Cast Upon the Breakers

Cast Upon the Breakers

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Cast Upon the Breakers, by Horatio
Alger This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: Cast Upon the Breakers
Author: Horatio Alger
Release Date: January 16, 2006 [EBook #399]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAST
UPON THE BREAKERS ***

Produced by Charles Keller and David Widger

CAST UPON THE BREAKERS
by Horatio Alger, Jr.
CHAPTER I.
A FAITHLESS GUARDIAN.

"Well, good by, Rodney! I leave school tomorrow. I am going to learn
a trade."
"I am sorry to part with you, David. Couldn't you stay another term?"
"No: my uncle says I must be earning my living, and I have a chance to
learn the carpenter's trade."
"Where are you going?"
"To Duffield, some twenty miles away. I wish I were in your shoes.
You have no money cares, and can go on quietly and complete your
education."
"I don't know how I am situated, David. I only know that my guardian
pays my expenses at this boarding school."
"Yes, you are a star boarder, and have the nicest room in the institution.
I am only a poor day scholar. Still I feel thankful that I have been
allowed to remain as long as I have. Who is your guardian?"
"A Mr. Benjamin Fielding, of New York."
"Is he a business man?"
"I believe so."
"Do you know how much you will inherit when you come of age?"
asked David, after a short pause.
"I haven't an idea."
"It seems to me your guardian ought to have told you."
"I scarcely know my guardian. Five years ago I spent a week at his
home. I don't remember much about it except that he lives in a
handsome house, and has plenty of servants. Since then, as you know, I
have passed most of my time here, except that in the summer I was
allowed to board at the Catskills or any country place I might select."

"Yes, and I remember one year you took me with you and paid all my
expenses. I shall never forget your kindness, and how much I enjoyed
that summer."
Rodney Ropes smiled, and his smile made his usually grave face look
very attractive.
"My dear David," he said, "it was all selfishness on my part. I knew I
should enjoy myself much better with a companion."
"You may call that selfishness, Rodney, but it is a kind of selfishness
that makes me your devoted friend. How long do you think you shall
remain at school?"
"I don't know. My guardian has never told me his plans for me. I wish
he would."
"I shall miss you, Rodney, but we will correspond, won't we?"
"Surely. You know I shall always feel interested in you and your
welfare."
David was a plain boy of humble parentage, and would probably be a
hard working mechanic. In fact he was looking for nothing better.
But Rodney Ropes looked to be of genteel blood, and had the air of one
who had been brought up a gentleman. But different as they were in
social position the two boys had always been devoted friends.
The boarding school of which Rodney was, as his friend expressed
himself, a star pupil, was situated about fifty miles from the city of
New York. It was under the charge of Dr. Sampson, a tall, thin man of
fair scholarship, keenly alive to his own interest, who showed partiality
for his richer pupils, and whenever he had occasion to censure bore
most heavily upon boys like David Hull, who was poor.
Rodney occupied alone the finest room in the school. There was a great
contrast between his comfortable quarters and the extremely plain

dormitories occupied by less favored pupils.
In the case of some boys the favoritism of the teacher would have led
them to put on airs, and made them unpopular with their school fellows.
But Rodney had too noble a nature to be influenced by such
considerations. He enjoyed his comfortable room, but treated his school
fellows with a frank cordiality that made him a general favorite.
After David left his room Rodney sat down to prepare a lesson in
Cicero, when he was interrupted by the entrance through the half open
door of a younger boy.
"Rodney," he said, "the doctor would like to see you in his office."
"Very well, Brauner, I will go down at once."
He put aside his book and went down to the office of Dr. Sampson on
the first floor.
The doctor