The novel 'The Young Adventurer; or, Tom's Trip Across the Plains', begins with Mark Nelson and his family struggling to pay the mortgage on their farm in 1850. When Tom, the eldest son, finds a wallet belonging to the Squire who owns their mortgage, he makes a proposition to loan himself the money to seek his fortune in California. As Tom embarks on his journey, he meets several characters who will shape his path, including a man who tries to rob him and a kind stranger who offers him shelter. But as he encounters danger and obstacles, will Tom be able to succeed and save his family's farm?