Plane and Plank

In Short

This novel follows Phil Farringford, an earnest and hardworking teenager who moves to St. Louis to master the carpentry trade. As he navigates the challenges of professional life and confronts a local criminal element, he unexpectedly encounters his estranged, alcoholic father. Through Phil’s unwavering moral compass, prayers, and disciplined labor, the narrative explores the possibility of personal redemption and the restoration of family bonds. A staple of nineteenth-century moral instruction, the book remains a window into an era where manual labor and Christian fortitude were presented as the ultimate antidotes to vice.

The Story

The narrative begins with Phil Farringford traveling toward St. Louis, his journey punctuated by a series of misfortunes and encounters with dishonest men, most notably the swindler Leonidas Lynchpinne. Phil, a principled youth, survives these setbacks by relying on his wits and a strong sense of personal duty. Upon arriving in the city, he secures an apprenticeship as a carpenter, determined to build a future through honest toil and the mastery of his craft. His transition into adulthood is complicated when he crosses paths with a disheveled, "seedy" man named Farringford, who is a victim of severe alcoholism.

As Phil attempts to recover money stolen from him by Lynchpinne, he becomes entangled in the dangerous world of St. Louis gambling dens. During a tense confrontation at a public house, the older Farringford delivers a haunting lecture on the evils of intemperance, revealing that he once owned steamboats and enjoyed a comfortable life before drink destroyed everything, including the life of his young son. Phil, shocked and moved, realizes that this broken man is his own father. The revelation serves as the emotional pivot of the book; Phil chooses to embrace his father rather than abandon him to his misery.

The plot thickens as Phil maneuvers to bring his father to a place of safety. He struggles with the inherent corruption of the city's criminal fringe, including the manipulative Lynchpinne and his associates, who operate out of illicit lodging houses. Phil’s efforts to reclaim his stolen funds lead him to act as a witness against these men, bringing him into contact with figures like Mr. Rockwood, who recognize his integrity. Throughout these trials, Phil remains steadfast, balancing his work as a carpenter with the difficult task of nursing his father back to health.

In the final movement of the book, the truth of Phil’s identity is confirmed through the production of childhood relics, including a coral necklace and a locket containing his mother’s portrait. These items serve as definitive proof for his father, leading to a tearful reunion and the father’s commitment to sobriety and reform. The book concludes with the father finding steady employment under Mr. Rockwood, having regained his dignity through Phil’s example. Phil continues his path as a diligent mechanic, secure in the knowledge that his father is on the road to moral and physical recovery.

How It Unfolds

The journey to St. Louis Phil leaves his previous life behind and travels toward the city, only to be robbed of his savings by a deceptive acquaintance named Lynchpinne. This initial loss forces Phil to confront the harsh realities of the world and the presence of men who prey on the innocent.

The apprenticeship begins Phil settles into the carpentry trade, displaying an inquiring mind and an earnest desire to excel in his calling. He finds a mentor in Mr. Clinch and works hard, contrasting his own productive habits with those of lazy or entitled peers.

The discovery of the father While pursuing the man who robbed him, Phil encounters a destitute alcoholic whose life of dissipation serves as a cautionary tale. The dramatic revelation that this man is his own father forces Phil to take on the role of protector and guide.

The struggle for reform Phil works to extract his father from his wretched circumstances while navigating the dangerous traps of local gambling syndicates. He uses his persistence and honesty to outmaneuver his enemies and secure his father’s transition to a better, sober life.

The restoration of family By presenting proof of his childhood, Phil secures his father’s recognition and emotional return to a virtuous life. The story closes with the father finding new employment, validating Phil's decision to prioritize duty over personal comfort.

The People

Phil Farringford is the moral center of the book. He is defined by his industriousness, his Christian faith, and his refusal to be corrupted by the criminal elements he encounters. He wants only to master his trade and find his parents, and he succeeds by remaining "true to himself."

Edward Farringford, Phil's father, begins as a hollowed-out "wreck of a man." Consumed by the "curse" of alcohol, he has lost his wealth, his family, and his self-respect. His transformation from a hopeless, trembling drunkard into a man who once again contributes to society provides the emotional arc of the narrative.

Leonidas Lynchpinne is the antagonist, a "blackleg" and a thief who views others as marks to be fleeced. He represents the danger of urban vice, standing in direct opposition to Phil’s virtues. He does not change; he remains a criminal until the law eventually catches up with him.

Mr. Rockwood is a prosperous and skeptical gentleman who acts as a bridge for Phil. He initially doubts Phil’s story but is eventually won over by the boy's consistency and evidence, ultimately providing the steadying hand that allows the senior Farringford to reclaim his place in society.

In Its Own Voice

Phil describes the stark reality of his encounter with a man he realizes is the father he has been searching for:

"My father! I had found him; but the finding of him in such a miserable, degraded, besotted being as he who was before me seemed to be the greatest mishap, the most overwhelming misfortune, that could possibly have overtaken me."

His father reflects on the devastating power of alcohol and the loss of his former life during a public temperance lecture:

"Behold the wreck of a man! If there had been no whiskey in the world, or if I had never tasted it, I could have welcomed you to the most elegant mansion in St. Louis."

What It's Really About

At its core, the book is a didactic exploration of the "Upward and Onward" philosophy: the belief that through diligent labor, personal integrity, and prayer, an individual can overcome any environmental disadvantage. It argues that a trade is not merely a source of income but a foundation for character. The book posits that the "curse" of intemperance is not a permanent state but a choice that can be reversed through the intervention of love and the influence of a righteous life. It addresses the tension between the innocence of a "dove" and the cynical, predatory world of the city, ultimately concluding that moral vigilance is the only reliable shield.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy historical fiction about the American Midwest will appreciate the vivid, if stylized, descriptions of steamboat culture and the rapid growth of cities like St. Louis. The book offers a fascinating look at the mid-nineteenth-century preoccupation with moral self-improvement and the rigid, often stark, distinctions between the "honest mechanic" and the "rascal."

The prose is earnest and direct, reflecting the pedagogical spirit of its era. Modern readers may find the heavy emphasis on temperance and the sometimes overly neat resolution of complex family trauma to be a product of its time. The dialogue occasionally features the formal, moralizing tone common to juvenile literature of the 1870s, which provides a nostalgic, if slightly stiff, reading experience. Despite this, the central emotional journey—a son trying to save his father—possesses a universal quality that still resonates. Those who value stories about the dignity of work and the power of family redemption will find much to engage with here. It is a slow, steady read that rewards those interested in how previous generations framed the struggle to become a good person in an indifferent, often dangerous, world.