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PREFACE.

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This little book is the first of a series to be
published by Mr. Charles H. Peirce for the young
people of our country, — for that ground in which
we sow hopefully and with promise.

The history of the poor “Boy of Mount
Rhigi” and his friend “Harry Davis,” has been
written to awaken, in those of our young people
who have been carefully nurtured, a sense of
their duty to those who are less favored; to
show them that the ignorant, neglected, and

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apparently vicious, have the germs of goodness
in their souls; that patience, kindness, and affection,
will fall like holy dew upon them, nourishing
that which God has implanted.

That the safety of the republic depends on
the virtue of the people, is a truth that cannot
be too assiduously taught; and that it is the
business of the young, as well as of the old, to
help on the cause of goodness, cannot be too
strongly impressed.

Perhaps some young persons may feel more
deeply, after reading the following story, than
they have felt before, what are their true riches;
that, if they have no money to give, they have
a treasure to impart in the example of truth,
honesty, fidelity, and industry; and in the action
of hope, patience, and kindness. If this story

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invigorates the faith of the fortunate, and saves
from despair but one of the wretched, it will not
have been written in vain.