Horatio Alger 
Ben Bruce Scenes in the Life of a Bowery Newsboy [EPUB ebook] 

Synopsis: "Ben Bruce, 15, lives on a farm near Boston with his mother and mean stepfather. He is not allowed to attend school past the 8th grade but his stepfather gets him a job as an apprentice shoemaker. However, Ben leaves home to seek his fortune in New York City. After several exciting and threatening experiences on the boat from Boston to New York, Ben settles in New York. After briefly selling newspapers, Ben, gets a part in a play, and does well as an actor. His luck, however, does not last. Ben tries his best to become a permanent part of the theatre world, and along the way makes new friends who help him through his troubles.