Bound to Rise; Or, Up the Ladder

In a modest farmhouse on ten acres of hard soil lives the Walton family, a mother, four children and a father who juggles field work with odd jobs to keep them fed. Their breakfast is a simple spread of bread and boiled potatoes, and the greatest treasure they own is a single cow that provides the milk they need to trade for other necessities. When the cow falls ill, the father fears losing the only source of income, and the family turns to a local healer, Elihu Perkins, hoping for a miracle.

The narrative follows the eldest son, Harry, a sturdy and good‑natured boy who refuses to let hardship defeat him. As the crisis deepens, Harry takes on any task he can find, from farm labor to city errands, determined to earn enough to save the animal and protect his family’s future. His steady resolve and honest effort illustrate the timeless message that perseverance and integrity can lift even the poorest from the brink of loss.