Timothy Crump's Ward: A Story of American Life

"Timothy Crump's Ward: A Story of American Life" by Horatio Alger is a story set in the mid-1800s that follows the Crump family as they deal with hard times in New York City. Central to their journey are discussions of being poor, not giving up, and showing kindness. Timothy, a cooper without work, along with his wife Mary, their son Jack, and the negative Aunt Rachel, are introduced to the reader as the main characters. The story begins with the Crump family struggling through a tough winter with hardly any money; Timothy can't find work, making things tense at home, but Mary remains hopeful and young Jack tries to help, demonstrating how much the family cares for each other. Even with all their difficulties, the Crumps keep hoping for things to get better, facing problems head-on and still finding ways to be kind and help others, which encourages readers to consider important topics about family, society, and doing the right thing when life gets tough.