238 



BAITING-PLACE AT SANKEY. 



CHAP. XII, 



STEPHEN SON'S BAITING-PLACE AT SANKEY. 



walk up to a locomotive with the steam blowing off, and 

 put his nose against it without shying. " Bobby," 

 saddled and bridled, was brought to Mr. Stephenson's 

 door betimes in the morning ; and mounting him, he 

 would ride the fifteen miles to Sankey, putting up at a 

 little public house which then stood upon the banks of 

 the canal. There he had his breakfast of " crowdie," 

 which he made with his own hands. It consisted of 

 oatmeal stirred into a basin of hot water, a sort of 

 porridge, which was supped with cold sweet milk. 

 After this frugal breakfast, he would go upon the works, 

 and remain there, riding from point to point for the 

 greater part of the day. If he returned home before 

 mid-day, it would be to examine the pay-sheets in the 

 different departments, sent in by the assistant engineers, 

 or by the foremen of the workshops ; all this he did 

 himself, with the greatest care, requiring a full explana- 

 tion of every item. 



After a late dinner, which occupied very short time 

 and was always of a plain and frugal description, 1 he 



1 While at Liverpool, Stephenson but on one particular occasion he in- 

 had very little time for " company ; " vited his friend Mr. Sandars to din- 



