412 



[Proc. B.N.F.C., 



On his return from America their father, William Stewart, 

 went to live with his brother Samuel who was unmarried and 

 carried on the business of travelling-goods dealer and trunk-maker 

 at 56, North Street, Belfast, Circumstances were straitened at 

 this time and hard for the motherless young people. Their father 

 worked at a rectifying distillery, which was situated somewhere at 

 the quays near the foot of Marlborough Street, at a wage of twelve 

 shillings a week, while his son Samuel earned two shillings a week 

 as errand-boy to the same firm. Thus early in life at the age of 

 twelve Stewart began work at a time when he should have been at 

 school, but his earnings, small as they were, would have been 

 missed. At this time or some years later he did attend school, 

 but only a night-school which was held for six months each Winter 

 season at Sarum Methodist Church, York Street. 



His uncle neglected the work of the shop which did not 

 prosper. After some years his father took over the business from 

 his brother, and started business with a capital of five pounds, 

 putting his daughter, who was then fifteen, in charge, while he 

 continued with his son to work at the distillery. She attributes 

 the success which now came in business to a visit one day from 

 a brushmaker, Dan Hall, who was so pleased with the skill and 

 independence of " the little girl with the curling hair " who kept 

 the shop that he advanced her thirty shillings' worth of brushes 

 and made her his sole agent. The brushes were of good quality 

 and sold well and the business began to improve. Later on her 

 brother came home to work in the shop. They made trunks, 

 bellows, and other articles, and were able to make from ten to 

 seventeen shillings a week. Their uncle lived with them but did 

 not take any part in the business. 



How did Stewart acquire the culture and wide general 

 information he possessed, the faculty of expressing himself so well 

 in such good English, besides the knowledge of French, not to 

 speak of many branches of Natural Science ? He was self- 

 educated, and must have applied himself to the task of 



