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    "PUFFING BILLY" AND THE PRIZE "ROCKET."

    [Illustration: GEORGE STEPHENSON.]




    "PUFFING BILLY" AND THE PRIZE "ROCKET;"

    OR,

    THE STORY OF THE STEPHENSONS AND OUR RAILWAYS.

    By Mrs. H. C. KNIGHT.


    LONDON:
    S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO., 9, PATERNOSTER ROW.


    Geo. Watson & Co., Printers, 28, Charles Street, Farringdon Road,
    London, E.C.




PREFACE.


A brief book for the boys. God gives you work to do in the world. He
gives you honourable work. There is much done that is mean and
dishonourable. Depend upon it, _that_ is not His. In the beginning of
your work, character grows _out_ of it; as you go on, your character
goes _into_ it. Therefore the Bible declares that "God, without
respect of persons, judgeth according to every man's work." We judge
in the same way. This little book will show you how much the practice
of the virtues--the humbler virtues--has to do with making good work.
A superior article cannot be produced without them.

But keep ever in mind that these virtues, however useful and important
for your work in this world, have no _saving_ power in them; they form
no plea for the favour of God; the key which unlocks the door of
heaven is not found among them. Like the young man in the Gospel, you
may have the loveliness of every natural virtue, and yet be lost.

As sinners in the sight of God, you need the atoning blood of the
Redeemer; you need repentance and faith in that blood. Make Jesus
Christ, therefore, the cornerstone of your character; on _that
foundation build_ your character. Cultivate the graces of the Gospel.
Baptize the virtues with your Saviour's love. A noble Christian
manhood can only be attained by the steady endeavours of a heart fixed
on God, and a hand diligent, and delighting in the work He has given
it to do. H. C. K.




CONTENTS.


       CHAPTER I. LIFE AMONG THE COAL-PITS
      CHAPTER II. MENDING AND MAKING--
                  LITTLE BOB
     CHAPTER III. WHO BEGAN RAILROADS--
                  "PUFFING BILLY"
      CHAPTER IV. TWO CITIES THAT WANTED TO GET NEAR EACH OTHER--
                  A NEW FRIEND
       CHAPTER V. HUNTING UP HIS OWN WORK--AN ENTERPRISING QUAKER--
                  WHAT WAS THE RESULT?
      CHAPTER VI. THE TWO CITIES TRYING AGAIN--BUGBEARS
     CHAPTER VII. GRAPPLING WITH DIFFICULTIES--THE BOG--A PUZZLE--
                  THE PRIZE OFFER
    CHAPTER VIII. ROBERT'S RETURN--A CURIOUS ENCOUNTER--
                  THE PRIZE ENGINE
      CHAPTER IX. OPENING OF THE NEW ROAD--DIFFICULTIES VANISH--
                  A NEW ERA




CHAPTER I.

LIFE AMONG THE COAL-PITS.


What useful little fellow is this, carrying his father's dinner to him
at the coal-pit? He takes care, also, of his little brothers and
sisters, keeping them clear of the coal-waggons, which run to and fro
before the cottage door. Then he is seen tending a neighbour's cows.
Now he is moulding mud engines, sticking in hemlock sticks for
blowpipes; besides cutting many a good caper, and uttering all sorts
of drolleries for the benefit of other little boys, who, like himself,
swarm round, too poor to go to school, if school there were--but
schools there were none.

The boys call him "Geordie Steve."

A lad is wanted to shut the coal-yard gates after work is over.
Geordie offers his services and gets the post, earning by it twopence
a day. A neighbour hires him to hoe turnips at fourpence. He is
thankful to earn a bit, for his parents are poor, and every little
helps. He sees work ahead, however, more to his taste. What? He longs
to be big enough to go and work at the coal-pits with his father. For
the home of this little fellow, as you already perceive, is in a coal
region. It is in the coal district of Newcastle, in the north-eastern
part of England. You had better find it on the map.

I suppose you never visited a colliery. Coal is found in beds and
veins underground. Deep holes are made, down which the miners go