Shifting For Himself; or, Gilbert Greyson's Fortunes

In a modest boarding school near New York, a lively sixteen‑year‑old named Gilbert Greyson looks forward to the end of term and the promise of college. He spends his days among a small group of classmates, sharing jokes and ambitions, while his friend John Munford balances study with his carpenter father’s trade. The atmosphere is one of hopeful anticipation as summer approaches.

Just as the boys prepare to part for the holidays, a sudden reversal of fortune strips Gilbert of the means to continue his education. Forced to abandon his books, he must find honest work and learn to support himself in a world far removed from the comfortable routines of school. The story follows his first steps into labor, the challenges of modest wages, and the pride he discovers in earning his own keep.

Through determination and honest effort, Gilbert begins to build a new sense of self‑reliance. His journey offers a timeless reminder that setbacks can become stepping stones, and that true success often grows from the resolve to shift for oneself.