orge contrived to
save his first guinea. The first guinea saved by a working man is no
trivial thing. If, as in Stephenson's case, it has been the result of
prudent self-denial, of extra labour at bye-hours, and of the honest
resolution to save and economise for worthy purposes, the first guinea
saved is an earnest of better things. When Stephenson had saved this
guinea he was not a little elated at the achievement, and expressed the
opinion to a friend, who many years after reminded him of it, that he was
"now a rich man."

Not long after he began to work at Black Callerton as brakesman, he had a
quarrel with a pitman named Ned Nelson, a roistering bully, who was the
terror of the village. Nelson was a great fighter; and it was therefore
considered dangerous to quarrel with him. Stephenson was so unfortunate
as not to be able to please this pitman by the way in which he drew him
out of the pit; and Nelson swore at him grossly because of the alleged
clumsiness of his brakeing. George defended himself, and appealed to the
testimony of the other workmen. But Nelson had not been accustomed to
George's style of self-assertion; and, after a great deal of abuse, he
threatened to kick the brakesman, who defied him to do so. Nelson ended
by challenging Stephenson to a pitched battle; and the latter accepted
the challenge, when a day was fixed on which the fight was to come off.

Great was the excitement at Black Callerton when it was known that George
Stephenson had accepted Nelson's challenge. Everybody said he would be
killed. The villagers, the young men, and especially the boys of the
place, with whom George was a great favourite, all wished that he might
beat Nelson, but they scarcely dared to say so. They came about him
while he was at work in the engine-house to inquire if it was really true
that he was "goin to fight Nelson?" "Ay; never fear for me; I'll fight
him." And fight him he did. For some days previous to the appointed day
of battle, Nelson went entirely off work for the purpose of keeping
himself fresh and strong, whereas Stephenson went on doing his daily work
as usual, and appeared not in the least disconcerted by the prospect of
the affair. So, on the evening appointed, after George had done his
day's labour, he went into the Dolly Pit Field, where his already
exulting rival was ready to meet him. George stripped, and "went in"
like a practised pugilist--though it was his first and last fight