Make or Break; or, The Rich Man's Daughter

About this book

The work is a juvenile moral tale set in post‑Civil‑War Boston, where the author frames his story as a “stimulus to higher aims” for young readers. The opening chapter drops us into a bustling barbershop on State Street, introducing the pretentious young clerk Fitzherbert Wittleworth and the effeminate journeyman barber André Maggimore. Their banter over a shave quickly escalates into a confrontation with the stern banker Mr. Checkynshaw, who threatens to discharge Wittleworth for “wasting time.” The dialogue is peppered with references to Christian virtue, inheritance, and the social hierarchy of merchants and adopted children, hinting at the larger themes of conduct, ambition, and the pursuit of a respectable place in the material world. The chapter titles, ranging from “Make or Break” to “The Rich Man’s Daughter”, signal a series of episodic adventures that will test the characters’ moral fiber.

Written in a florid, didactic prose typical of late‑nineteenth‑century American juvenile fiction, the narrative combines moral instruction with lively, almost theatrical dialogue. The author’s voice is earnest, frequently invoking biblical standards and the “young people’s critical” judgment, while the style leans toward elaborate description and moralizing commentary. Readers who appreciate historical settings, moral‑driven plots, and the gentle satire of social pretensions will find this novel engaging. It will especially appeal to those interested in Victorian‑era youth literature that blends lessons on conduct with a lively, character‑driven story.