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Cover of Now or Never; Or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright: A Story for Young Folks

Now or Never; Or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright: A Story for Young Folks

by Oliver Optic (1822–1897)

  • Free to read
  • 3 hours to read
  • 22 chapters
  • Reading level: 6th grade

"Now or Never; Or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright: A Story for Young Folks" by Optic is a novel aimed at young readers, likely written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around a clever and brave boy named Bobby Bright, who faces various challenges and moral dilemmas as he navigates his youth, emphasizing the importance of integrity and character over material success. At the start of the narrative, we meet Bobby fishing with his friend Tom Spicer when they encounter a runaway horse pulling a chaiss with a terrified lady. Bobby’s quick thinking leads him to risk his own safety to stop the horse, demonstrating his bravery and strong sense of duty. After saving the lady, Bobby receives a generous reward that could greatly impact his family, struggling under debt. This opening sets the stage for Bobby’s adventures as he grapples with issues of morality, responsibility, and selflessness, while also hinting at his aspirations to help his family financially. The tone is adventurous and uplifting, inviting readers to root for Bobby as he learns life lessons on his journey toward adulthood.

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  • Children's stories
  • Fishing
  • Maine
  • Runaway children
  • Mothers and sons
  • Boston (Mass.)
  • Child labor
  • Theft

Read the opening

Chapter I

IN WHICH BOBBY GOES A FISHING, AND CATCHES A HORSE.

"By jolly! I've got a bite!" exclaimed Tom Spicer, a rough, hard-looking boy, who sat on a rock by the river's side, anxiously watching the cork float on his line.

"Catch him, then," quietly responded Bobby Bright, who occupied another rock near the first speaker, as he pulled up a large pout, and, without any appearance of exultation, proceeded to unhook and place him in his basket.

"You are a lucky dog, Bob," added Tom, as he glanced into the basket of his companion, which now contained six good-sized fishes. "I haven't caught one yet."

"You don't fish deep enough."

Keep reading Now or Never; Or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright: A Story for Young Folks →

Contents

  1. Preface
  2. Chapter I
  3. Chapter II: In Which Bobby Blushes Several Times, and Does a Sum in Arithmetic
  4. Chapter III
  5. Chapter IV
  6. Chapter V
  7. Chapter VI
  8. Chapter VII: In Which Bobby Stands Up for "Certain Inalienable Rights."
  9. Chapter VIII
  10. Chapter IX: In Which Bobby Opens Various Accounts, and Wins His First Victory
  11. Chapter X
  12. Chapter XI
  13. Chapter XII: In Which Bobby Astonishes Sundry Persons and Pays Part of His Note
  14. Chapter XIII: In Which Bobby Declines a Copartnership and Visits B — — Again
  15. Chapter XIV
  16. Chapter XV: In Which Bobby Gets into a Scrape, and Tom Spicer Turns Up Again
  17. Chapter XVI: In Which Bobby Finds "It Is an Ill Wind That Blows No One Any Good."
  18. Chapter XVII
  19. Chapter XVIII
  20. Chapter XIX: In Which Bobby Has a Narrow Escape, and Goes to Sea with Sam Ray
  21. Chapter XX
  22. Chapter XXI

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About this edition

This free edition of Now or Never; Or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright: A Story for Young Folks by Oliver Optic comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #14762, released 2005-01-23. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Children & Young Adult Reading, Adventure, Novels.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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