It is certain that from that day Stephenson never looked back; his advance as a self-improving man was as steady as the light of sunrise.

A person of large experience has indeed stated that he never knew, amongst working people, a single instance of a man having out of his small earnings laid by a pound, who had in the end become a pauper.
When Stephenson proposed to erect his first locomotive, he had not sufficient means to defray its cost.

But in the course of his life as a workman, he had established a character.

He was trusted.

He was faithful.