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                          Transcriber’s Note:

This version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects.
Bold and italic characters, which appear only in the advertisements, are
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                        POPULAR JUVENILE BOOKS,

                         BY HORATIO ALGER, JR.

                               ----------

                         _RAGGED DICK SERIES._
                       _Complete in Six Volumes._
           I. RAGGED DICK; or, Street Life in New York.

          II. FAME AND FORTUNE; or, The Progress of Richard
              Hunter.

         III. MARK, THE MATCH BOY.

          IV. ROUGH AND READY; or, Life Among New York Newsboys.

           V. BEN, THE LUGGAGE BOY; or, Among the Wharves.

          VI. RUFUS AND ROSE; or, The Fortunes of Rough and
              Ready.

                      =_Price, $1.25 per volume._=

                               ----------

                           _CAMPAIGN SERIES._
                      _Complete in Three Volumes._
           I. FRANK’S CAMPAIGN.
          II. PAUL PRESCOTT’S CHARGE.
         III. CHARLIE CODMAN’S CRUISE.
                      =_Price, $1.25 per volume._=

                               ----------

                        _LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES._
                   _To be completed in Six Volumes._
           I. LUCK AND PLUCK; or, John Oakley’s Inheritance.

          II. SINK OR SWIM; or, Harry Raymond’s Resolve.

         III. STRONG AND STEADY; or, Paddle your own Canoe. (In
                October, 1871.)

                         OTHERS IN PREPARATION.

                      =_Price, $1.50 per volume._=

                               ----------

                         _TATTERED TOM SERIES._

                   _To be completed in Six Volumes._
           I. TATTERED TOM; or, The story of a Street Arab.

          II. PAUL, THE PEDDLER; or, The Adventures of a Young
                Street Merchant. (In November, 1871.)

                         OTHERS IN PREPARATION.

                      =_Price, $1.25 per volume._=

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Illustration]

------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          TATTERED TOM SERIES.

                                   BY

                           HORATIO ALGER JR.

[Illustration]

                             TATTERED TOM.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

                             TATTERED TOM;
                                  OR,
                      THE STORY OF A STREET ARAB.

                                   BY

                          HORATIO ALGER, JR.,

        AUTHOR OF “RAGGED DICK SERIES,” “LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES,”
                           “CAMPAIGN SERIES.”

                               ----------

                           LORING, Publisher,
                 COR. BROMFIELD AND WASHINGTON STREETS,
                                BOSTON.




       Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by
                             A. K. LORING,
       In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.








            Rockwell & Churchill, Printers and Stereotypers,
                     122 Washington Street, Boston.

------------------------------------------------------------------------




                              =To=
                     =AMOS AND O. AUGUSTA CHENEY,=

                          =This Volume=

                              IS DEDICATED

                     BY THEIR AFFECTIONATE BROTHER.

------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                PREFACE.

                               ----------


When, three years since, the author published “Ragged Dick,” he was far
from anticipating the flattering welcome it would receive, or the degree
of interest which would be excited by his pictures of street life in New
York. The six volumes which comprised his original design are completed,
but the subject is not exhausted. There are yet other phases of street
life to be described, and other classes of street Arabs, whose fortunes
deserve to be chronicled.

“Tattered Tom” is therefore presented to the public as the initial
volume of a new series of six stories, which may be regarded as a
continuation of the “Ragged Dick Series.” Some surprise may be felt at
the discovery that Tom is a girl; but I beg to assure my readers that
she is not one of the conventional kind. Though not without her good
points, she will be found to differ very widely in tastes and manners
from the young ladies of twelve usually to be met in society. I venture
to hope that she will become a favorite in spite of her numerous faults,
and that no less interest will be felt in her fortunes than in those of
the heroes of earlier volumes.

NEW YORK, April, 1871.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

                             TATTERED TOM;

                                  OR,

                    THE ADVENTURES OF A STREET ARAB.

                                -------




                               CHAPTER I.
                        INTRODUCES TATTERED TOM.


Mr. Frederic Pelham, a young gentleman very daintily dressed, with
exquisitely fitting kids and highly polished boots, stood at the corner
of Broadway and Chambers Streets, surveying with some dismay the dirty
crossing, and speculating as to his chances of getting over without
marring the polish of his boots.

He started at length, and had taken two steps, when a dirty hand was
thrust out, and he was saluted by the request, “Gi’ me a penny, sir?”

“Out of my way, you bundle of rags!” he answered.

“You’re another!” was the prompt reply.

Frederic Pelham stared at the creature who had dared to imply that he—a
leader of fashion—was a bundle of rags.

The street-sweeper was apparently about twelve years of age. It was not
quite easy to determine whether it was a boy or girl. The head was
surmounted by a boy’s cap, the hair was cut short, it wore a boy’s
jacket, but underneath was a girl’s dress. Jacket and dress were both in
a state of extreme raggedness. The child’s face was very dark and, as
might be expected, dirty; but it was redeemed by a pair of brilliant
black eyes, which were fixed upon the young exquisite in an expression
half-humorous, half-defiant, as the owner promptly retorted, “You’re
another!”

“Clear out, you little nuisance!” said the dandy, stopping short from
necessity, for the little sweep had planted herself directly in his
path; and to step out on either side would have soiled his boots
irretrievably.

“Gi’ me a penny, then?”

“I’ll hand you to the police, you little wretch!”

“I aint done nothin’. Gi’ me a penny?”

Mr. Pelham, provoked, raised his cane threateningly.

But Tom (for, in spite of her being a girl, this was the name by which
she was universally known; indeed she scarcely knew any other) was wary.
She dodged the blow, and by an adroit sweep of her broom managed to
scatter some mud on Mr. Pelham’s boots.

“You little brat, you’ve muddied my boots!” he exclaimed, with vexation.

“Then why did you go for to strike me?” said Tom, defiantly.

He did not stop to answer, but hurried across the street. His pace was
accelerated by an approaching vehicle, and the instinct of
self-preservation, more powerful than even the dictates of fashion,
compelled him to make a détour