The Train Boy

"The Train Boy" by Horatio Alger Jr. is a story about Paul Palmer, a clever 16-year-old train boy who makes his living selling magazines on a train between Milwaukee and Chicago. The story follows Paul as he shows his good character while dealing with tough situations and protecting his family from mean people. At the beginning, Paul is happy with his job, chatting with passengers and being friendly. He meets a kind young woman, Grace Dearborn, who helps his little sister. But things get dangerous when Paul catches a thief, Luke Denton, trying to steal from Grace. Luke jumps off the train to escape. This event starts a series of problems for Paul, testing his family ties and his willingness to stand up for what's right against the bad influences in his life.