CHAP. II. NELL'S BONNET. 19 



Robert, having obtained employment as a fireman at 

 the Dewley Burn Colliery, removed with his family to 

 that place. Dewley Burn, at this day, consists of a few 

 old-fashioned low-roofed cottages standing on either side 

 of a babbling little stream. They are connected by a 

 rustic wooden bridge, which spans the rift in front of 

 the doors. In the central one-roomed cottage of this 

 group, on the right bank, Robert Stephenson lived 

 for a time with his family ; the pit at which he worked 

 standing in the rear of the cottages. 



Young though he was, George was now of an age to 

 be able to contribute something towards the family 

 maintenance ; for in a poor man's house, every child is 

 a burden until his little hands can be turned to profitable 

 account. That the boy was shrewd and active, and 

 possessed of a ready mother wit, will be evident enough 

 from the following incident. One day his sister Nell 

 went in to Newcastle to buy a bonnet; and Geordie 

 went with her " for company." At a draper's shop in 

 the Bigg Market, Nell found a "chip" quite to her 

 mind, but on pricing it, alas ! it was found to be fifteen 

 pence beyond her means. Girl-like, she had set her 

 mind upon that bonnet, and no other would please 

 her. She accordingly left the shop disappointed and 

 very much dejected. But Geordie bravely said, " Never 

 heed, Nell ; come wi' me, and I'll see if I canna win 

 siller enough to buy the bonnet; stand ye there, till 

 I come back." Away ran the boy and disappeared 

 amidst the throng of the market, leaving the girl to 

 wait his return. Long and long she waited, until it 

 grew dusk, and the market people had nearly all left. 

 She had begun to despair, and fears crossed her mind 

 that Geordie must have been run over and killed ; 

 when at last up he came running, almost breathless. 

 " I've gotten the siller for the bonnet, Nell ! " cried he. 

 " Eh, Geordie ! " she said, " but hoo hae ye gotten it ? " 

 " Hauddin the gentlemen's horses ! " was the exultant 



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