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

CHAP. XXXIV.] A "CEOWDIE" NIGHT. '
421
each other, causing a circulation. No sooner did he observe any-
thing new, than he immediately set about devising a reason for
it. His training in mechanics, his practical familiarity with
matter in all its forms, and the strong bent of his mind, led him
first of all to seek for a nechanical explanation. And yet he
was ready to admit that there was a something in the principle
of life—so mysterious and inexplicable—which baffled mechanics,
and seemed to dominate over and control them. He did not
care much, either, for abstruse mechanics, but only for the ex-
perimental and practical, as is usually the case with those whose
knowledge has been self-acquired.
Even at this advanced age, his spirit of frolic had not left him.
When proceeding from Chesterfield Station to Tapton House with
his friends, he would almost invariably challenge them to a race
up the steep path, partly formed of stone steps, along the hill
side. And he would struggle, as of old, to keep the front place,
though by this time his " wind " had greatly failed. He would
even invite an old friend to take a quiet wrestle with him on the
lawn, in memory of former times. In the evening, he would
sometimes indulge his visitors by reciting the old pastoral of
" Damon and Phyllis," or singing his favourite song of " John
And.erson my Joe." But his greatest glory amongst those with
whom he was most intimate, was " a crowdie I " " Let's have a
crowdie night," he would say ; and forthwith a kettle of boiling
water was ordered in, with a basin of oatmeal. Taking a large
bowl, containing a sufficiency of hot water, and placing it be-
tween his knees, he then poured in oatmeal with one hand, and
stirred the mixture vigorously with the other. When enough
meal had been added, and the stirring was completed, the crowdie
was made. It was then supped with new milk, and Mr.
Stephenson generally pronounced it " capital ! " It was the diet
to which he had been accustomed when a working man, and all
the dainties with which he had been familiar in recent years had
not spoiled his simple tastes. To enjoy .crowdie at his years,
besides, indicated that he still possessed that quality on which no
doubt much of his practical success in life had depended,—
strong and healthy digestion.
He would also frequently invite to his house the humbler
a