Ragged Dick takes place in the mid-1800s in downtown New York City. The main character, named Richard Hunter, is a young bootblack who lives on the street. His customers and his fellow bootblacks know him by his street name of Ragged Dick. The nickname was acquired from his appearance of tattered clothes and a frequently unwashed body.

The book begins with Dick waking up from a night's sleep in a wooden box on the street. A stranger awakens Dick, and the reader gets the first glimpse into Dick's moral and historical background. The stranger questions Dick about his home life, honesty, and financial practices. Dick sets the record straight in the first f

The next day, Dick follows Frank's advice and begins to save his money. He no longer wastes his money at the theater or on other extravagant things. He opens a bank account and hires a room in the upstairs of a woman's house. The reader sees Dick's new path towards success.

Another scene, also involving Mr. Greyson, involves Fos*censored*. Fos*censored* is also a young man with good principles and a good work ethic. Fos*censored* is applying for a job and needs a reference. Mr. Greyson just happens to be in the store at the precise moment when Fos*censored* needs someone to speak on his behalf. It's evident that because Fos*censored* was a good person, that is why this good fortune fell upon him.

ew pages that he is an honest boy who does not believe in stealing. Alger also makes it very clear, however, that Dick is not perfect and has vices just like everyone else. These include swearing, smoking, and gambling. He makes an honest living, but usually spends his nights sleeping in the street because of using his earnings to support his bad habits.

One of Dick's customers was very impressed with Dick's honesty, and invites him and Fos*censored* to church and Sunday School. The boys end up using this man, whose name is Mr. Greyson, as a personal reference when they are trying to secure employment.

As Dick's day begins, the reader is introduced to the life of a typical bootblack in a large city in the 1860s. Although Dick "slept in" this day, he usually rises at six o'clock in the morning to prepare for the morning's workforce to pass in the streets on the way to their respective jobs. Alger explains how the young boys with good work ethic hold regular customers, and acquire new customers on a daily basis. Dick explains how many of the boys have the ambition to obtain new customers frequently, while others go hungry on a daily basis because they are not suited for his line of work.

The life of this young bootblack then suddenly changes forever. He meets an older gentleman, who the reader later learns is actually Eli Whitney. The man hires Dick to give his nephew, Frank, a tour of New York City. Mr. Whitney supplies Dick with a new suit of clothes and a sizable amount of money for the trouble of showing the nephew around the city. This generosity, and the guiding words of Frank throughout the day set Dick on a new path in the world.

Not long after renting out the room on Mott street, Dick meets up with an acquaintance and fellow bootblack by the name of Fos*censored*. He offers Fos*censored* a place to sleep in his room, in exchange for Fos*censored* tutoring him in studies. The two get along great, and Dick learns quickly from Fos*censored*.

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Approximate Word count = 1833
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)