Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1852, and from its
Divinity School in 1860, and was pastor of the Unitarian Church at
Brewster, Massachusetts, from 1862 to 1866.

He removed to New York City in 1866, where he wrote his first book for
boys, _Ragged Dick_, which had a wonderful sale. This was followed by
_Fame and Fortune_, and many others, of which the best-known titles are:
_Andy Grant's Pluck, Adrift in New York, Ben's Nugget, Charlie
Codman's Cruise, Chester Rand, Five Hundred Dollars, Grit,
Helping Himself, The Young Adventurer, The Young Explorer, The
Young Miner, The Young Musician, The Store Boy, The Tin Box,
Walter Sherwood's Probation, and Work and Win_.

Mr. Alger's stories are pure in tone, inspiring in influence, and are as
popular now as when they were first published, because they were written
about real boys who did honest things successfully. Millions of his
books have been sold since they were first published. _The World's Work_
of June, 1910, said they were then selling at the rate of over one
million copies a year. This estimate is low; it is a fact that they are
now selling at the rate of over two million copies a year.




ANDY GRANT'S PLUCK.




CHAPTER I.