Ragged Dick: Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks

by

Horatio Alger

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Henry Fosdick is a homeless bootblack like his friend Ragged Dick, but he lacks his comrade’s amiable, outgoing nature. As a result, Fosdick struggles to find customers and has to endure more nights on the street, without any supper, than most bootblacks. Unlike most of his peers, though, Fosdick has a formidable education. His father kept him in school for much of his early life, and supplied him with books and encyclopedias to read, with the hope that his son would one day attend college. When Fosdick’s father died prematurely, however, the dream of college died with him, and Fosdick was forced into the street by at least age twelve. His fortunes change, however, when he happens upon Dick at a restaurant. Dick offers him a place to stay in exchange for his services as a tutor. Fosdick proves himself a dutiful young man, taking his educational work seriously and performing it well. He also displays a level of religious piety that surprises Dick, who is quite unused to such observances as bedside prayer and Sunday School attendance. Fosdick also learns from Dick, who teaches him the lessons of thrift and the value of importance that Dick learned from Frank Whitney. With these lessons, a new suit procured for him by Dick, and a shining recommendation from Mr. Greyson, Fosdick is able to achieve gainful employment as a store clerk and leave his bootblacking box behind. He displays the same level of diligence in his work as a clerk and soon earns a raise.

Henry Fosdick Quotes in Ragged Dick: Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks

The Ragged Dick: Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks quotes below are all either spoken by Henry Fosdick or refer to Henry Fosdick. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Power of Thrift Theme Icon
).
Chapter 8 Quotes

I ain’t got no mother. She died when I wasn’t but three years old. My father went to sea; but he went off before mother died, and nothin’ was ever heard of him. I expect he got wrecked, or died at sea.

Related Characters: Richard “Ragged Dick” Hunter (speaker), Henry Fosdick, Frank Whitney, Johnny Nolan
Page Number: 48
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15 Quotes

I’ll make a bargain with you. I can’t read much more’n a pig; and my writin’ looks like hens’ tracks. I don’t want to grow up knowin’ no more’n a four-year-old boy. If you’ll teach me readin’ and writin’ evenin’s, you shall sleep in my room every night.

Related Characters: Richard “Ragged Dick” Hunter (speaker), Henry Fosdick, Frank Whitney
Page Number: 99
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 19 Quotes

Mr. Henderson, this is a member of my Sunday school class, for whose good qualities and good abilities I can speak confidently.

Related Characters: Mr. Greyson (speaker), Henry Fosdick
Related Symbols: The Suit
Page Number: 127
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 24 Quotes

Dick read this letter with much satisfaction. It is always pleasant to be remembered, and Dick had so few friends that it was more to him than to boys who are better provided. Again, he felt a new sense of importance in having a letter addressed to him. It was the first letter he had ever received. If it had been sent to him a year before, he would not have been able to read it. But now, thanks to Fosdick's instructions, he could not only read writing, but he could write a very good hand himself.

Related Characters: Richard “Ragged Dick” Hunter, Henry Fosdick, Frank Whitney
Page Number: 160
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 27 Quotes

“…you were ‘Ragged Dick.’ You must drop that name, and think of yourself now as—”

“Richard Hunter, Esq.” said our hero, smiling.

“A young gentleman on the way to fame and fortune,” added Fosdick.

Related Characters: Richard “Ragged Dick” Hunter (speaker), Henry Fosdick (speaker)
Related Symbols: Bootblacking Box
Page Number: 178
Explanation and Analysis:
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Ragged Dick: Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks PDF

Henry Fosdick Quotes in Ragged Dick: Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks

The Ragged Dick: Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks quotes below are all either spoken by Henry Fosdick or refer to Henry Fosdick. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Power of Thrift Theme Icon
).
Chapter 8 Quotes

I ain’t got no mother. She died when I wasn’t but three years old. My father went to sea; but he went off before mother died, and nothin’ was ever heard of him. I expect he got wrecked, or died at sea.

Related Characters: Richard “Ragged Dick” Hunter (speaker), Henry Fosdick, Frank Whitney, Johnny Nolan
Page Number: 48
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15 Quotes

I’ll make a bargain with you. I can’t read much more’n a pig; and my writin’ looks like hens’ tracks. I don’t want to grow up knowin’ no more’n a four-year-old boy. If you’ll teach me readin’ and writin’ evenin’s, you shall sleep in my room every night.

Related Characters: Richard “Ragged Dick” Hunter (speaker), Henry Fosdick, Frank Whitney
Page Number: 99
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 19 Quotes

Mr. Henderson, this is a member of my Sunday school class, for whose good qualities and good abilities I can speak confidently.

Related Characters: Mr. Greyson (speaker), Henry Fosdick
Related Symbols: The Suit
Page Number: 127
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 24 Quotes

Dick read this letter with much satisfaction. It is always pleasant to be remembered, and Dick had so few friends that it was more to him than to boys who are better provided. Again, he felt a new sense of importance in having a letter addressed to him. It was the first letter he had ever received. If it had been sent to him a year before, he would not have been able to read it. But now, thanks to Fosdick's instructions, he could not only read writing, but he could write a very good hand himself.

Related Characters: Richard “Ragged Dick” Hunter, Henry Fosdick, Frank Whitney
Page Number: 160
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 27 Quotes

“…you were ‘Ragged Dick.’ You must drop that name, and think of yourself now as—”

“Richard Hunter, Esq.” said our hero, smiling.

“A young gentleman on the way to fame and fortune,” added Fosdick.

Related Characters: Richard “Ragged Dick” Hunter (speaker), Henry Fosdick (speaker)
Related Symbols: Bootblacking Box
Page Number: 178
Explanation and Analysis: