Horatio Alger
Luke Walton
"Luke Walton" by Horatio Alger, Jr. is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story follows Luke Walton, a young Chicago newsboy who navigates the struggles of poverty and the challenges of life on the streets, showcasing his honesty, kindness, and determination to improve his family's circumstances. As he encounters various situations, including deception and criminality among peers, Luke exemplifies strong moral values and the desire for justice. At the start of the book, we meet Luke as he sells newspapers outside a prominent hotel in Chicago. Despite his relatively better appearance compared to other newsboys, he is approached by a gentleman, Benjamin Afton, who unexpectedly buys two papers but pays with a five-dollar bill, trusting Luke to return the change the next day. Luke’s resolve to return the money rather than keeping it, even when encouraged by his peers to be dishonest, establishes his character as one of integrity. The chapter unfolds Luke's encounters with other newsboys, his family life, including his mother and younger brother, and dramatic hints at a deeper family secret related to a letter from his deceased father, which sets the stage for Luke's quest for justice against those who wronged his family.