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QUESTIONS:-1. What may George Stephenson be said to be? 2. Where and when was he born? 3. What was the character of his mother? 4. How was he employed when still a child? 5. What education did he receive? 6. What were his chief childish amusements? 7. What signs did he early show of the bent of his mind? 8. What was his first employment, and what wages did he receive? 9. Tell the various steps of his career until he became an engineman? 10. What was his great delight when sitting by the engine fire? 11. How did he improve his education? 12. How did he add to his income? 13. How did he show his affection for his parents?

LESSON XXXIII.

George Stephenson.--Part II.

con-sult'-ed, his advice was im-per'-fect, badly finished.

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WHILST living at Killingworth, George Stephenson was busy making experiments on steamengines. The engines then in use were all fixed engines, such as may be seen at any of our coalpits in the present day. But George was convinced that engines might be built to run upon roads. Such engines are called "locomotives." When he mentioned this idea, people merely laughed at him, and thought he was dreaming. But one man, a noble gentleman, named Lord Ravensworth, did not laugh or sneer. He saw what the world was too wise to see, that George Stephenson's idea must prevail, and, accordingly, he supplied the

engine-man with money to work out his plans, and he lived to see engines running in all parts of the country.

"The first locomotive," he himself tells us, "that I made was at Killingworth colliery, and with Lord Ravensworth's money. Yes, Lord Ravensworth & Co. were the first persons that would entrust me with money to make a locomotive. That engine was made long ago, and we called it 'My Lord.'" This engine was employed in drawing coal-trucks from the coal-pits, a work which before this time had been done by horses. This engine was a very rude one, and, in many ways, imperfect, but, by continued improvements, great perfection was reached. George Stephenson always said that there was no limit to the speed of such an engine, provided the works could be made to stand. But when he told his friends that he could make them to run at the rate of ten miles an-hour, he was again laughed at, and thought to be mad.

We cannot follow the fortunes of this wonderful man through all his life. In 1826, what may be called the great event of his life happened. The great manufacturers of Manchester were anxious to have a speedy and sure way of bringing the raw cotton from Liverpool, when it was landed from America. They resolved, accordingly, to make a railway between the two towns, and George Stephenson was employed to make it. After

many difficulties, the railway was ready in 1829. Stephenson promised to produce an engine that would run ten miles an-hour, although, as we have said, he was convinced that a much higher speed could be reached. The directors of the railway offered a prize of five hundred pounds to the owner of the engine that would travel ten miles an-hour and draw its own weight. Three engines started for the prize. Two of them broke down soon after starting; but George Stephenson's engine carried off the prize, and thus he at once established the system of railways, not only in this country, but in the world.

He

From this time, he was consulted about almost every railway that was made, and, along with his famous son Robert, did more to promote this new mode of travelling than any other man. acquired a large fortune, but he remained as simple and modest as when he was a colliery boy. During the latter years of his life, he lived at his beautiful country-seat, near Chesterfield. He liked as well as any boy to go a-nutting and birdnesting, not for the cruel purpose of robbing the birds, but to watch them; and he carefully guarded those on his own grounds. He engaged himself among his horses, his cows, and dogs, his rabbits and birds; but was always mindful of the comfort of the many workmen he employed on his estate.

He died, after a short illness, in the sixty-eighth year of his age; and he, who had once been a

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colliery boy, was carried to his grave with as many signs of honour and respect as could have been shown to the highest nobleman in the land. "Seest thou a man diligent in business, he shall stand before kings."

Manchester.-A town in Lancashire-the principal seat of the cotton manufacture in Britain.

Liverpool.-Next to London, the most important seaport in England; in Lancashire, on the River Mersey. Chesterfield.-A town in Derbyshire, one of the most romantic and beautiful counties in England.

QUESTIONS:- 1. What is a "locomotive"? 2. Who helped George Stephenson to make his first locomotive? 3. How was this first locomotive employed? 4. What was Stephenson's idea as to the speed locomotives might reach? 5. What happened in 1826? 6. What led to the making of the Liverpool and Manchester railway? 7. How did Stephenson spend his old age?

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A little worn-out creature

His once bright eyes grown dim; It was a collier's only child—

They called him little Jim.

And oh to see the briny tears

Fast hurrying down her cheek, As she offered up a prayer in thought— She was afraid to speak,

Lest she might waken one she loved

Far better than her life,

For there was all a mother's love
In that poor collier's wife.

With hands uplifted, see, she kneels
Beside the sufferer's bed;

And prays that He will spare her boy,
And take herself instead!

She gets her answer from the child;
Soft fell these words from him-
"Mother, the angels do so smile,
And beckon little Jim!"

"I have no pain, dear mother, now,
But oh! I am so dry;

Just moisten poor Jim's lips again,
And, mother, don't you cry."

With gentle trembling haste she held
The tea-cup to his lips;

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