Produced by Lynn Ratcliffe with thanks to Gail McGrew for the loan of the book WAIT AND HOPE or A Plucky Boy's Luck by Horatio Alger, JR. New York Book Company Copyright 1909 Table of Contents I - Ben and His Aunt II - Three Situations III - At Lovell's Grounds IV - The Boys' Race V - Ben Wins Again VI - Mr. Dobson's Visit VII - Ben Gets Employment VIII - Deacon Sawyer's Liberality IX - Mr. Manning's Proposal X - Ben's Journey XI - In New York XII - An Adventure XIII - A Curious Old Lady XIV - Prof. Crane, The Phrenologist XV - An Old Convert to Phrenology XVI - Ben's Loss XVII - The Strange Captor XVIII - The Envelope XIX - The Prize for Scholarship XX - Before the Battle XXI - Ben Wins at School XXII - Sam's Revenge XXIII - The Decoy Letter XXIV - Ben Arrives in Boston XXV - Sam Gives Himself Away XXVI - Ben Finds a Boarding-Place XXVII - Sam Attempts Strategy XXVIII - Sam Praises Ben XXIX - The Cunard Steamer XXX - Sam Is Improved By Adversity XXXI - Clouds in the Sky XXXII - The Blow Falls XXXIII - Ben Receives a Commission XXXIV - Solomon Brief XXXV - John Tremlett XXXVI - A Surprising Discovery XXXVII - The Dead Alive XXXVIII - Conclusion Chapter I Ben and His Aunt Five o'clock sounded from the church clock, and straightway the streets of Milltown were filled with men, women, and children issuing from the great brick factories huddled together at one end of the town. Among these, two boys waked in company, James Watson and Ben Bradford. They were very nearly of an age, James having just passed his fifteenth birthday, and Ben having nearly attained it. Both boys looked sober. Why, will appear from their conversation. "It's rather hard to get out of a job just now," said James. "Why couldn't the superintendent discharge somebody else?" "I suppose it's all right," said Ben. "We were taken on last, and we haven't as much claim to remain as those that have been in the mill longer." "I don't believe there was any need of discharging anybody," complained James. "You know business is very dull," said Ben, who was more considerate, "and I hear they have been losing money." "Oh, well, they can stand it," said James. "So can you," said Ben. "Your father is pretty well off, and you won't suffer." "Oh, I shall have enough to eat, and so on; but I shan't have any spending money, and I can't get a new suit, as I expected to this fall." "I wish that was all I had to fear," said Ben; "but you know how it is with me. I don't see how Aunt Jane is going to get along without my earnings." "Oh, you'll get along somehow," said James carelessly, for he did not care enough about other people's prospects to discuss them. "Yes, I guess so," said Ben, more cheerfully. "There's no use in worrying. Wait and Hope--that's my motto."