
audiobook
In bustling 19th‑century New York, a young telegraph boy named Mark Mason dreams of rising above his modest beginnings. When two strangers from Syracuse appear in the city, Mark’s quick wit and honesty are put to the test amid the clamor of street vendors, shining boots, and hurried conversations. The opening scene captures the lively atmosphere of City Hall Park, where Mark’s modest earnings and earnest desire to “get things as low as you can” set the tone for his journey.
From that first encounter, Mark’s path twists through daring night‑time assignments, unexpected commissions, and a series of challenges that demand both courage and integrity. As he navigates the fast‑moving world of telegraph wires, bustling hotels, and even a brush with danger on the railroad, his perseverance shines. Listeners will be drawn into a classic tale of hard work, moral resolve, and the quiet triumph of a boy who refuses to let circumstance define his destiny.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (338K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.) [Transcriber's note: This etext is based on the A.L. Burt publication of 1899 and differs from etext30387, which is the post-1900 version published by M. A. Donohue & Co., in that it contains the last seven chapters before the "Conclusion" chapter which are missing from the later version; it is also illustrated.]
Release date
2010-11-29
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1832–1899
Best known for stories of poor boys who rise through grit, luck, and good character, this 19th-century American writer helped shape the classic “rags-to-riches” tale. His hugely popular juvenile novels became a lasting part of American culture.
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