CHAPTER IV. RUDOLPHE'S FIRST INVENTION. THE KETTLE.- my kettle. ELL, mon Petit, what is that you are up to?" said I to my young friend, on entering his apartment, as he was busily occupied in adjusting a vessel upon several pieces of wood in the fireplace. "I am trying my new invention You must know, Mr Pamphilius, my circumstances exact economy, so I have invented a kettle that boils my coffee with one-half of the wood that I used to burn." "Indeed. We must have it patented, Rudolphe, eh?" 66 Aye," replied the young inventor, laughing; "but where's the money to come from, even if it were worth a patent?" "A sensible question; but get your invention perfected, and I will see my talented friend, Mr Clarke. He has taken out several patents of his own, and I have no doubt he will help you in the matter." "Thank you; but not just yet. I want to make further improvements." "Good! When you have perfected your kettle, let me know. In the meantime, as you seem fond of mechanics, suppose, by way of exercise in French composition, you translate the leading features of the life of the man who gave wheels to Progress -the conqueror of time and space-the industrial magician— the once humble boy, but ultimately the great practical, progressive giant-George Stephenson. His life is full of interest, 36 338 GEORGE STEPHENSON. and from his perseverance take a lesson; and if you profit by that lesson, you will be able to surmount difficulties that otherwise would appear insurmountable." "I will do so with pleasure, sir." "When passing to-morrow, I will leave you a little book, noted for its simplicity, that will help you in French composition. It is entitled 'Syntax of the French Language Made Easy.' “Thank you, sir; thank you." "Translate only the leading features. Have you his biography?" 66 Yes, sir; I have a sketch of his life at home." Bon; to-morrow, we will give an hour to the man qui a fait marcher le monde! Au revoir." * GEORGE STEPHENSON. "Well, Rudolphe! How have you got on with Stephenson?—found that in his boyhood he was a clever, intelligent, industrious boy-all that a plain, industrious father could expect from a son, to whom he had nothing to give but his good example?—which, remember, Monsieur homas, often proves the richest inheritance a father can bestow. "Just what my good mother tells me. She says she has nothing to leave us but good example, and an honourable name, which are blessings, and bring blessings as well as riches." "Bon! Would that all mothers were like yours, Rudolphe; but the end of the world has not yet come! To work; let me see what you have done? "George Stephenson (sortie de la classe des ouvriers subalternes) was born in 1781. His favourite amusement, when a boy, was bird-nesting and erecting clay-engines and Lilliputian mills. At the early age of seven, George's little hands were turned to profitable account. After performing several menial GEORGE STEPHENSON. 37 occupations, he became the trapper-boy of a coal-pit, having for his duty the irksome task of sitting at a trap-door, in the dark, for ten or twelve hours at a stretch, watching the teams, to open the doors that they might pass through—an employment not very congenial to the tastes of a lively-spirited boy; but Geordie's instinct told him that he had to do the duty of the children of the poor-contribute his share towards the family maintenance, and consequently he followed his dull, dark, and lonely calling with the best of grace." "Good! Monsieur Thomas. Continuez." "Dès sa plus tendre jeunesse il montra une aptitude singulière to turn to advantage everything which he saw-full of industry, full of observation and application, joined to a love for work, and determined perseverance, that boy of low birth, without education, became l'ingeniéur le plus eclairé, l'inventeur le plus hardi, et le patriot le plus sage de l'Angle "Yes, Monsieur Rudolphe; look at the benefits conferred on society by that one man in an ordinary life-time-look at the thousands employed on railways-the incomes derived from them the time saved and the facilities railways afford us for enlarging our views by international visits-the better feelings that such visits engender-the effect upon production—the operations upon commerce, and the beneficial changes they are effecting in the habits of the people. We must appreciate 'honest Geordie' as the great benefactor of mankind, to whom the world owes an unquestionable debt of gratitude. Proceed." George, who bore the character of a steady, industrious lad, was soon promoted, and at the age of seventeen was appointed foreman, and in that capacity behaved himself so well, that in due time he was advanced to the enviable situation of engineer— a great rise for the poor, letterless, trapper-boy." 66 "Attentively and perseveringly performing the duties of our calling, Rudolphe, leads to promotion. How many firms are there 38 GEORGE STEPHENSON. who have at their head an active partner who was once the prudent clerk!" "In this situation, George had reached the summit of his ambition, and with what joy did he watch his engine-with what care did he clean it, and with what delight did he take his life-like machine to pieces, then put it together again, and, wondering at the life-like power, contemplate its steady and regular action." 'Yes, Monsieur Rudolphe. The steam-engine soon became familiar to him; he studied it, and his mind became awakened to its power and capacities. It became to him a child of care and love-it claimed his life for its rearing, and in his hands grew to unwonted growth. He nursed its childhood, and helped it on to its mightiest strength. Proceed." "George Stephenson was eighteen years of age before he had an opportunity of learning to read—a circumstance that he often regretted; but when that opportunity arrived, how greedily did he embrace it, which is another excellent trait in his character, for many at that age, with the practical knowlege that he possessed, would not have troubled themselves; but no; his chief regret was his inability to read, and the WAY once open, George found the WILL, and three times a week he might have been seen taking lessons in reading and spelling of a poor teacher in the village of Walbottle. Afterwards he attended another school, kept by Andrew Robertson, for which instruction he paid 4d a week. So great were his application and perseverance in his studies, that one of the pupils remarked ' that he could not make it out how it was that George took to figures so wonderful; that although the two started together, he was in division, while Geordie was in reduction." "Yes, Master Tom. Though illiterate, Geordie's mind had been stored with thoughtful deductions and observations, and, therefore, he knew that labour is required to secure the fruits; GEORGE STEPHENSON. 39 that whatever we undertake to do MUST BE DONE con amore, if we would succeed. Indeed, it was characteristic of George, that whatever he endeavoured to do he put his whole soul into the matter, and did thoroughly, never sparing any pains to overcome any difficulties that might come in his way. Continuez." "At the age of twenty, when George Stephenson was acting as breaksman, he formed an attachment for a respectable young woman, a servant in a neighbouring farm-house, named Fanny Henderson, a young girl distinguished by her amiability, sweetness of temper, and sound judgment, as well as for her personal charms. His means being small, with the view of increasing his worldly stock,' he began to make and mend the shoes of his fellow-workmen. Il y gagné la première pièce d'orearned the first guinea which he was able to save, and considered it la pierre qui fondait sa fortune future.'' เ "George was favoured with the shoes of his sweetheart to sole. Here his heart was in the stitches, and he lingered over his task, carrying the shoes about with him, looking at them from time to time, and exclaiming 'What a capital job I have made of them!' Shoemaking and mending turned out a good job, for George soon saved enough to furnish a small cottage, and married the fair owner of the shoes, who made him an excellent wife, and brought comfort, as her dowry, to the cottage which he took for her at Willington Quay,—at which place his only son Robert was born, a circumstance that buoyed up the soul of the rising engineer." "Monsieur Rudolphe, to working men, George Stephenson affords an example well worth following, and which must be followed by all who have any pretensions to rise in life. He was strictly sober, and never was seen the worse for drink. His home was his delight; his amusement, working, or improving his mind, or modelling experimental machines by the fireside, in company with his affectionate wife. The curse of |