The Project Gutenberg EBook of Timothy Crump's Ward, by Horatio Alger

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Title: Timothy Crump's Ward
A Story of American Life

Author: Horatio Alger

Release Date: Release Date: November, 2003 [EBook #4660]
Posting Date: February 5, 2010

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TIMOTHY CRUMP'S WARD ***

Produced by Charles Aldarondo

TIMOTHY CRUMP'S WARD:

A STORY OF AMERICAN LIFE.

By Horatio Alger

1866.

CONTENTS.

I. INTRODUCES THE CRUMPS
II. THE EVENTS OF AN EVENING
III. THE LANDLORD'S VISIT
IV. THE NEW YEAR'S PRESENT
V. A LUCKY RESCUE
VI. WHAT THE ENVELOPE CONTAINED
VII. EIGHT YEARS. IDA'S PROGRESS
VIII. A STRANGE VISITOR
IX. A JOURNEY
X. UNEXPECTED QUARTERS
XI. SUSPENSE
XII. HOW IDA FARED
XIII. BAD COIN
XIV. DOUBTS AND FEARS
XV. AUNT RACHEL'S MISHAPS
XVI. THE FLOWER-GIRL
XVII. JACK OBTAINS INFORMATION
XVIII. FINESSE
XIX. CAUGHT IN A TRAP
XX. JACK IN CONFINEMENT
XXI. THE PRISONER ESCAPES
XXII. MR. JOHN SOMERVILLE
XXIII. THE LAW STEPS IN
XXIV. "THE FLOWER-GIRL"
XXV. IDA IS FOUND
XXVI. "NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND"
XXVII. CONCLUSION

TIMOTHY CRUMP'S WARD.

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCES THE CRUMPS.

IT was drawing towards the close of the last day of the year. A few
hours more, and 1836 would be no more.

It was a cold day. There was no snow on the ground, but it was frozen
into stiff ridges, making it uncomfortable to walk upon. The sun had
been out all day, but there was little heat or comfort in its bright,
but frosty beams.

The winter is a hard season for the poor. It multiplies their
necessities, while, in general, it limits their means and opportunities
of earning. The winter of 1836-37 was far from being an exception to
this rule. It was worse than usual, on account of the general stagnation
of business.

In an humble tenement, located on what was then the outskirts of New
York, though to-day a granite warehouse stands on the spot, lived
Timothy Crump, an industrious cooper. His family consisted of a wife