CHAP. II. DRIVES THE GIX-HORSE. 21 



of the young engineers. We may mention, in passing, 

 that George's companion afterwards became a workman 

 of repute, and creditably held the office of engineer 

 at Shilbottle, near Alnwick, for a period of nearly 

 thirty years. 



As Stephenson grew older and abler to work, he was 

 set to lead the horses when ploughing, though scarce 

 big enough to stride across the furrows; and he used 

 afterwards to say that he rode to his work in the morn- 

 ings at an hour when most, other children of his age 

 were asleep in their beds. He was also employed to 

 hoe turnips, and do similar farm- work, for which he was 

 paid the advanced wage of fourpence a-day. But his 

 highest ambition was to be taken on at the colliery 

 where his father worked ; and he shortly joined his 

 elder brother James there as a " corf-bitter," or " picker," 

 to clear the coal of stones, bats, and dross. His wages 

 were then advanced to sixpence a-day, and afterwards to 

 eightpence when he was set to drive the gin-horse. 



Shortly after, he went to Black Callerton Colliery to 

 drive the gin there ; and as that colliery lies about two 

 miles across the fields from Dewley Burn, the boy walked 

 that distance early in the morning to his work, returning 

 home late in the evening. One of the old residents at 

 Black Callerton, who remembered him at that time, 

 described him to the author as "a grit growing lad, 

 with bare legs an' feet ; " adding that he was "very 

 quick-witted and full of fun and tricks : indeed, there 

 was nothing under the sun but he tried to imitate." He 

 was usually foremost also in the sports and pastimes of 

 youth. 



Among his first strongly developed tastes was the 

 love of birds and animals, which he inherited from his 

 father. Blackbirds were his special favourites. The 

 hedges between Dewley and Black Callerton were capital 

 birdnesting places ; and there was not a nest there that 

 he did not know of. When the young birds were old 



