Walter Sherwood s Probation Author:Horatio Alger Horatio Alger wrote 135 dime novels in the latter part of the 19th century. His stories were rags to riches stories illustrating how down-and-out boys might be able to achieve the American Dream. Alger's stories empathize the need for hard work and honesty as a way to get ahead. Walter Sherwood arrives in Chicago with $100 is his pocket. It i... more »s the 1890's and he is a college dropout. He is looking for work when he falls prey to someone who looks for young men like Walter. Walter did not truly appreciate what he had until it was taken from him. His year of probation and the hard work he was forced to do taught him to appreciate the things that he had.« less