoo was
set up by Scotchman within few minutes
walk Of Jolly's Close; and to this George
Stephenson removed himself The Scotch
man had much credit for bis mastery Of arith-
metic. He knew as far as reduction. George
fastened upon arithmetic with an especial
zeal and was more apt than any other pupil
for the study. In no very long time he had
worked out all that could be yielded to him
by the dominic. While thus engaged the
young man was getting lessons from his friend
Coe in braking; and with Goes help. per-
sisting in them against logged opposition
from some of the old han s.. At the age of
twenty, being perfectly steady and trustwor-
thy as a workman, he obtained the place of
brakeman at the Dolly PIT. Black Calleton,
with wages varying from seventeen and six
pence to pound week But wheat then
cost nearly six pounds the quarter.
George ambitious save guinea or
two, because he was in love with something
better able to return his GOOD will than
steam-eugine. In leisure hours he turned his
mechanical dexterity to the business of mend
ing the shoes of his fellow workmen, and adj
vanced from mending to the making both of.
shoes and lasts. This addition to his daily /.
twelve hours labor at the coliery. made some
little addition TO his weekly earnings. 1t en-
abled him to save his first guinea, and en-
couraged him to think the more of marrying
Fanny Henderson. a pretty servant in neigh
boring farmhouse swect-tcmpered, sensible
and good. He once had shoes of hers to
mend, and, as he carried them to her one
Sunday evening with friend, nc could not
help pulling them out Of his pocket every now
and then to admire them, because they were
hers, and to bid his companion observe what
a capital job he had made of them.
George Stephenson still enjoyed exercise in
lcats of agility and strength still spent
part of each idle afternoon ON the pay Satur-
day in taking his engine to pieces cleaning
it and bordering over the uses and values of
its parts. lie was model workman in the
eyes of his employers never missing a day
wages through idleness or indscreton, spend
ing none of his evenings in publc-housos.
avoiding the dog fights and cock-fghts and
man fights in which pitmen delighted Once.
indeed, being insulted 10y Ned Nelson, the
bully Of the pit, young Stephenson dsdained
to quail before him, thoupl he was great
fighter, and a man with VIII IN it was consid-
cred dangerous toqLarrel. Nelson challenged
him to pitched battle and the challenge was
accepted Everybody said Stephenson would
be killed. The young men and boys came
round him with awe, to ask whether it was
true that he was "goin to fcight Nelson. q"
Aye, he said. never fear for me, / IL flight
him. Nelson left off work to go into train
ing. Stephenson worked on as usual went
from days labor to the field of battle on
the appointed evening, and. with his strong
muscle and hard bone put down the bully, as
he never for a moment doubted he would
As brakeman, George Stephenson had
been removed to Wilmington Ballast Quay.
when at the age of twenty -one, he signed his
name in the register of Newborn Church as
the husband of Fanny Henderson and seat
ing her behind him on pillion, upon stout
farm horse borrowed from her sisters master,
with the sister as bridesmaid and friend as
| bridesman, he went first to his father and
mother-who were growing old, and strug-
! Cling against poverty in Jolly's Closo-aud
having paid his duty as son to them ioltod
across the country, and through the streets
of Newcastle, upon ride homeward of dl-
teen miles. An upper room in small cot
! tage at Wellington Quay was the home to
/ which George took his bride. Thirteen months
afterwards, his only son. Robert was born
there. The exercise Of his mechanical skill,
prompted sometimes by bold speculutions of
his own, amused the young husband-and the
wife doubtess-of an evening. lie was at
work ON the problem of Perpetual Motion
lie had acquired reputation as shoemaker.
y 40 .