The Young Game-Warden

"The Young Game-Warden" by Harry Castlemon is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around Silas Morgan, a lazy and impoverished ferryman who stumbles upon a mysterious letter hinting at a hidden fortune in the mountains. As the narrative unfolds, it introduces Silas's family, including his ambitious son Joe, who has just landed a job as a game warden, and his lazy brother Dan, who schemes to take advantage of the situation. The opening of the book sets a vivid scene, introducing Silas Morgan as he begrudgingly hauls wood while lamenting his poor fortune. His situation changes dramatically when he discovers an intriguing letter within a woodpile, suggesting the existence of treasure in a nearby cave. This discovery stirs his imagination and ambition, making him consider the risky endeavor of hunting for the hidden riches. Meanwhile, the dynamics between Silas and his sons unfold; Dan’s reckless nature and resentment towards Joe's good fortune create tension, hinting at the conflicts that will arise as their lives intertwine with those of the wealthy sportsmen in the area. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Charles Austin Fosdick, better known by his nom de plume Harry Castlemon, was a prolific writer of juvenile stories and novels, intended mainly for boys. He was born in Randolph, New York, and received a high school diploma from Central High School in Buffalo, New York. He served in the Union Navy from 1862 to 1865, during the American Civil War, acting as the receiver and superintendent of coal for the Mississippi River Squadron. Fosdick had begun to write as a teenager, and drew on his experiences serving in the Navy in such early novels as Frank on a Gunboat (1864) and Frank on the Lower Mississippi (1867). He soon became the most-read author for boys in the post-Civil War era, the golden age of children's literature.