34 FANNY HENDERSON. CHAP. III. 



reverse the engine, and send the corves down the pit to 

 be filled again. 



The monotony of George Stephenson's occupation as 

 a brakesman was somewhat varied by the change which 

 he made, in his turn, from the day to the night shift. 

 His duty, on the latter occasions, consisted chiefly in 

 sending men and materials into the mine, and in 

 drawing other men and materials out. Most of the 

 workmen enter the pit during the night shift, and leave 

 it in the latter part of the day, whilst coal-drawing is 

 proceeding. The requirements of the work at night are 

 such, that the brakesman has a good deal of spare time 

 on his hands, which he is at liberty to employ in his 

 own way. From an early period, George was accus- 

 tomed to employ those vacant night hours in working 

 the sums set for him by Andrew Eobertson upon 

 his slate, practising writing in his copy-book, and 

 mending the shoes of his fellow-workmen. His wages 

 while working at the Dolly Pit amounted to from 

 II. 1 5s. to 21. in the fortnight; but he gradually added 

 to them as he became more expert at shoe-mending, and 

 afterwards at shoe-making. Probably he was stimu- 

 lated to take in hand this extra work by the attach- 

 ment he had by this time formed for a young woman 

 named Fanny Henderson, who officiated as servant in 

 the small farmer's house in which he lodged. The 

 personal attractions of Fanny, though these were con- 

 siderable, were the least of her charms. Her temper 

 was of the sweetest; and those who knew her were 

 accustomed to speak of the charming modesty of her 

 demeanour, her kindness of disposition, and withal her 

 sound good sense. 



Amongst his various mendings of old shoes at Cal- 

 lerton, George was on one occasion favoured with the 

 shoes of his sweetheart to sole. One can imagine the 

 pleasure with which he would linger over such a piece 

 of work, and the pride with which he would execute it. 



