The life of George Stephenson, railway engineer - Lighthouse ...

CHAP. XVII.] LIFE AT DAELINGTON. 181
dinner at some neighbouring farmhouse. The country people
were accustomed to give him a hearty welcome when he ap-
peared at their door; for he was always full of cheery and
homely talk, and, when there were children about the house, he
had plenty of surplus humour for them as well as for their
seniors.
After the day's work was over, Mr. Stephenson would drop in
at Mr. Pease's, to talk over with him the progress of the survey,
and discuss various matters connected with the railway. Mr.
Pease's daughters were usually present ; and on one occasion,
finding the young ladies learning the art of embroidery, he vol-
unteered to instruct them. " I know all about it," said he ; " and
you will wonder how I learnt it. I will tell you. When I was
a brakesman at Killingworth, I learnt the art of embroidery
while working the pitman's button-holes by the engine fire at
nights." He was never ashamed, but on ' the contrary rather
proud, of reminding his friends of these humble pursuits of his
early life. Mr. Pease's family were greatly pleased with his
conversation, which was always amusing and instructive ; full of
all sorts of experience, gathered sometimes in the oddest and
most out-of-the-way places. Even at that early period, before
he had mixed in the society of educated persons, there was a
dash of speculativeness in his remarks, which gave a high degree
of originality to his conversation ; and sometimes he would, in
a casual remark, throw a flash of light upon a subject, which
called up a whole train of pregnant suggestions.
One of the most important subjects of discussion at these meet-
ings with Mr. Pease, was the establishment of a manufactory at
Newcastle for the building of locomotive engines. Up to this time
all the locomotives constructed after Mr. Stephenson's designs,
had been made by ordinary mechanics working amongst the col-
lieries in the north of England. But he had long felt that the
accuracy and style of their workmanship admitted of great im-
provement, and that upon this the more perfect action of the
locomotive engine, and its general adoption as the tractive power
on railways, in a great measure depended. One great object
that he had in view in establishing the proposed factory was, to
concentrate a number of good workmen for the purpose of carry-