His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant? Why is to-day any different from ordinary days?”
His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant? Why is to-day any different from ordinary days?”
"Mother, this is an important day for me," said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.
His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, "What do you mean, Grant? Why is to-day any different from ordinary days?"
"I am sixteen to-day, mother!"
"So you are, Grant. I ought to have thought of it. I am sorry," she added wistfully, "that I haven't got a present for you, but you know Mr. Tarbox--"
"Is the stingiest man in the country. Yes, I know that well enough."
2"I actually haven't a cent that I can call my own, Grant."
"I know that very well, mother. It was an unlucky day when you married that old skinflint."
"Don't call him that, Grant," said his mother, with an apprehensive look in the direction of the door.
"He's all that, and more if possible. When did he give you any money last?"
"Two weeks ago."
"And how much did he give you at that time?"
"Twenty-five cents."
"What a shame! Why, if you had hired out as his housekeeper he would have been compelled to give you more."
"Yes, Grant," sighed Mrs. Tarbox, "I wish I were his housekeeper instead of his wife. I should be more independent."
"He made a good bargain when he married you, mother. But I never understood why you married him."
"I acted for the best, as I thought, Grant. You know how your poor father left us. 3After his affairs were settled, there were only two hundred and fifty dollars left, and you were but twelve years old. I took in sewing, and earned what I could, but at the end of a year I had used up a hundred dollars of our small capital. Then Mr. Tarbox asked me to marry him, and I agreed, for I thought it would give us a comfortable home."
"A comfortable home!" repeated Grant. "We have enough to eat, it is true, but you never worked so hard in your life, and I can say the same for myself. I was barely fourteen when Mr. Tarbox took me away from school, and since then I have had to work early and late. At five o'clock, winter and summer, I have to turn out of bed, and work all day, so that when night comes I am dead tired."
"That is true, Grant," said his mother, with a look of distress. "You work too hard for a boy of your age."
"And what do I get for it?" continued Grant indignantly. "I haven't any clothes. Charlie Titus asked me the other day why I didn't go to church. I was ashamed to tell him 4that it was because I had no clothes fit to wear there. It is a year since I had my last suit, and now I have grown out of it. My coat is too short in the sleeves, and my pantaloons in the legs."
"Perhaps I can lengthen them out, Grant."
"You did it six months ago. There is no more chance. No, I'll tell you what I am going to do. I'll ask Mr. Tarbox for a new suit, and as it is my birthday, perhaps he will open his heart and be generous for once."
"It is a good plan, Grant. There he is now, out by the well curb."
"Then I'll speak at once. Wish me luck, mother."
"I do, my son. I heartily wish you good luck now and always."
Grant opened the side door, and went out into the yard. Seth Tarbox looked up, and his glance fell upon his step-son.
"Come here, Grant," he said, "I want you to turn the grindstone while I sharpen my scythe."
"Wait a minute, Mr. Tarbox. I want to speak to you."
5"Go ahead! You can speak if you want to," said Tarbox, slightly surprised.
"It is my birthday to-day."
"Is it? How old be you?"
"Sixteen."
"A boy of sixteen ought to do a great deal of work. Why, you are 'most a man."
"I do a good deal of work, Mr. Tarbox, but I don't seem to get much pay for it."
"Hey? You want pay? Why, don't you get your victuals and clothes?"
"I get my victuals, yes. But I don't get clothes, and that is just what I want to speak to you about."
Mr. Tarbox began to grow uneasy. He knew what was coming.
"What have you got on, I'd like to know?" he inquired.
"Some rags and overalls," answered Grant bluntly.
"They're good enough to work in. You've got a suit to wear Sundays."
"Have I? It's hardly fit to wear common days. Why, it's a year since I had the suit, and I've outgrown it."
6"I'm afraid you're getting proud, Grant," said his step-father uneasily.
"I'm not proud of my clothes, I can tell you that. Mr. Tarbox, I've worked for you the last year early and late, and I think I ought to have a new suit. It will make a nice birthday present."
"Money's very skerce, Grant," said his step-father uneasily, "and clothes are very high. I gave twelve dollars for that last suit of yours. It came hard. Think how long it takes to earn twelve dollars. I haven't had a suit myself for ten months."
"But you can have one if you want it."
"I'll tell you what I'll do, Grant," said Mr. Tarbox, with a bright idea. "You're 'most as big as I am. You're unusually large for your age. I'll buy a new suit for myself, and give you mine. Your mother can fix it over to fit you."
Grant's face assumed a look of disgust.
"Thank you, Mr. Tarbox," he said, "but I don't want to wear your old clothes. If I can't have a new suit I don't want any."
"'Pears to me you're mighty particular."
7"I don't think so. I only want what's right. Most boys of my age have at least two new suits a year. Charlie Titus had three."
"Then his father's very foolish to gratify his love of finery. Come, we'd better go to work."
"You haven't answered my question yet, Mr. Tarbox."
"What is it?" asked Tarbox peevishly.
"Will you buy me a new suit?"
"Wait two or three months, Grant."
"Why should I wait two or three months? I need the clothes now."
"Money may be easier then."
"I am not willing to wait."
"'Pears to me you're very headstrong, Grant Colburn," said the farmer in a tone of displeasure.
"I want my rights. I won't work if you are going to deal so closely with me."
