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Joe the Hotel Boy; Or, Winning out by Pluck

Joe the Hotel Boy Or Winning out by Pluck by Jr. Horatio Alger
Views: 355

Frank and Fearless; or, The Fortunes of Jasper Kent

A dozen boys were playing ball in a field adjoining the boarding-school of Dr. Pericles Benton, in the town of Walltham, a hundred and twenty-five miles northeast of the city of New York. These boys varied in age from thirteen to seventeen. In another part of the field a few younger boys were amusing themselves. All these boys were boarding-scholars connected with the school. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Views: 351

A Cousin's Conspiracy; Or, A Boy's Struggle for an Inheritance

This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Views: 342

The Young Adventurer; or, Tom's Trip Across the Plains

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.
Views: 339

Jack's Ward; Or, The Boy Guardian

This book was digitized and reprinted from the collections of the University of California Libraries. It was produced from digital images created through the libraries’ mass digitization efforts. The digital images were cleaned and prepared for printing through automated processes. Despite the cleaning process, occasional flaws may still be present that were part of the original work itself, or introduced during digitization. This book and hundreds of thousands of others can be found online in the HathiTrust Digital Library at www.hathitrust.org. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Views: 336

Tom, The Bootblack; or, The Road to Success

Tom is a fifteen year old boy who lives in New York City with an old man named Jacob in Mrs. Flanagan’s rooming house. They pose as grandfather and grandson, but, while Tom understands that they are no real relation, he knows nothing about his real family. Tom makes a living for them both as a street bootblack. Just before Jacob dies, he tells the boy that he is really Gilbert Grey, the son of a wealthy Cincinnati, OH, businessman named John Grey. However, John’s brother James conspired with Jacob to spirit the child away, claiming that he drowned, so that James could inherit the family wealth. Jacob has written a confession explaining all the details. So after Jacob’s death, Tom, or Gilbert, heads for Cincinnati to see if he can locate his uncle and claim his fortune. What will he find? Can he succeed? Horatio Alger, Jr. (1832-1899) was a nineteenth-century American author who wrote approximately 135 novels, beginning with Ragged Dick in 1867, most of which have been described as rags to riches stories, illustrating how down-and-out boys might be able to achieve the American dream of wealth and success through hard work, courage, determination, and concern for others. The son of a Unitarian minister, Alger also became a Unitarian minister in Brewster, MA, but soon retired from the ministry and moved to New York City where he formed an association with the Newsboys Lodging House and other agencies offering aid to impoverished children. Alger\'s empathy with the young working men, coupled with the moral values he learned at home, formed the basis for his stories. He is noted as a significant figure in the history of American cultural and social ideals, even though his novels are rarely read these days. Tom the bootblack is a good role-model of honesty, hard work, and persistence. There are a couple of references to dancing, but the evils of alcoholic drink are strongly emphasized. The book is recommended by Nathaniel Bluedorn in Hand That Rocks the Cradle: 400 Classic Books for Children, saying, “These stories teach good character and the benefits of entrepreneurial business practices.” Though Alger’s books may be considered by some as hopelessly outdated and even “weird” today, I can easily see why young boys used to eat them up until they went out of style, and to be honest, even looked upon as pulp fiction, they are still a lot better than much of the trash that poses as young people’s literature in our time. At the end of Tom, the Bootblack, Alger apparently included a couple of short stories, one about Davie Cameron, a poor Scottish peasant who finds a buried treasure, and the other about a young boy named Lloyd who tries to save a schooner during a storm by building a fire on the beach. Faith in God is stressed in both.
Views: 316

The Young Outlaw; or, Adrift in the Streets

The Young Outlaw It different from the usual rags-to-riches story by Horatio Alger -- because the "hero" is not honorable, steals and lies when he thinks it would help, does not get to a decent life by working diligently, and ends up on the street. Again, NOT your usual Alger -- but the sequel we\'re directed to at the end (Sam\'s Chance) would indicate that all will change in the future.
Views: 309

The Young Miner; Or, Tom Nelson in California

Our young man Tom is in California to hopefully strike it rich in the gold fields. The story shows how he worked hard but also had plenty of help to get closer to his goal. I suppose the boys lapped up this sort of thing like cream back then, but there are more factors to success than just hard work. Tom was lucky with the people he met on his adventure, and the ending of the book would have been quite different and perhaps much more realistic if he had fallen in with different characters. I entertained myself even more while reading by searching out the Lesson in each chapter. They were not always spelled out and were never preachy, but they were there. Here is my list. Actually, quite a few of them would still be good advice today: Chapter 1: work hard and be reasonable with your expectations Chapter 2 : don\'t drink and don\'t gamble Chapter 3 : take care of your parents; and smoking is a bad habit Chapter 4 : don\'t rely on \'luck\' to create your future Chapter 5 : don\'t hang out with the bad guys Chapter 6 : don\'t sleep too soundly Chapter 7 : don\'t assume you are smarter than everyone else Chapter 8 : you will get what you deserve eventually in some form, whether good or bad Chapter 9 : you should be man enough to stare misfortune in the face when it is in front of you: don\'t run from it or think it is worse than it is Chapter 10 : be careful when answering the personal questions of a woman with a gun Chapter 11 : be careful what you wish for Chapter 12 : accept the responsibility for things that go wrong when under your care Chapter 13: accept the need to work Chapter 14 : when discussing mountains or trees or anything else, size is not everything Chapter 15 : if you meet a bear in the woods, don\'t turn and run away Chapter 16 : when you don\'t have everything you wish for, make do with what you have Chapter 17 : remember to do your duty when you need to, don\'t just stand around with your mouth hanging open Chapter 18 : use your common sense Chapter 19 : a bargain is a bargain Chapter 20 : sell when the price is right Chapter 21 : buy when the deal is good Chapter 22 : once again, don\'t gamble! Chapter 23 : don\'t think too much of the past, just vow not to repeat any foolish actions and then keep going forward Chapter 24 : do your best at all times Chapter 25 : never think of stealing Chapter 26 : pay your debts before buying things you don\'t need Chapter 27 : a dead river is the best place to find gold Chapter 28 : gold is only valuable for what it will bring Chapter 29 : appearances are deceiving Chapter 30 : a business man should not be completely hard-hearted Chapter 31 : be bold when bidding but don\'t bid if you don\'t have the money to pay Chapter 32 : do not misuse the advantages you are given in life
Views: 302

