The Young Acrobat

The Young Acrobat of the Great North American Circus is a boys' book by Horatio Alger, Jr. It was first published in parts (serialization) in the magazine "Golden Argosy" in 1887. It was published as a book in 1888 by Frank A. Munsey of New York. The setting of the book was suggested to the writer by his friend, circus showman P. T. Barnum.
Story.
Kit, a young teen boy, is an orphan. He is cheated of his inheritance by his guardian. His guardian sends him off to work with a brutal, stupid blacksmith. The boy runs away. He joins the circus. He is followed by the blacksmith. The boy stays away from him. He becomes a big star in the circus. Later, he is restored to his rightful place with the help of a man who was his father's friend.