Horatio Alger

“ As Carl went out, Miss Norris said: "Henry, that is a remarkable boy."
"I think favorably of him myself. He is in the employ of an old schoolmate of mine, Henry Jennings, of Milford. By the way, what business are you going to put into his hands?"
"A young man who has a shoe store on State Street has asked me for a loan of two thousand dollars to extend his business. His name is John French, and his mother was an old schoolmate of mine, though some years younger. Now I know nothing of him. If he is a sober, steady, industrious young man, I may comply with his request. ”

“ I suppose there is reason for it."
"Yes; I've been robbed."
"Indeed!" said Mr. Norris. "Lost your purse? I wonder more ladies are not robbed, carrying their money as carelessly as they do."
"That isn't it. I am always careful, as careful as any man."
"Still you got robbed."
"Yes, but of a bank book."
Here Carl became attentive. It was clear that he would not have to look any farther for the owner of the book he had found in his stateroom.
"What kind of a bank book?" inquired Mr. Norris.
"I had nearly a thousand dollars deposited in the Sixpenny Savings Bank. ”

“ He was everywhere pleasantly received --in some places with an expression of surprise at his youth--but when he began to talk he proved to be so well informed upon the subject of his call that any prejudice excited by his age quickly vanished. ”