Making His Way; Or, Frank Courtney's Struggle Upward

Leopold is delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. This means that we have checked every single page in every title, making it highly unlikely that any material imperfections – such as poor picture quality, blurred or missing text - remain. When our staff observed such imperfections in the original work, these have either been repaired, or the title has been excluded from the Leopold Classic Library catalogue. As part of our on-going commitment to delivering value to the reader, within the book we have also provided you with a link to a website, where you may download a digital version of this work for free. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience. If you would like to learn more about the Leopold Classic Library collection please visit our website at www.leopoldclassiclibrary.com --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Views: 294

Ben, the Luggage Boy; Or, Among the Wharves

This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them.
Views: 290

The Telegraph Boy

The Telegraph Boy
Views: 289

Robert Coverdale's Struggle; Or, on the Wave of Success

If you’ve ever used the phrase “rags to riches,” you owe that to Horatio Alger, Jr. (1832-1899), who popularized the idea through his fictional writings that also served as a theme for the way America viewed itself as a country. Alger’s works about poor boys rising to better living conditions through hard work, determination, courage, honesty, and morals was popular with both adults and younger readers. Alger’s writings happened to correspond with America’s Gilded Age, a time of increasing prosperity in a nation rebuilding from the Civil War. His lifelong theme of rags to riches continued to gain popularity but has gradually lessened since the 1920s. Still, readers today often come across Ragged Dick and stories like it in school.
Views: 286

Luke Walton

CHAPTER I A CHICAGO NEWSBOY "News and Mail, one cent each!" Half a dozen Chicago newsboys, varying in age from ten to sixteen years, with piles of papers in their hands, joined in the chorus. They were standing in front and at the sides of the Sherman House, on the corner of Clark and Randolph Streets, one of the noted buildings in the Lake City. On the opposite side of Randolph Street stands a gloomy stone structure, the Court House and City Hall. In the shadow of these buildings, at the corner, Luke Walton, one of the largest newsboys, had posted himself. There was something about his bearing and appearance which distinguished him in a noticeable way from his companions. To begin with, he looked out of place. He was well grown, with a frank, handsome face, and was better dressed than the average newsboy. That was one reason, perhaps, why he preferred to be by himself, rather than to engage in the scramble for customers which was the habit of the boys around him. It was half-past five. The numerous cars that passed were full of business men, clerks, and boys, returning to their homes after a busy day. Luke had but two papers left, but these two for some unaccountable reason remained on his hands an unusual length of time. But at length a comfortable-looking gentleman of middle age, coming from the direction of La Salle Street, paused and said, "You may give me a News, my boy." "Here you are, sir," he said, briskly. The gentleman took the paper, and thrusting his hand into his pocket, began to feel for a penny, but apparently without success. "I declare," he said, smiling, "I believe I am penniless. I have nothing but a five-dollar bill." "Never mind, sir! Take the paper and pay me to morrow." "But I may not see you." "I am generally here about this time." "And if I shouldn\'t see you, you will lose the penny." "I will risk it, sir," said Luke, smiling. "You appear to have confidence in me." "Yes, sir." "Then it is only fair that I should have confidence in you." Luke looked puzzled, for he didn\'t quite understand what was in the gentleman\'s mind. "I will take both of your papers. Here is a five-dollar bill. You may bring me the change to-morrow, at my office, No. 155 La Salle Street. My name is Benjamin Afton." "But, sir," objected Luke, "there is no occasion for this. It is much better that I should trust you for two cents than that you should trust me with five dollars." "Probably the two cents are as important to you as five dollars to me. At any rate, it is a matter of confidence, and I am quite willing to trust you." "Thank you, sir, but——" "I shall have to leave you, or I shall be home late to dinner." Before Luke had a chance to protest further, he found himself alone, his stock of papers exhausted, and a five-dollar bill in his hand. While he stood on the corner in some perplexity, a newsboy crossed Randolph Street, and accosted him. "My eyes, if you ain\'t in luck, Luke Walton," he said. "Where did you get that bill? Is it a one?" "No, it\'s a five." "Where\'d you get it?" "A gentleman just bought two papers of me." "And gave you five dollars!... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Views: 283

Mark Mason's Victory: The Trials and Triumphs of a Telegraph Boy

This story is from rags to riches. There is no such thing as impossible as long as you have the determination to achieve your goal as if your life depends on it. Mark Mason, the telegraph boy, was a sturdy, honest lad, who pluckily won his way to success by his honest manly efforts under many difficulties.
Views: 279

Walter Sherwood's Probation

The best books by Horatio Alger, Jr. in one (With an active table of contents):Ragged Dick, Street Life In New York With The Boot Blacks,Do and Dare, A Brave Boy\'s Fight For Fortune,Helping Himself,Struggling Upward, Luke Larson\'s Luck,Walter Sherwood\'s Probation,Paul Prescott,Randy of the River, Adventures of a Young Deckhand
Views: 277