The Helpers

"The Helpers" by Francis Lynde is a story set in the late 1800s about a man named Henry Jeffard who moves to Denver hoping to make something of himself, but quickly learns how tough life can be through challenges and missteps. The story follows Jeffard's journey as he deals with his dreams, disappointments, and the possibility of turning his life around; he meets people who show different ways of dealing with the world and its problems. Early in the story, Jeffard goes to an opera where he catches the eye of two young women, Connie and Myra; their lighthearted teasing about him leads to Jeffard having a life-changing discussion with Connie, which helps him see things differently. The book shows Jeffard struggling with himself as he tries to reconcile his big goals with how far he has fallen, paving the way to examining kindness, how society judges people, and finding your own path to redemption; also, the relationships between the characters highlight the idea of helping others when they are struggling, which emphasizes the story's message about the human spirit.