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The Young Bank Messenger
"The Young Bank Messenger" is a captivating and inspirational novel that transports readers to a bygone era, where a young protagonist's journey through the world of finance becomes a thrilling tale of ambition, integrity, and self-discovery. Crafted by a talented author known for their evocative storytelling, this book offers a poignant blend of coming-of-age narrative and financial intrigue.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1896
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About the author
Horatio Alger Jr.
446 books96 followersHoratio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19th-century American author, most famous for his novels following the adventures of bootblacks, newsboys, peddlers, buskers, and other impoverished children in their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of respectable middle-class security and comfort. His novels about boys who succeed under the tutelage of older mentors were hugely popular in their day.
Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the son of a Unitarian minister, Alger entered Harvard University at the age of sixteen. Following graduation, he briefly worked in education before touring Europe for almost a year. He then entered the Harvard Divinity School, and, in 1864, took a position at a Unitarian church in Brewster, Massachusetts. Two years later, he resigned following allegations he had sexual relations with two teenage boys.[1] He retired from the ministry and moved to New York City where he formed an association with the Newsboys Lodging House and other agencies offering aid to impoverished children. His sympathy for the working boys of the city, coupled with the moral values learned at home, were the basis of his many juvenile rags to riches novels illustrating how down-and-out boys might be able to achieve the American Dream of wealth and success through hard work, courage, determination, and concern for others. This widely held view involves Alger's characters achieving extreme wealth and the subsequent remediation of their "old ghosts." Alger is noted as a significant figure in the history of American cultural and social ideals. He died in 1899.
The first full-length Alger biography was commissioned in 1927 and published in 1928, and along with many others that borrowed from it later proved to be heavily fictionalized parodies perpetuating hoaxes and made up anecdotes that "would resemble the tell-all scandal biographies of the time."[2] Other biographies followed, sometimes citing the 1928 hoax as fact. In the last decades of the twentieth century a few more reliable biographies were published that attempt to correct the errors and fictionalizations of the past.
Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the son of a Unitarian minister, Alger entered Harvard University at the age of sixteen. Following graduation, he briefly worked in education before touring Europe for almost a year. He then entered the Harvard Divinity School, and, in 1864, took a position at a Unitarian church in Brewster, Massachusetts. Two years later, he resigned following allegations he had sexual relations with two teenage boys.[1] He retired from the ministry and moved to New York City where he formed an association with the Newsboys Lodging House and other agencies offering aid to impoverished children. His sympathy for the working boys of the city, coupled with the moral values learned at home, were the basis of his many juvenile rags to riches novels illustrating how down-and-out boys might be able to achieve the American Dream of wealth and success through hard work, courage, determination, and concern for others. This widely held view involves Alger's characters achieving extreme wealth and the subsequent remediation of their "old ghosts." Alger is noted as a significant figure in the history of American cultural and social ideals. He died in 1899.
The first full-length Alger biography was commissioned in 1927 and published in 1928, and along with many others that borrowed from it later proved to be heavily fictionalized parodies perpetuating hoaxes and made up anecdotes that "would resemble the tell-all scandal biographies of the time."[2] Other biographies followed, sometimes citing the 1928 hoax as fact. In the last decades of the twentieth century a few more reliable biographies were published that attempt to correct the errors and fictionalizations of the past.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 2, 2019
I listened to an audio recording by Librivox.
Very good read/listen. As it says a boy’s struggle for an inheritance. Like your normal story of a poor boy finding out his background is much more than he expected. But in this book, the journey is set in the west. And surprisingly, the lad doesn’t actually set out to claim his inheritance, though he knows how his father was swindled out of it.
Before leaving Iowa, Earnest nearly loses what little he has when a thief holds him at gunpoint. But his friend Luke comes to his aid. Together, they decide to head for California, which is actually the opposite way from the estate that should have been his.
As they travel, walking and mostly living off the land, they encounter interesting experiences. Luke doesn’t want to depend on Earnest’s money, so at one place, he takes on the job of bank detective. Earnest is made a messenger for the bank, too. The problem is the threat of bank robbery! Another bank in a nearby place has been robbed, and it is expected that they will be next. While there, Earnest makes friends with some unlikely people, including an Indian and the son of a notorious outlaw.
