
PREFACE
CHAPTER I - A REVELATION
CHAPTER II - MRS. FOWLER’S STORY
CHAPTER III - LEFT ALONE
CHAPTER IV - THE TOWN AUTOCRAT
CHAPTER V - A LITTLE MISUNDERSTANDING
CHAPTER VI - FRANK GETS A PLACE
CHAPTER VII - THE CASH BOY HAS AN ADVENTURE
CHAPTER VIII - AN UNEXPECTED ENGAGEMENT
CHAPTER IX - THE HOUSEKEEPER’S NEPHEW
A young boy raised by a caring foster family discovers his knack for baseball while still searching for his own name. When the boys of Crawford gather to form an Excelsior Club, his natural talent and good‑natured leadership earn him the captain’s hat, even though he doubts his own qualifications. The clubhouse becomes a lively arena where friendships form, rivalries spark, and the town’s spirit rallies around the game.
Beyond the diamond, Frank’s generosity toward an elderly stranger and his quiet perseverance begin to peel back the mystery of his past. As he balances the responsibilities of captain, treasurer, and secretary, he learns that honesty and hard work can open doors to unexpected help and revelations. Listeners will be drawn into a heartfelt tale of youthful ambition, community, and the search for identity, all set against the backdrop of late‑19th‑century small‑town life.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (149K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer and David Widger
Release date
2006-03-15
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1832–1899
Best known for turning the “rags-to-riches” story into a lasting American myth, this 19th-century writer filled his novels with bootblacks, street boys, and hard-won chances. His books helped shape how generations of readers imagined ambition, luck, and self-improvement.
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