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The Rocket: The Story of the Stephensons, Father and Son

Helen C. Knight




  Produced by Chris Curnow, readbueno and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Thisfile was produced from images generously made availableby The Internet Archive)

  A LOCOMOTIVE AND TENDER.]

  THE ROCKET.

  THE STORY OF THE STEPHENSONS,

  Father and Son.

  BY

  _H. C. KNIGHT_,

  AUTHOR OF "NO GAINS WITHOUT PAINS," ETC.

  WITH TWENTY-SIX ENGRAVINGS

  London: T. NELSON AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW. EDINBURGH; AND NEW YORK.

  1897

  Preface.

  A brief book for the boys. God gives you work to do in the world. Hegives you honourable work. There is much done that is mean anddishonourable. Depend upon it, _that_ is not His. In the beginning ofyour work, character grows _out_ of it; as you go on, your charactergoes _into_ it. Therefore the Bible declares that "God, without respectof persons, judgeth according to every man's work." We judge in the sameway. This little book will show you how much the practice of thevirtues, the humbler virtues, has to do with making good work.

  But keep ever in mind that these virtues, however useful and importantfor your work in this world, have no _saving_ power in them—they form noplea for the favour of God; the key which unlocks the door of Heaven isnot found among them. Like the young man in the Gospel, you may have theloveliness of every natural virtue, and yet be lost.

  As sinners in the sight of God, you need the atoning blood of theRedeemer; you need repentance and faith in that blood. Make JesusChrist, therefore, the corner-stone of your character; on _thatfoundation build_ your character. Cultivate the graces of the Gospel.Baptize the virtues with your Saviour's love. A noble Christian manhoodcan only be attained by the slow and steady endeavours of a heart fixedon God, and a hand diligent and delighting in the work He has given itto do.

  Contents.

  I. LIFE AMONG THE COAL PITS, 9

  II. MENDING AND MAKING—LITTLE BOB, 19

  III. WHO BEGAN RAILROADS?—"PUFFING BILLY," 30

  IV. TWO CITIES THAT WANTED TO GET NEAR EACH OTHER—A NEW FRIEND, 38

  V. HUNTING UP HIS OWN WORK—AN ENTERPRISING QUAKER—WHAT WAS THE RESULT? 46

  VI. THE TWO CITIES TRYING AGAIN—BUGBEARS, 58

  VII. GRAPPLING WITH DIFFICULTIES—THE BOG—A PUZZLE—THE PRIZE OFFER, 72

  VIII. ROBERT'S RETURN—A CURIOUS ENCOUNTER—THE PRIZE ENGINE, 86

  IX. OPENING OF THE NEW ROAD—DIFFICULTIES VANISH—A NEW ERA, 102

  X. THE STEPHENSON CENTENARY—HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE, 121

  List of Illustrations.

  LOCOMOTIVE AND TENDER, _Frontispiece_

  EARLY WORK, 10

  A SAFETY LAMP, 11

  BIRTHPLACE OF GEORGE STEPHENSON, 12

  AT SCHOOL, 17

  MENDING THE CLOCK, 21

  THE SUN-DIAL, 29

  GEORGE STEPHENSON'S FIRST ENGINE, 35

  "PUFFING BILLY," 36

  THE VISIT TO "PUFFING BILLY," 44

  THE TWO STRANGERS, 50

  A TALK ABOUT RAILWAYS, 54

  SURVEYING AT NIGHT, 63

  CHAT MOSS, 74

  GOOD SERVICE, 81

  A CURIOUS ENCOUNTER, 87

  SECTION OF THE FIRST BOILER IN USE, 92

  SECTION OF A TUBULAR BOILER, 93

  THE FAILURE, 95

  TUBES OF A MODERN ENGINE, 96

  THE "ROCKET," 97

  OPENING THE LINE, 104

  WHOLESOME REPROOF, 115

  LATER DAYS OF GEORGE STEPHENSON, 116

  VICTORIA BRIDGE, MONTREAL, 118

  THE ROCKET.