Excerpt from Desk and Debit: Or, the Catastrophes of a Clerk Desk and debit is the third of the upward and onward series, in which Phil Farringford appears as a clerk. The principal events of the story are located in Chicago and on Lake Michigan the latter, perhaps, because the author finds it quite impossible to write a story without a boat, which also involves the necessity of a broad sheet of water, or a long river. In this, as in its predecessors, evil-minded characters are introduced, to Show the contrast between vice and virtue; but the hero, in whom the sympathies of the reader are sup posed to be centred, is still faithful to his Christian duties, still reads his Bible, and prays without ceasing. Young and old are injured only by the precept and example of those whom they love, respect, or admire; and the writer has no fear that his readers will love, respect, or admire Charles Whippleton or Ben Waterford, or that they will fail to condemn their errors and their vices. The author hopes and expects that his young friends, while they follow Phil in his exciting experience in the counting-room, and in the Marian on Lake Michigan, will love and respect his virtues as well as his courage and resolution. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.