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

CHAP, vu.] THE EEV. MR. TURNER. 65
his hoarded Saturday's pennies in purchasing about half a mile
of copper wire at a brazier's shop in Newcastle. After privily
preparing his kite, he sent it up at the cottage door, insulating
the wire by means of a silk handkerchief. His father's pony
was standing near, waiting for the master to mount. Bringing
the end of the wire just over the pony's crupper, so smart an
electric shock was given it, that the brute was almost knocked
down. At this juncture the father issued from the door with
riding-whip in hand, and was witness to the scientific trick just
played off upon his galloway. " Ah ! you mischievous scoundrel!"
cried he to the boy, who ran off. But he inwardly
chuckled with pride, nevertheless, at his son's successful experiment.
The connection of Robert with the Philosophical and Literary
Society of Newcastle brought him into communication with the
Eev. William Turner, one of the secretaries of the institution.
That gentleman was always ready to assist the inquirer after
knowledge, and took an early interest in the studious youth from
Killingworth, with whose father also he soon became acquainted.
Mr. Turner cheerfully and even zealously helped them in their
joint inquiries, and excited while he endeavoured to satisfy their
eager thirst for scientific information. Many years afterwards,
towards the close of his life, Mr. Stephenson expressed most
warmly the gratitude and esteem he felt towards his revered in-
structor. " Mr. Turner," he said, " was always ready to assist
me with books, with instruments, and with counsel, gratuitously
and cheerfully. He gave me the most valuable assistance and
instruction, and to my dying day I can never forget the obliga-
tions which I owe to my venerable friend."
Mr. Turner's conduct towards George Stephenson was all the
more worthy of admiration, because at that time the object of
his friendly instruction and counsel occupied but the position of
a comparatively obscure workman, of no means or influence,
who had become known to him only through his anxious desire
for information on scientific subjects. He could little have
dreamt that the object of his almost fatherly attention wpuld
achieve a reputation so distinguished as that to which he after-
wards reached, and that he would revolutionize by his inventions