Seth Tarbox frowned, and looked perplexed. But presently an idea came to him and his face smoothed.
"Perhaps we can fix it, Grant," he said in a conciliatory tone.
8Grant felt encouraged. It looked as if his request were to be granted.
"I shall be very much obliged to you," he said.
"Wait a minute! You aint got my idea. Your mother has money."
"What if she has?" asked Grant suspiciously.
"If she will lend you ten or twelve dollars to buy a suit I'll make it up to her in, say three or four months."
Grant's face darkened. He knew very well that the money never would be repaid, and he penetrated the crafty design of his step-father.
"No, Mr. Tarbox," he said. "My mother's money must not be touched. There's little enough of it, and I don't want her to run the risk of losing it."
"But she won't lose it. Didn't I say I would pay it back?"
"Why can't you advance the money yourself?"
"Didn't I tell you money was skerce?" said Seth Tarbox irritably.
"I know you've got money in two savings 9banks, besides some railroad bonds. Tom Wilson told me the other day that you had over five thousand dollars in money and bonds."
"Tom Wilson don't know anything about my affairs," said Tarbox hastily. "I'll think it over, Grant, and mebbe-I won't promise-I'll see what I can do for you. Now we'll go to work. It's a sin to be idle."
Frank Fowler leaves his small town home shortly after the death of the only mother he has ever known to make his fortune in New York. These small town adventures are fully loaded with stock Alger characters...
Alger is the original rags-to-riches guy, often credited with inventing the strive-and-succeed spirit that inspired boys to work hard and advance themselves in order to achieve the American Dream. This theme resonates throughout his numerous writings. This story features Phil, a twelve-year-old Italian boy whose poor parents sold him to a Faginesque-like character called the padrone. The padrone has a gang of boys who he sends out each day with the edict that they earn $2. Phil earns his money by playing his fiddle. After many adventures with his friends, including Paul the Peddler, he finally manages to escape the bonds of the padrone. The See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.
A short story, set in the USA. A young man in a private school learns that his guardian has lost his inheritance in some poor business dealing; as a result, there is no money left and he must leave the school to make his own way in the world. The story follows his adventures as he escapes being cheated, but is then accused of theft for which another is guilty. Of course, he lands on his feet and builds himself a circle of friends and makes his fortune.
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!
Noelle was the long-lost daughter everyone had been searched for, yet the family brushed her off and fawned over her stand-in. Tired of scorn, she walked away and married a man whose influence could shake the country. Dance phenom, street-race champ, virtuoso composer, master restorer-each secret triumph hit the headlines, and her family's smug smiles cracked. Father charged back from abroad, mother wept for a hug, and five brothers knelt in the rain begging. Beneath the jeweled night sky, her husband pulled her close, his voice a velvet promise. "They're not worth it. Come on, let's just go home."
Being second best is practically in my DNA. My sister got the love, the attention, the spotlight. And now, even her damn fiancé. Technically, Rhys Granger was my fiancé now-billionaire, devastatingly hot, and a walking Wall Street wet dream. My parents shoved me into the engagement after Catherine disappeared, and honestly? I didn't mind. I'd crushed on Rhys for years. This was my chance, right? My turn to be the chosen one? Wrong. One night, he slapped me. Over a mug. A stupid, chipped, ugly mug my sister gave him years ago. That's when it hit me-he didn't love me. He didn't even see me. I was just a warm-bodied placeholder for the woman he actually wanted. And apparently, I wasn't even worth as much as a glorified coffee cup. So I slapped him right back, dumped his ass, and prepared for disaster-my parents losing their minds, Rhys throwing a billionaire tantrum, his terrifying family plotting my untimely demise. Obviously, I needed alcohol. A lot of alcohol. Enter him. Tall, dangerous, unfairly hot. The kind of man who makes you want to sin just by existing. I'd met him only once before, and that night, he just happened to be at the same bar as my drunk, self-pitying self. So I did the only logical thing: I dragged him into a hotel room and ripped off his clothes. It was reckless. It was stupid. It was completely ill-advised. But it was also: Best. Sex. Of. My. Life. And, as it turned out, the best decision I'd ever made. Because my one-night stand isn't just some random guy. He's richer than Rhys, more powerful than my entire family, and definitely more dangerous than I should be playing with. And now, he's not letting me go.
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
Liana DeLuca grew up in silence, obeying every rule under her uncle's strict church roof. So when he forces her into marriage with a known mafia playboy, her world flips upside down. Matteo Romano is sin in human form and she wants no part of him. But Matteo isn't used to hearing "no." He's tasted every kind of pleasure life offers... except a woman like Liana. She's untouched, unbothered, and completely unimpressed by his power. He wants her. She wants him to beg. In a world full of secrets, violence, and desire, Liana finds herself pulled deeper into the underworld and deeper into Matteo's arms. But can love survive where lies were the foundation? Or will Matteo's past burn down the only good thing he's ever wanted?
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
After a one-night stand with a stranger, Roselyn woke up to find only a bank card without a PIN number. Still in a daze, she was detained on charges of theft. Just as the handcuffs were about to close, the mysterious man reappeared, holding her pregnancy report. "You're pregnant with my child," he said coldly. Shocked, Roselyn was whisked away in a helicopter to the presidential palace, where she learned the truth: the man from that night was none other than the country's most powerful and influential leader!
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