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  ON THE MISSOURI STEAMER. Page 11.]

  ONWARD AND UPWARD SERIES

  PLANE AND PLANK

  FIELD & FOREST-PLANE & PLANK-DESK & DEBIT CRINGLE & CROSS-TREE-BIVOUAC & BATTLE-SEA & SHORE

  Illustrated

  LEE & SHEPARD

  BOSTON

  _THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._

  PLANE AND PLANK;

  OR,

  THE MISHAPS OF A MECHANIC.

  BY

  OLIVER OPTIC,

  AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG STORIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.

  WITH FOURTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS.

  BOSTON: LEE AND SHEPARD.

  NEW YORK: CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM.

  Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871,

  BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS,

  In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

  ELECTROTYPED AT THE BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY, 19 Spring Lane.

  TO

  MY YOUNG FRIEND

  _GEORGE W. HILLS_

  This Book

  IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.

  PREFACE.

  "PLANE AND PLANK" is the second of THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES, inwhich the hero, Phil Farringford, appears as a mechanic. The eventsof the story are located on the Missouri River and in the city of St.Louis. Phil learns the trade of a carpenter, and the contrast between ayoung mechanic of an inquiring mind, earnestly laboring to master hisbusiness, and one who feels above his calling, and overvalues his ownskill, is presented to the young reader, with the hope that he willaccept the lesson.

  Incidentally, in the person and history of Phil's father the terribleevils of intemperance are depicted, and the value of Christian loveand earnest prayer in the reformation of the unfortunate inebriate isexhibited.

  Though the incidents of the hero's career are quite stirring, andsome of the situations rather surprising, yet Phil is always true tohimself; and those who find themselves in sympathy with him cannotpossibly be led astray, while they respect his Christian principles,reverence the Bible, and strive with him to do their whole duty to Godand man.

  HARRISON SQUARE, BOSTON,

  _June 7, 1870._

  CONTENTS.

  CHAPTER I. Page IN WHICH PHIL MAKES THE ACQUAINTANCE OF MR. LEONIDAS LYNCHPINNE. 11

  CHAPTER II.

  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS WITH HIS FIRST MISHAP. 22

  CHAPTER III.

  IN WHICH PHIL SLIPS OFF HIS COAT, AND RETREATS IN GOOD ORDER. 33

  CHAPTER IV.

  IN WHICH PHIL ENDEAVORS TO REMEDY HIS FIRST MISHAP. 44

  CHAPTER V.

  IN WHICH PHIL VAINLY SEARCHES FOR THE GRACEWOODS. 55

  CHAPTER VI.

  IN WHICH PHIL WANDERS ABOUT ST. LOUIS AND HAS A GLEAM OF HOPE. 66

  CHAPTER VII.

  IN WHICH PHIL HEARS FROM HIS FRIENDS AND VISITS MR. CLINCH. 77

  CHAPTER VIII.

  IN WHICH PHIL GOES TO WORK, AND MEETS AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE. 88

  CHAPTER IX.

  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS A SEEDY GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF FARRINGFORD. 100

  CHAPTER X.

  IN WHICH PHIL LISTENS TO A VERY IMPRESSIVE TEMPERANCE LECTURE. 112

  CHAPTER XI.

  IN WHICH PHIL TAKES HIS FATHER TO HIS NEW HOME. 123

  CHAPTER XII.

  IN WHICH PHIL LISTENS TO A DISCUSSION, AND TAKES PART IN A STRUGGLE. 135

  CHAPTER XIII.

  IN WHICH PHIL HAS ANOTHER MISHAP, AND IS TAKEN TO A POLICE STATION. 147

  CHAPTER XIV.

  IN WHICH PHIL RECOVERS HIS MONEY. 160

  CHAPTER XV.

  IN WHICH PHIL PRODUCES THE RELICS OF HIS CHILDHOOD. 172

  CHAPTER XVI.

  IN WHICH PHIL STRUGGLES EARNESTLY TO REFORM HIS FATHER. 183

  CHAPTER XVII.

  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS THE LAST OF THE ROCKWOODS. 195

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  IN WHICH PHIL CALLS UPON MR. LAMAR, AND DOES NOT FIND HIM. 207

  CHAPTER XIX.

  IN WHICH PHIL FINDS HIMSELF A PRISONER IN THE GAMBLERS' ROOM. 219

  CHAPTER XX.

  IN WHICH PHIL IS STARTLED BY THE SIGHT OF A FAMILIAR FACE. 231

  CHAPTER XXI.

  IN WHICH PHIL FINDS HIMSELF SIXTY-FIVE DOLLARS OUT. 243

  CHAPTER XXII.

  IN WHICH PHIL RETURNS TO THE DEN OF THE ENEMY. 256

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  IN WHICH PHIL'S MEETS A PALE GENTLEMAN WITH ONE ARM IN A SLING. 268

  CHAPTER XXIV.

  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS AN OLD FRIEND, AND MR. LEONIDAS LYNCHPINNE COMES TO GRIEF. 280

  CHAPTER XXV.

  IN WHICH PHIL FINDS THE PROSPECT GROWING BRIGHTER. 292

  CHAPTER XXVI.

  IN WHICH PHIL LISTENS TO THE CONFESSION OF HIS PERSECUTOR, AND ENDS PLANE AND PLANK. 304

  PLANE AND PLANK;

  OR,

  THE MISHAPS OF A MECHANIC.