The Boxcar Children

Henry, 14, is the oldest of the orphaned Alden children. Smart, capable, and dedicated to his brother and sisters, Henry takes on the task of earning money so the group can eat. As the oldest, he also adopts a fatherly role toward Violet and Benny that helps quell their fears as they all face being on their own.

Henry is a hard worker, which impresses his employer, Dr. Moore. He’s also polite and honest to a fault. This assures the doctor that the boy is doing a good job of caring for his siblings and is worthy of strong support. With Jessie, Henry is living proof that their parents were good people who raised their children to be the same.

Henry’s full name, Henry James Alden, reflects his grandfather’s full name, James Henry Alden. This symbolizes that, though they seem to be opposites—James is young, poor, and good, while Mr. Alden is old, rich, and possibly bad—he and Mr. Alden are worthy people with a great deal in common.

Henry and Jessie are the two main protagonists of the story, and they work together smoothly. Both have as their top priority the health and safety of Violet and Benny. They clearly can handle anything that comes their way.