CHAP. IV. ENGINEMAN AT MONTROSE. 45 



Their lot had been sweetened by daily successful toil. 

 The husband was sober and hard-working, and his wife 

 made his hearth so bright and his home so snug, that 

 no attraction could draw him from her side in the 

 evening hours. But this domestic happiness was all to 

 pass away ; and George felt as one that had thenceforth 

 to tread the journey of life alone. It was a terrible blow 

 to him, and he long lamented his bereavement. 



Shortly after this event, while his grief was still 

 fresh, he received an invitation from some gentlemen 

 concerned in large spinning works near Montrose in 

 Scotland, to proceed thither and superintend the work- 

 ing of one of Boulton and Watt's engines. He accepted 

 the offer, and made arrangements to leave Killingworth 

 for a time. 



Having left his boy in charge of his father and 

 mother, still living at Jolly's Close, near Newburn, he 

 set out upon his long journey to Scotland on foot, 

 with his kit upon his back. It was while working at 

 Montrose that he first gave proofs of that practical 

 ability in contrivance for which he was afterwards so 

 distinguished. It appears that the water required for 

 the purposes of his engine, as well as for the use of the 

 works, was pumped from a considerable depth, being 

 supplied from the adjacent extensive sand strata. The 

 pumps frequently got choked by the sand drawn in at 

 the bottom of the well through the snore-holes/ or 

 apertures through which the water to be raised is 

 admitted. The barrels soon became worn, and the 

 bucket and clack leathers destroyed, so that it became 

 necessary to devise a remedy ; and with this object the 

 engine-man proceeded to adopt the following simple 

 but original expedient. He had a wooden box or boot 

 made, twelve feet high, which he placed in the sump or 

 well, and into this he inserted the lower end of the 

 pump. The result was, that the water flowed clear 

 from the outer part of the well over into the boot, and 



