When sudden adversity strikes his hardworking family, young Robert Rushton is forced out of school and into the relentless mills of an industrial town, determined to clear his late father’s name. Armed only with unwavering integrity, industrious grit, and courage, Robert confronts corrupt managers, street rivals, and sudden hazards to forge his own destiny. Horatio Alger Jr.’s inspirational classic remains a quintessential monument to self-reliance and moral perseverance.