CHAP. IV. STEPHENSON'S MARRIAGE. 39 



and geologists, when the origin of these immense hills 

 along the Tyne has been forgotten. On the summit of 

 the Willington Ballast Hill was a fixed engine, which 

 drew the trains of laden waggons up the incline ; and 

 of this engine George Stephenson acted as brakesman. 



The cottage in which he took up his abode was a 

 small two-storied dwelling, standing a little back from 

 the quay, with a bit of garden ground in front. 1 The 

 Stephenson family occupied the upper room in the west 

 end of the cottage. Close behind rose the Ballast Hill. 



When the cottage-dwelling had been made snug, and 

 was ready for the young wife's reception, the marriage 

 took place. It was celebrated in Newburn Church, onl 

 the 28th of November, 1802. George Stephenson's 

 signature, as it stands in the register, is that of a person 

 who seems to have just learnt to write. Yet it is the 

 signature of a man, written slowly and deliberately, 

 in strong round hand. With all his care, however, he 

 had not been able to avoid a blotch ; the word " Ste- 

 phenson" seems to have been brushed over before the 

 ink was dry. 



After the ceremony, George and his newly-wedded 

 wife proceeded to the house of old Eobert Stephenson 

 and his wife Mabel at Jolly's Close. The old man was 

 now becoming infirm, though he still worked as an 



1 The Stephenson Memorial Schools head of this chapter. A vignette of 



have since been erected on the site the Memorial Schools will be found at 



of the old cottage at Willington Quay the end of the volume, 

 represented in the engraving at the 



