Helping Himself; Or, Grant Thornton's Ambition
CONTENTS
“I wish we were not so terribly poor, Grant,” said Mrs. Thornton, in a discouraged tone.
“Is there anything new that makes you say so, mother?” answered the boy of fifteen, whom she addressed.
“Nothing new, only the same old trouble. Here is a note from Mr. Tudor, the storekeeper.”
“Let me see it, mother.”
Grant took a yellow envelope from his mother's hand, and drew out the inclosure, a half sheet of coarse letter paper, which contained the following lines:
“July 7, 1857.
REV. JOHN THORNTON:
DEAR SIR: Inclosed you will find a bill for groceries and other goods furnished to you in the last six months, amounting to sixty-seven dollars and thirty-four cents ($67.34). It ought to have been paid before. How you, a minister of the Gospel, can justify yourself in using goods which you don't pay for, I can't understand. If I remember rightly, the Bible says: 'Owe no man anything.' As I suppose you recognize the Bible as an authority, I expect you to pay up promptly, and oblige,
Yours respectfully, THOMAS TUDOR.”
Grant looked vexed and indignant. “I think that is an impudent letter, mother,” he said.
“It is right that the man should have his money, Grant.”
Jr. Horatio Alger
HELPING HIMSELF
Or
Grant Thornton's Ambition
New York
CHAPTER I — THE MINISTER'S SON
CHAPTER II — GRANT MAKES TWO BUSINESS CALLS
CHAPTER III — GRANT WALKS TO SOMERSET
CHAPTER IV — A TIMELY RESCUE
CHAPTER V — MRS. THORNTON'S PEARLS
CHAPTER VI — GRANT GETS INTO UNEXPECTED TROUBLE
CHAPTER VII — MRS. SIMPSON COMES TO GRIEF
CHAPTER VIII — GRANT TAKES A DECISIVE STEP
CHAPTER IX — 'UNCLE GODFREY PARTS FROM GRANT
CHAPTER X — A DAY IN WALL STREET
CHAPTER XI — GRANT MAKES A FRIEND
CHAPTER XII — MRS. ESTABROOK'S PLANS
CHAPTER XIII — TWO VIEWS OF TOM CALDER
CHAPTER XIV — WILLIS FORD'S NEW FRIENDS
CHAPTER XV — AN ARTFUL TRAP
CHAPTER XVI — GRANT FALLS UNDER SUSPICION
CHAPTER XVII — THE TELLTALE KEY
CHAPTER XVIII — GRANT'S ENEMIES TRIUMPH
CHAPTER XIX — IMPORTANT EVIDENCE
CHAPTER XX — AT THE FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL
CHAPTER XXI — THE THIEF IS DISCOVERED
CHAPTER XXII — WILLIS FORD AT BAY
CHAPTER XXIII — JUSTICE TRIUMPHS
CHAPTER XXIV — STARTLING NEWS
CHAPTER XXV — ANXIOUS INQUIRIES
CHAPTER XXVI — A WESTERN CABIN
CHAPTER XXVII — THE RIDE TO BARTON'S
CHAPTER XXVIII — HERBERT IS PROVIDED WITH A NEW HOME
CHAPTER XXIX — INTRODUCES MR. BARTON
CHAPTER XXX — A MODEL HOUSEHOLD
CHAPTER XXXI — THE HOUSEKEEPER'S CRIME
CHAPTER XXXII — HOPE DEFERRED
CHAPTER XXXIII — THE JOURNEY BEGINS
CHAPTER XXIV — MRS. BARTON'S SURPRISE
CHAPTER XXXV — HERBERT BREAKS DOWN
CHAPTER XXXVI — GRANT RECEIVES A LETTER
CHAPTER XXXVII — WILLIS FORD FINDS THE RUNAWAYS
CHAPTER XXXVIII — FORD TAKES A BOLD STEP, BUT FAILS
CHAPTER XXXIX — THE HOUSEKEEPER'S RETRIBUTION
CHAPTER XL — CONCLUSION