Eventually, they get to California where Luke and Earnest try their Luke as miners. Of course, adventures follow them their also.
When the reader begins wondering where the struggle for inheritance is going to come in, eventually the author changes scene. We meet the Cunning cousin enjoying his life, full of his right of position and ownership. His son, around Earnest’s age, seems to be similar. But someone knows a bit more, and is willing to stand for right.
I enjoyed the book. Sure, It is a bit ‘Boy’s Own’, but an enjoyable adventure.
The volunteer reader read the story very well. She was able to give it life.
Very good read/listen. As it says a boy’s struggle for an inheritance. Like your normal story of a poor boy finding out his background is much more than he expected. But in this book, the journey is set in the west. And surprisingly, the lad doesn’t actually set out to claim his inheritance, though he knows how his father was swindled out of it.
Before leaving Iowa, Earnest nearly loses what little he has when a thief holds him at gunpoint. But his friend Luke comes to his aid. Together, they decide to head for California, which is actually the opposite way from the estate that should have been his.
As they travel, walking and mostly living off the land, they encounter interesting experiences. Luke doesn’t want to depend on Earnest’s money, so at one place, he takes on the job of bank detective. Earnest is made a messenger for the bank, too. The problem is the threat of bank robbery! Another bank in a nearby place has been robbed, and it is expected that they will be next. While there, Earnest makes friends with some unlikely people, including an Indian and the son of a notorious outlaw.
Eventually, they get to California where Luke and Earnest try their Luke as miners. Of course, adventures follow them their also.
When the reader begins wondering where the struggle for inheritance is going to come in, eventually the author changes scene. We meet the Cunning cousin enjoying his life, full of his right of position and ownership. His son, around Earnest’s age, seems to be similar. But someone knows a bit more, and is willing to stand for right.
I enjoyed the book. Sure, It is a bit ‘Boy’s Own’, but an enjoyable adventure.
The volunteer reader read the story very well. She was able to give it life.
January 6, 2023
This story goes all over the place. It jumps from one set of characters to another, and back again. Our hero goes out west and takes on a whole set of bad guys, but he always comes out on top. Horatio Alger’s themes are strong again here: work hard, be honest, and live right, and you’ll always win in the end.
April 8, 2021
Ernest is a bank messenger for a hot second, in the middle of a lengthy cul de sac that goes nowhere, delineating the repetitive exploits of a group of bandits. He spends more time running a store (for someone else) among prospectors, but I guess the title The Store Boy was already taken.
Really, as is sometimes the case with later Alger books, it looks like this one, penned towards the end of his life, merely betrays the author's inability to keep his enthusiasm up for his chosen theme. CLEARLY he would rather have been writing about that rangy outdoorsman Luke Robbins, who gets most of the fun stuff to do.
Eventually, of course Ernest gains fortune by inheritance, bank messaging or no bank messaging.
Really, as is sometimes the case with later Alger books, it looks like this one, penned towards the end of his life, merely betrays the author's inability to keep his enthusiasm up for his chosen theme. CLEARLY he would rather have been writing about that rangy outdoorsman Luke Robbins, who gets most of the fun stuff to do.
Eventually, of course Ernest gains fortune by inheritance, bank messaging or no bank messaging.
October 30, 2024
Yet another rags-to-riches tale from the pen of Horatio Alger, Jr.: … However, this time the protagonist is a young, sixteen-year-old male, Ernest Ray … In a lonely cabin in western Iowa (rather than New York), Uncle Peter lies dying … He has some death-bed confessions to impart to his “nephew,” Ernest Ray … non-stop adventure, all the way to California and back to New York … delightful … a good companion for Alger’s “Tattered Tom” …
by
Horatio Alger Jr.
by
Horatio Alger Jr.
January 29, 2012
Horatio Alger Jr.'s heroes and heroines are boys and girls who are brave and courageous and choose to do the right thing.
I read this book for LibriVox last June. Here is the catalog page: http://librivox.org/a-cousins-conspir... 5hr 15min
I read this book for LibriVox last June. Here is the catalog page: http://librivox.org/a-cousins-conspir... 5hr 15min
November 22, 2017
I've been rereading some Alger books, and so far, I've enjoyed this one the most!
January 8, 2024
Such a 'dated' story for boys. Adventure, boys will be boys, and everything works out in the end.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews