Other editions of book Sink or Swim

Horatio Alger, Jr. ( January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19th-century American author, best known for his many 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. Essentially, all of Alger's juvenile novels share the same theme: a teenage boy works hard to escape poverty. Often though, it is not the hard work itself that rescues the boy from his fate, but rather some extraordinary act of bravery or honesty. The boy might return a large sum of lost money or rescue someone from an overturned carriage. This brings the boy—and his plight—to the attention of a wealthy individual

A hard working youth is kidnapped after witnessing a local squire set a house on fire. This book, written in the mid-19th century, tells the story of Harry Raymond (it is subtitled Harry Raymond's Resolve). The hero, Harry, is a 15-year old living in Vernon, NY. Harry is left to provide for his family after his father is killed in a tragic accident, and encounters many trials along the way. But he also wins some people over with his attitude and resolve, and in the end comes out much better for his efforts.

SiNK or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote. These words were declaimed in a clear, ringing voice from the platform of the Vernon High School. The speaker was a boy of fifteen, well-knit and vigorous, with a frank, manly expression, and a preposessing face. His dark intellectual brow, and his attitude, as he faced his schoolmates, was one of ease and unconscious grace. His eye flashed as he declaimed with appropriate emphasis the patriotic extract which commences in the wellknown words quoted above. He had learned the orators secret to be in earnest and he carried his audience with him.(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the aged text. Read books online for free at

Excerpt from Sink or SwimVery well indeed, Master Raymond! You speak as if you felt it, he said.Harry Raymond looked gratified at this double commendation. The applause of his schoolmates pleased him, for he was by no means indifferent to their good opinion, which he tried on all occasions to deserve. He was no less pleased with Mr. Tower's praise, for he had a high respect for his ability, and that praise was never lightly bestowed.I have spoken of Harry's good appearance. I am obliged to confess that his dress had nothing to do with this. In fact, his jacket and pants were of very coarse texture, and by no means elegant in fit. Besides this, they appeared, though neat, to have seen considerable service, and there was a patch on one knee - very small, indeed, but still a patch. In fact, I may as Well state at the outset that Harry was the son of a house carpenter - an industrious and intelligent man, but still of limited income, and obliged to economize strictly in order to lay aside, as he made it a point to do, a hundred dollars a year as a provision for the future.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Sink or SwimVery well indeed, Master Raymond! You speak as if you felt it, he said.Harry Raymond looked gratified at this double commendation. The applause of his schoolmates pleased him, for he was by no means indifferent to their good opinion, which he tried on all occasions to deserve. He was no less pleased with Mr. Tower's praise, for he had a high respect for his ability, and that praise was never lightly bestowed.I have spoken of Harry's good appearance. I am obliged to confess that his dress had nothing to do with this. In fact, his jacket and pants were of very coarse texture, and by no means elegant in fit. Besides this, they appeared, though neat, to have seen considerable service, and there was a patch on one knee - very small, indeed, but still a patch. In fact, I may as Well state at the outset that Harry was the son of a house carpenter - an industrious and intelligent man, but still of limited income, and obliged to economize strictly in order to lay aside, as he made it a point to do, a hundred dollars a year as a provision for the future.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.