Do and Dare — a Brave Boy's Fight for Fortune

"Do and Dare — a Brave Boy's Fight for Fortune" by Horatio Alger, Jr. uncovers the story of Herbert Carr, a courageous boy who steps up to protect his widowed mother's livelihood after the passing of his father. In a world shadowed by selfish rivals like Squire Walsingham and his sly nephew, Ebenezer Graham, Herbert displays amazing strength as he battles to preserve his family's welfare. As the story begins, Herbert and his mother live in a modest cottage, worried about how they will survive when Mrs. Carr loses her job as postmaster to the greedy Ebenezer Graham. Herbert's determination is tested when he can't convince the town to keep his mother in her position, and his loyalty to his mother gets him fired when Ebenezer takes over. The initial chapters show Herbert's struggles and the injustice he faces, especially when Eben falsely accuses him of theft, showing the book's themes of honesty, perseverance, and the quest for a better life, which shapes Herbert's adventures and personal development.