Chapter I: Front Matter

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Transcriber's note:

The Table of Contents, not in the original book, has been
added for the convenience of the reader.

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Or

The Trials and Triumphs of Harry West

A Story for Young Folks

by

OLIVER OPTIC

Author of "The Boat Club," "All Aboard," "Poor and Proud," "Hope and Have," "Now or Never," Etc.

New York The New York Book Company 1911

Contents

Chapter Page
BIOGRAPHY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY 4
I IN WHICH HARRY WEST AND SQUIRE WALKER DISAGREE ON AN
IMPORTANT POINT 5
II IN WHICH HARRY FINDS A FRIEND, AND A PRACTICABLE
SCHEME FOR RESISTANCE 11
III IN WHICH HARRY LEAVES THE POORHOUSE, AND TAKES TO
THE RIVER 19
IV IN WHICH IT IS SHOWN THAT THE NAVIGATION OF THE
RIVER IS DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS 26
V IN WHICH HARRY FIGHTS A HARD BATTLE, AND IS
DEFEATED 33
VI IN WHICH HARRY CONCLUDES THAT A DEFEAT IS SOMETIMES
BETTER THAN A VICTORY 41
VII IN WHICH HARRY FINDS HIMSELF IN A TIGHT PLACE AND
EXECUTES A COUNTER MOVEMENT 48
VIII IN WHICH HARRY KILLS A BIG SNAKE, AND MAKES A NEW
FRIEND 55
IX IN WHICH HARRY BREAKFASTS ON DOUGHNUTS, AND FINDS
THAT ANGELS DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE WINGS 62
X IN WHICH HARRY FARES SUMPTUOUSLY, AND TAKES LEAVE
OF THE LITTLE ANGEL 69
XI IN WHICH HARRY REACHES THE CITY, AND THOUGH OFTEN
DISAPPOINTED, TRIES AGAIN 76
XII IN WHICH HARRY SUDDENLY GETS RICH AND HAS A
CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER HARRY 83
XIII IN WHICH HARRY BECOMES A STABLE BOY, AND HEARS
BAD NEWS FROM ROCKVILLE 90
XIV IN WHICH HARRY DOES A GOOD DEED, AND DETERMINES
TO "FACE THE MUSIC" 97
XV IN WHICH HARRY MAKES THE ACQUAINTANCE OF A VERY
IMPORTANT PERSONAGE 104
XVI IN WHICH HARRY GOES INTO THE DRYGOODS BUSINESS 111
XVII IN WHICH HARRY REVISITS ROCKVILLE, AND MEETS WITH
A SERIOUS LOSS 117
XVIII IN WHICH HARRY MEETS WITH AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE AND
GETS A HARD KNOCK ON THE HEAD 124
XIX IN WHICH HARRY FINDS THAT EVEN A BROKEN HEAD MAY
BE OF SOME USE TO A PERSON 131
XX IN WHICH HARRY PASSES THROUGH HIS SEVEREST TRIAL,
AND ACHIEVES HIS GREATEST TRIUMPH 137
XXI IN WHICH HARRY IS VERY PLEASANTLY SITUATED, AND
THE STORY COMES TO AN END 147

BIOGRAPHY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY

William Taylor Adams, American author, better known and loved by boys and girls through his pseudonym "Oliver Optic," was born July 30, 1822, in the town of Medway, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, about twenty-five miles from Boston. For twenty years he was a teacher in the Public Schools of Boston, where he came in close contact with boy life. These twenty years taught him how to reach the boy's heart and interest as the popularity of his books attest.

His story writing began in 1850 when he was twenty-eight years old and his first book was published in 1853. He also edited "The Oliver Optic Magazine," "The Student and Schoolmate," "Our Little Ones."

Mr. Adams died at the age of seventy-five years, in Boston, March 27, 1897.

He was a prolific writer and his stories are most attractive and unobjectionable. Most of his books were published in series. Probably the most famous of these is "The Boat Club Series" which comprises the following titles:

"The Boat Club," "All Aboard," "Now or Never," "Try Again," "Poor and Proud," "Little by Little." All of these titles will be found in this edition.

Other well-known series are his "Soldier Boy Series," "Sailor Boy Series," "Woodville Stories." The "Woodville Stories" will also be found in this edition.

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