Falling in with Fortune

In Short

This late-nineteenth-century juvenile adventure follows sixteen-year-old Robert Frost, an upright boy forced from home by a harsh step-father, who secures a position as private secretary to the wealthy, generous Mrs. Vernon. Their association takes them from Chicago across the Atlantic to England, but it also draws the ire of Mrs. Vernon's scheming nephew, Frederic. Intent on securing his aunt's estate, Frederic plots with corrupt medical men to declare her insane and steal her property. Robert's quick thinking, courage, and moral integrity repeatedly foil these criminal designs, earning him a lasting position of trust and independence.

The Story

The narrative opens in Chicago, where young Robert Frost finds himself in dire straits. Having left home due to his step-father James Talbot's harsh treatment, Robert has only fifteen cents left in his pocket. His search for work hits an immediate snag when a prejudice-blinded woman accuses him of involvement in a store theft—a crime of which he was completely cleared. However, another shopper, the wealthy and kind-hearted Mrs. Vernon, recognizes Robert's innate honesty and hires him on the spot as her private secretary.

This appointment displaces Frederic Vernon, her selfish nephew, who had previously occupied the post but neglected his duties in anticipation of inheriting his aunt's fortune. Furious at being replaced by an upstart, Frederic aligns himself with an unscrupulous physician, Dr. Remington, hatching a plot to have Mrs. Vernon declared insane so he can gain control of her quarter-million-dollar estate. Recognizing the danger, Mrs. Vernon takes steps to protect Robert, opening a generous four-hundred-pound line of credit for him with Baring Brothers bankers to ensure he is provided for regardless of her nephew's scheming.

When Mrs. Vernon travels to England to escape the distress of these family conflicts, Robert accompanies her as her trusted assistant. Overseas, the drama intensifies. After Robert bravely rescues Mrs. Vernon from a burning boarding house, Frederic unexpectedly appears in England, offering flimsy excuses for his past behavior. In reality, Frederic's machinations continue: he attempts to engineer a carriage accident by startling their horses on a cliff road, though an observant English farmer thrashes him for his trouble. Later, Frederic steals his aunt's jewels, assaults Robert in a Liverpool hotel, steals his father's gold watch, and flees.

Returning to Chicago, Frederic executes his most desperate plan. Partnering with Dr. Remington, Dr. Carraway, and a corrupt asylum proprietor named Dr. Rushwood, he has Mrs. Vernon abducted and locked in a dilapidated third-floor asylum room under a forged certificate of insanity. Robert returns to Chicago, discovers his benefactress is missing, and promptly tracks her down with the help of her attorney, Mr. Farley, and a private detective. They infiltrate the asylum, confront the conspirators, and secure Mrs. Vernon's release. With her nephew's schemes completely shattered and his crimes exposed, Mrs. Vernon's safety is permanently restored. Robert prospers, entering successful business ventures of his own and anticipating a bright future alongside his prospective bride, Nettie Wenrich.

How It Unfolds

A chance encounter on State Street Desperate for work and down to his last fifteen cents, Robert is turned down for a job due to an unfounded suspicion of theft, but his character is recognized by the wealthy Mrs. Vernon, who hires him as her personal secretary.

Conspiracies in Chicago Frederic Vernon resents being replaced by Robert and conspires with Dr. Remington to fabricate an insanity charge against his aunt to seize her estate, prompting Mrs. Vernon to protect Robert financially by opening a bank credit in his name.

Peril and rescue overseas While traveling in England, Robert proves his steadfast devotion by saving Mrs. Vernon from a disastrous fire at her English boarding house.

Sabotage on the cliff road Frederic follows them to England, feigning illness and repentance, but secretly startles their carriage horses near a cliff; a local farmer catches him in the act and delivers a thorough thrashing.

Betrayal and robbery in Liverpool Frederic sells his ticket to Australia, steals his aunt's valuable jewels, knocks Robert unconscious in a hotel room to steal his watch and money, and escapes into hiding.

The asylum plot shattered After Mrs. Vernon is kidnapped in Chicago and locked in Dr. Rushwood's private asylum by her nephew and corrupt doctors, Robert tracks her down, breaches the asylum gates with a lawyer and detective, and frees her.

The People

• Robert Frost: The sixteen-year-old protagonist whose goals are simple self-reliance, moral uprightness, and faithful service. Rising from near-destitution, his loyalty to his employer is rewarded with financial independence and lasting success.
• Mrs. Vernon: A wealthy, kind-hearted widow plagued by severe rheumatism and family betrayal. She seeks genuine companionship and reliable help, finding in Robert the loyalty her own relative refuses to give.
• Frederic Vernon: Mrs. Vernon's entitled, manipulative nephew. Motivated purely by greed and an unwillingness to work, he descends into outright criminality—forgery, assault, theft, and kidnapping—before his schemes collapse completely.
• James Talbot: Robert's stern step-father, whose harsh authority initially drives Robert away from home to seek his own fortune in Chicago.
• Dr. Remington & Dr. Rushwood: Unscrupulous medical figures who willingly trade their professional standing for money, signing false certificates to assist Frederic in his kidnapping plot.
• Mr. Farley: Mrs. Vernon's discreet and capable legal advisor, who assists Robert in uncovering Frederic's plots and mounting the final rescue.

In Its Own Voice

"I got off because I was innocent. I was as innocent as you were."

Robert firmly defends his integrity when confronted on State Street by a prejudiced bystander, establishing his pride and unyielding honesty early in the story.

"He is a snake in the grass. He has prejudiced my aunt against me."

Frederic Vernon expresses his bitter resentment toward Robert while complaining to a lawyer's associate about losing his privileged status.

"Robert, you will append your signature here."

Mrs. Vernon instructs Robert at the office of Baring Brothers, cementing her decision to grant him complete, independent control over a substantial fortune.

What It's Really About

Beneath its sensational plot lines of high-seas travel, burning buildings, and asylum kidnappings, the story is a moral treatise on the contrast between earned merit and unearned entitlement. Frederic Vernon represents the corrupting influence of anticipated wealth; believing he is owed an inheritance simply by blood, he becomes lazy, deceitful, and violent. Robert Frost, conversely, embodies the classic nineteenth-century ideal of diligence, honesty, and stoutheartedness. The book argues that true character is revealed through how one handles adversity, and that loyalty and hard work are the only legitimate paths to enduring prosperity and peace of mind.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in late-nineteenth-century popular literature and classic American juvenile fiction will find this tale a swift, entertaining artifact of its era. The narrative moves at a brisk, serialized pace, packed with dramatic turns: stolen jewels, runaway carriages, thrilling rescues, and villainous plots. It captures the urban landscape of turn-of-the-century Chicago alongside romanticized depictions of travel in Victorian England.

Modern readers should be prepared for the straightforward, highly moralistic tone typical of period youth fiction. Characters are distinctly drawn as either noble or wicked, with little middle ground, and coincidences frequently drive the plot forward. The dialogue carries a formal, slightly archaic phrasing that reflects its era's stylistic conventions. Despite these period quirks, the story maintains a heartwarming charm. It offers a nostalgic, clear-cut world where virtue is undeniably rewarded, malice is thoroughly punished, and a good-hearted youth can overcome every obstacle through pure integrity.

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