r old
gin-horses which he had driven at the Callerton Pit; but in his boy he
now found a much more genial object for the exercise of his affection.

The christening took place in the school-house at Wallsend, the old
parish church being at the time in so dilapidated a condition from the
"creeping" or subsidence of the ground, consequent upon the excavation of
the coal, that it was considered dangerous to enter it. On this
occasion, Robert Gray and Anne Henderson, who had officiated as bridesman
and bridesmaid at the wedding, came over again to Willington, and stood
godfather and godmother to little Robert,--so named after his
grandfather.

After working for several years more as a brakesman at the Willington
machine, George Stephenson was induced to leave his situation there for a
similar one at the West Moor Colliery, Killingworth. It was not without
considerable persuasion that he was induced to leave the Quay, as he knew
that he should thereby give up the chance of earning extra money by
casting ballast from the keels. At last, however, he consented, in the
hope of making up the loss in some other way.

The village of Killingworth lies about seven miles north of Newcastle,
and is one of the best-known collieries in that neighbourhood. The
workings of the coal are of vast extent, and give employment to a large
number of work-people. To this place Stephenson first came as a
brakesman about the beginning of 1805. He had not been long in his new
place, ere his wife died (in 1806), shortly after giving birth to a
daughter, who survived the mother only a few months. George deeply felt
the loss of his wife, for they had been very happy together. Their lot
had been sweetened by daily successful toil. The husband was sober and
hard-working, and his wife made his hearth so bright and his home so
snug, that no attraction could draw him from her side in the evening
hours. But this domestic happiness was all to pass away; and George felt
as one that had thenceforth to tread the journey of life alone.

[Picture: West Moor Colliery]

Shortly after this event, while his grief was still fresh, he received an
invitation from some gentlemen concerned in large spinning works near
Montrose in Scotland, to proceed thither and superintend the working of
one of Boulton and Watt's engines. He accepted the offer, and made
arrangements to leave Killingworth for a time.

Having left his little boy in good