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  [Illustration: ON THE MISSOURI STEAMER. Page 11.]




                                ONWARD
                                  AND
                                UPWARD
                                SERIES

                            PLANE AND PLANK

               FIELD & FOREST-PLANE & PLANK-DESK & DEBIT
           CRINGLE & CROSS-TREE-BIVOUAC & BATTLE-SEA & SHORE

                              Illustrated

                             LEE & SHEPARD

                                BOSTON




                    _THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._




                           PLANE AND PLANK;

                                  OR,

                      THE MISHAPS OF A MECHANIC.


                                  BY

                             OLIVER OPTIC,

    AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES,"
     "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY
                    FLAG STORIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE
                             SERIES," ETC.


                     WITH FOURTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS.


                                BOSTON:
                           LEE AND SHEPARD.

                               NEW YORK:
                        CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM.




       Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871,

                         BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS,

      In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.




                          ELECTROTYPED AT THE
                      BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY,
                            19 Spring Lane.




                                  TO

                            MY YOUNG FRIEND

                           _GEORGE W. HILLS_

                               This Book

                      IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.




  PREFACE.


"PLANE AND PLANK" is the second of THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES, in
which the hero, Phil Farringford, appears as a mechanic. The events
of the story are located on the Missouri River and in the city of St.
Louis. Phil learns the trade of a carpenter, and the contrast between a
young mechanic of an inquiring mind, earnestly laboring to master his
business, and one who feels above his calling, and overvalues his own
skill, is presented to the young reader, with the hope that he will
accept the lesson.

Incidentally, in the person and history of Phil's father the terrible
evils of intemperance are depicted, and the value of Christian love
and earnest prayer in the reformation of the unfortunate inebriate is
exhibited.

Though the incidents of the hero's career are quite stirring, and
some of the situations rather surprising, yet Phil is always true to
himself; and those who find themselves in sympathy with him cannot
possibly be led astray, while they respect his Christian principles,
reverence the Bible, and strive with him to do their whole duty to God
and man.

  HARRISON SQUARE, BOSTON,

                   _June 7, 1870._




  CONTENTS.


  CHAPTER I.
                                                                    Page
  IN WHICH PHIL MAKES THE ACQUAINTANCE OF MR. LEONIDAS
  LYNCHPINNE.                                                         11

  CHAPTER II.

  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS WITH HIS FIRST MISHAP.                          22

  CHAPTER III.

  IN WHICH PHIL SLIPS OFF HIS COAT, AND RETREATS IN
  GOOD ORDER.                                                         33

  CHAPTER IV.

  IN WHICH PHIL ENDEAVORS TO REMEDY HIS FIRST MISHAP.                 44

  CHAPTER V.

  IN WHICH PHIL VAINLY SEARCHES FOR THE GRACEWOODS.                   55

  CHAPTER VI.

  IN WHICH PHIL WANDERS ABOUT ST. LOUIS AND HAS A
  GLEAM OF HOPE.                                                      66

  CHAPTER VII.

  IN WHICH PHIL HEARS FROM HIS FRIENDS AND VISITS MR.
  CLINCH.                                                             77

  CHAPTER VIII.

  IN WHICH PHIL GOES TO WORK, AND MEETS AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.          88

  CHAPTER IX.

  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS A SEEDY GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME
  OF FARRINGFORD.                                                    100

  CHAPTER X.

  IN WHICH PHIL LISTENS TO A VERY IMPRESSIVE TEMPERANCE
  LECTURE.                                                           112

  CHAPTER XI.

  IN WHICH PHIL TAKES HIS FATHER TO HIS NEW HOME.                    123

  CHAPTER XII.

  IN WHICH PHIL LISTENS TO A DISCUSSION, AND TAKES
  PART IN A STRUGGLE.                                                135

  CHAPTER XIII.

  IN WHICH PHIL HAS ANOTHER MISHAP, AND IS TAKEN TO A
  POLICE STATION.                                                    147

  CHAPTER XIV.

  IN WHICH PHIL RECOVERS HIS MONEY.                                  160

  CHAPTER XV.

  IN WHICH PHIL PRODUCES THE RELICS OF HIS CHILDHOOD.                172

  CHAPTER XVI.

  IN WHICH PHIL STRUGGLES EARNESTLY TO REFORM HIS
  FATHER.                                                            183

  CHAPTER XVII.

  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS THE LAST OF THE ROCKWOODS.                     195


  CHAPTER XVIII.

  IN WHICH PHIL CALLS UPON MR. LAMAR, AND DOES NOT
  FIND HIM.                                                          207

  CHAPTER XIX.

  IN WHICH PHIL FINDS HIMSELF A PRISONER IN THE GAMBLERS'
  ROOM.                                                              219

  CHAPTER XX.

  IN WHICH PHIL IS STARTLED BY THE SIGHT OF A FAMILIAR
  FACE.                                                              231

  CHAPTER XXI.

  IN WHICH PHIL FINDS HIMSELF SIXTY-FIVE DOLLARS OUT.                243

  CHAPTER XXII.

  IN WHICH PHIL RETURNS TO THE DEN OF THE ENEMY.                     256

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  IN WHICH PHIL'S MEETS A PALE GENTLEMAN WITH ONE
  ARM IN A SLING.                                                    268

  CHAPTER XXIV.

  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS AN OLD FRIEND, AND MR. LEONIDAS
  LYNCHPINNE COMES TO GRIEF.                                         280

  CHAPTER XXV.

  IN WHICH PHIL FINDS THE PROSPECT GROWING BRIGHTER.                 292

  CHAPTER XXVI.

  IN WHICH PHIL LISTENS TO THE CONFESSION OF HIS PERSECUTOR,
  AND ENDS PLANE AND PLANK.                                          304




                           PLANE AND PLANK;

                                  OR,

                      THE MISHAPS OF A MECHANIC.




  CHAPTER I.

  IN WHICH