42 THE COTTAGE CHIMNEY TAKES FIRE. CHAP. IV. 



cottage on the Quay, where, though there was no 

 luxury, there was comfort, cleanliness, and a pervading 

 spirit of industry. Even at home George was never 

 for a moment idle. When there was no ballast to heave 

 out, he took in shoes to mend ; and from mending he 

 proceeded to making them, as well as shoe-lasts, in 

 which he was admitted to be very expert. William 

 Coe, who continued to live at Willington in 1851, in- 

 formed the author that he bought a pair of shoes from 

 George Stephenson for 7s. 6c?., and he remembered that 

 they were a capital fit, and wore very well. 



But an accident occurred in Stephenson' s household 

 about this time, which had the effect of directing his in- 

 dustry into a new and still more profitable channel. The 

 cottage chimney took fire one day in his absence, when the 

 alarmed neighbours, rushing in, threw quantities of water 

 upon the flames ; and some, in their zeal, even mounted the 

 ridge of the house, and poured buckets of water down 

 the chimney. The fire was soon put out, but the house 

 was thoroughly soaked. When George came home he 

 found the water running out of the door, everything in 

 disorder, and his new furniture covered with soot. The 

 eight-day clock, which hung against the wall one of 

 the most highly-prized articles in the house was 

 grievously injured by the steam with which the room 

 had been filled. Its wheels were so clogged by the dust 

 and soot, that it was brought to a complete stand-still. 

 George was always ready to turn his hand to anything, 

 and his ingenuity, never at fault, immediately set to 

 work for the repair of the unfortunate clock. He was 

 advised to send it to the clockmaker, but that would 

 have cost money ; and he declared that he would repair 

 it himself at least he would try. The clock was ac- 

 cordingly taken to pieces and cleaned ; the tools which 

 he had been accumulating for the purpose of construct- 

 ing his Perpetual Motion machine, readily enabled 

 him to do this ; and he succeeded so well that, shortly 



