CHAP. IX. GIVES LESSONS IN EMBROIDERY. 161 



shall lose an hour ; but you must be here, ready to begin 

 work as soon as it is daylight." 



Stephenson performed the survey in top-boots and 

 breeches a usual dress at the time. He was not at 

 any time particular as to his living ; and during the 

 survey, he took his chance of getting a drink of milk 

 and a bit of bread at some cottager's house along the line, 

 or occasionally joined in a homely dinner at some neigh- 

 bouring farmhouse. The country people were accus- 

 tomed to give him a hearty welcome when he appeared 

 at their door ; for he was always full of cheery and 

 homely talk, and, when there were children about the 

 house, he had plenty of humorous chat for them as well 

 as for their seniors. 



After the day's work was over, George would drop in 

 at Mr. Pease's, to talk over with him the progress of the 

 survey, and discuss various matters connected with the 

 railway. Mr. Pease's daughters were usually present ; 

 and on one occasion, finding the young ladies learning 

 the art of embroidery, he volunteered to instruct them. 1 

 " I know all about it," said he ; " and you will wonder 

 how I learnt it. I will tell you. When I was a brakes- 

 man at Killing worth, I learnt the art of embroidery 

 while working the pitman's button-holes by the engine 

 fire at nights." He was never ashamed, but on the con- 

 trary rather proud, of reminding his friends of these 

 humble pursuits of his early life. Mr. Pease's family 

 were greatly pleased with his conversation, which was 

 always amusing and instructive ; full of all sorts of 

 experience, gathered in the oddest and most out-of- 

 the-way places. Even at that early period, before he 

 mixed in the society of educated persons, there was 

 a dash of speculativeness in his remarks, which gave a 

 high degree of originality to his conversation ; and 



1 This incident, communicated to 

 the author by the late Edward Pease, 

 has since been made the subject of a fine 



picture by Mr. A. Rankley, A.R.A., 

 exhibited at the Royal Academy Ex- 

 hibition of 1861. 



VOL. JIT. M 



