Gaut Gurley; Or, the Trappers of Umbagog: A Tale of Border Life

"Gaut Gurley; Or, the Trappers of Umbagog: A Tale of Border Life" by Daniel P. Thompson is a story set in 19th-century New England where people struggled along a dangerous border, the story explores ideas about right and wrong, bad behavior, and how hard it was for people to get rich and be respected. We meet Mark Elwood, a businessman with problems, and the shady Gaut Gurley, who leads the story toward gambling and doing bad things. The story kicks off at a fancy party Mark Elwood throws to hide that he's broke, but Gaut Gurley shows up and makes everyone uneasy and Mark especially nervous. The start exposes how important being rich and having a good name was back then, and how Mark's own weaknesses might be his downfall as he starts gambling with Gurley. In this way, the story shows how Mark's dreams and his flaws clash, leading to problems.