Grit; or, The Young Boatman of Pine Point

Grit tells the tale of young Grit who runs a ferry service across the Kennebec River. His unsavory stepfather, Brandon, returns from prison and promises to make life for Grit and his mother even more difficult. To satisfy his drinking habit, he sells ... Read more

Grit tells the tale of young Grit who runs a ferry service across the Kennebec River. His unsavory stepfather, Brandon, returns from prison and promises to make life for Grit and his mother even more difficult. To satisfy his drinking habit, he sells Harry's boat, making it very hard for him to support the family. When two strangers come to town with criminal intentions, Grit overhears their plans to rob a bank messenger. He reports this to the President of the bank. Suspecting the messenger is also involved they decide to send Grit with the bonds and send a fake package with the messenger. Then, the fun really begins! Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19th-century American author, best known for his many formulaic juvenile novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of middle-class security and comfort through hard work, determination, courage, and honesty. His writings were characterized by the "rags-to-riches" narrative, which had a formative effect on America during the Gilded Age. Less