Mark the Match Boy; or, Richard Hunter's Ward

"Mark the Match Boy; or, Richard Hunter's Ward" by Horatio Alger Jr. is a tale set in 19th century New York City about a young match seller named Mark, who struggles with poverty and mistreatment at the hands of his guardian, Mother Watson, but despite his difficult circumstances, Mark's story centers on his strength, the valuable friendships he makes, and the persistent possibility of improving his station in life, as the narrative begins, we meet the underfed Mark, braving the streets to sell matches, only to face abuse from Mother Watson upon his return home, who is solely concerned with the money he earns, this hostile environment pushes Mark to consider escaping, however, his prospects change when he comes across an unexpected amount of money on a ferryboat, sparking dreams of independence, and pushing the narrative into Mark's quest for self-reliance and freedom from his troubled reality.