Driven from Home; Or, Carl Crawford's Experience

A sixteen-year-old boy is forced to leave home after harsh treatment and a false accusation; with only a few cents, a good education, and physical strength he sets out on his own. He forms loyal friendships, endures suspicion, and secures employment in a factory, where he confronts temptations, schemes involving a counterfeit bill, and a planned burglary. His resourcefulness and honesty bring new acquaintances, including an aristocratic acquaintance and an eccentric woman, and frequent travel between towns and cities. Through trials, revelations about stolen money and family secrets emerge, circumstances improve, and earlier misunderstandings are resolved by the narrative’s close.