Vanderpool, "but I hope you will not find it hard to like me a little, and I'll try to make you happy. I don't want to hurry you. Take a week to think of it."

Miss Manning did take a week to think of it. She was not in love with Mr. Vanderpool,--that was hardly to be expected, as he was thirty years older than she,--but she did respect and esteem him, and she knew that he would be kind to her. So she said yes, after consulting with Rufus, and one morning, without any fuss or ostentation, she was quietly married, and transformed from plain Miss Manning into the rich Mrs.

Vanderpool. I may say here that neither she nor her husband has seen cause to repent the match, so unexpectedly brought about, but live in harmony and mutual friendship, as I hope they may continue to do to the end of their days.

When Rufus reached the age of twenty-one, he was agreeably surprised by an offer from Mr. Turner to take him into partnership.

"But, Mr. Turner," he said, "I have very little capital,--far too little for a partner in such a large business."

"You have fifty thousand dollars. That will answer very well."

"I don't understand you, sir," said Rufus, suspecting that Mr. Turner was crazy, or was dreaming.

"You remember the tin box which you recovered five years ago?"

"Yes, sir."

"Mr. Vanderpool has made it over with its contents to you as a free gift. Its value, as you remember, is fifty thousand dollars, or rather more now, some of the stocks having risen in value."

Rufus was quite affected by this munificent gift, and no longer objected to the plan proposed. Shortly after, the style of the firm was changed, and now, as you pa.s.s through Wall Street, if you will closely examine the signs on either side of the street, your eyes may light on this one:--

TURNER AND RUSHTON, BANKERS

You will have no trouble in conjecturing that the junior partner in this firm is the same who was first known to you as Rough and Ready. If you think that our young friend, the newsboy, has had rare luck, I hope you will also admit that, by his honesty, industry, and generous protection of his little sister, he has deserved the prosperity he has attained.

George Black has long since bought out his partner's interest in the periodical store, and now carries on quite a flourishing trade in his own name. Smith and Martin are still in prison, their term of confinement not yet having expired. What adventures yet remain in store for James Martin I am unable to say, but I doubt if he will ever turn over a new leaf. His habits of indolence and intemperance are too confirmed to give much hope of amendment.

The fortunes of Rough and Ready, so far as this record is concerned, are now ended, and with them is completed the sixth and concluding volume of the Ragged d.i.c.k Series. But the flattering interest which his young friends have taken in these pictures of street life leads the author to announce the initial volume of a new series of stories of similar character, which will soon be published under the name of

TATTERED TOM: OR, THE ADVENTURES OF A STREET ARAB.

FAMOUS ALGER BOOKS.

Horatio Alger, Jr., has attained distinction as one of the most popular writers of books for boys, and the following list comprises all of his best books.

RAGGED d.i.c.k SERIES.

Ragged d.i.c.k; or, Street Life in New York.

Fame and Fortune; or, The Progress of Richard Hunter.

Mark the Match Boy; or, Richard Hunter's Ward.

Rough and Ready; or, Life among the New York Newsboys.

Ben the Luggage Boy; or, Among the Wharves.

Rufus and Rose; or, The Fortunes of Rough and Ready.

TATTERED TOM SERIES. (First Series.)

Tattered Tom; or, The Story of a Street Arab.

Paul the Peddler; or, The Adventures of a Young Street Merchant.

Phil the Fiddler; or, The Young Street Musician.

Slow and Sure; or, From the Sidewalk to the Shop.

TATTERED TOM SERIES. (Second Series.)

Julius; or, The Street Boy Out West.

The Young Outlaw; or, Adrift in the World.

Sam's Chance and How He Improved it.

The Telegraph Boy.

LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES. (First Series.)

Luck and Pluck; or, John Oakley's Inheritance.

Sink or Swim; or, Harry Raymond's Resolve.

Strong and Steady; or, Paddle Your Own Canoe.

Strive and Succeed; or, The Progress of Walter Conrad.

LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES. (Second Series.)

Try and Trust; or, The Story of a Bound Boy.

Bound to Rise; or, How Harry Walton Rose in the World.

Risen from the Ranks; or, Harry Walton's Success.

Herbert Carter's Legacy; or, The Inventor's Son.

BRAVE AND BOLD SERIES.

Brave and Bold; or, The Story of a Factory Boy.

Jack's Ward; or, The Boy Guardian.

Shifting for Himself; or, Gilbert Greyson's Fortunes.

Wait and Hope; or, Ben Bradford's Motto.

CAMPAIGN SERIES.

Frank's Campaign; or, the Farm and the Camp.

Paul Prescott's Charge.

Charlie Codman's Cruise.

PACIFIC SERIES.