Little Hickory; Or, Ragged Rob's Young Republic

New York, 1900. In the shadow of skyscrapers and the clatter of horse-drawn trolleys, a boy named Ragged Rob survives by polishing shoes on street corners. He's sharp-eyed, quick-witted, and proud. When a bewildered country deacon named Cornhill stumbles off the train and into the city's chaos, Rob spots the danger before the old man does: pickpockets circling, luggage disappearing. What follows is a boy's act of courage that changes everything. This is street-level adventure with a big heart. Rob navigates a world of hustlers, immigrants, and ordinary folks just trying to get by. The city is a place of danger, but also possibility. Through his encounters with Cornhill and other characters, Rob must decide whether to remain a solitary survivor or become part of something larger than himself.