Horatio Alger

“ So Richard Hunter kept on his way, indifferent to the criticisms which his conduct excited in the minds of young men of his own age. He looked farther than they and knew that if he wanted to succeed in life, and win the respect of his fellow-men, he he must do something else than attend theaters, and, spend his evenings in billard saloons. Fosdick, who was a quiet, studious boy, fully agreed with his friend in his views of life, and by his companionship did much to strengthen and confirm Richard in his resolution. ”

“ How much good that money would have done my poor father," he added, with a sigh.
"How much good it will do you, Fosdick."
Fosdick shook his head. "I would sell out my chance of getting it for ten dollars," he said.
"I would buy it at that price if I wanted to make money out of you; but I don't. I advise you to attend to this matter at once."
"What can I do?" asked Fosdick, who seemed at a loss to understand his companion's meaning.
"There is only one thing to do," said Dick, promptly. Call on Mr. Bates this evening at the hotel. Tell him who you are, and hint that you should like the money." ”

“ In the roamings spent outside many laid the foundation of wrong habits, which eventually led to ruin or shortened their lives. They lost all the chances of improvement which they might have secured by study at home in the long winter evenings, and which in the end might have qualified them for posts of higher responsibility, and with a larger compensation.
Richard Hunter was ambitious. He wanted to rise to an honorable place in the community, and he meant to earn it by hard study. So Fosdick and he were in the habit of spending a portion every evening in improving reading or study. ”