Desk and Debit; or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk

"Desk and Debit; or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk" by Oliver Optic is a story set in the late 1800s about a young man named Phil Farringford. He leaves St. Louis for a fresh start and a chance to find the mother he barely knows. The story explores themes of right and wrong, and how Phil grows as a person through the hard times and good times of his past and present. Leaving home with a strong desire to find his mother, Phil lands a job in a lumber business in Chicago. The early chapters focus on Phil getting to know the city, making new friends, learning to handle his job, and dealing with difficult choices as he meets different people. His relationships and his job teach him a lot about himself.