38 WILLINGTON QUAY. CHAP. IV. 



could beat him at lifting heavy weights, leaping, and 

 throwing the hammer. 



In the evenings he improved himself in the arts of 

 reading and writing, and occasionally took a turn at 

 modelling. It was at Callerton, his son Eobert in- 

 formed us, that he began to try his hand at original 

 invention ; and for some time he applied his attention 

 to a machine of the nature of an engine-brake, which 

 reversed itself by its own action. But nothing came 

 of the contrivance, and it was eventually thrown aside 

 as useless. Yet not altogether so ; for even the highest 

 skill must undergo the inevitable discipline of ex- 

 periment, and submit to the wholesome correction of 

 occasional failure. 



After working at Callerton for about two years, he 

 received an offer to take charge of the engine on 

 IWillington Ballast Hill at an advanced wage. He 

 determined to accept it, and at the same time to marry 

 Fanny Henderson, and begin housekeeping on his own 

 account. Though he was only twenty-one years old, he 

 had contrived, by thrift, steadiness, and industry, to 

 save as much money as enabled him to take a cottage - 

 dwelling at Willington Quay, and furnish it in a 

 humble but comfortable style for the reception of his 

 young bride. 



Willington Quay lies on the north bank of the Tyne, 

 about six miles below Newcastle. It consists of a line 

 of houses straggling along the river side ; and high 

 behind it towers up the huge mound of ballast emptied 

 out of the ships which resort to the quay for their car- 

 goes of coal for the London market. The ballast is 

 thrown out of the ships' holds into waggons laid along- 

 side. When filled, a train of these is dragged to the 

 summit of the Ballast Hill, where they are run out, and 

 their contents emptied on to the monstrous accumu- 

 lation of earth, chalk, and Thames mud already laid 

 there, probably to form a puzzle for future antiquaries 



