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Alger, Horatio, 1832-1899

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


Fosdick was still at the hat-store, having succeeded in giving
perfect satisfaction to Mr. Henderson. His wages had just been
raised to five dollars a week. He and Dick still kept house together
at Mrs. Mooney's lodging-house, and lived very frugally, so that
both were able to save up money. Dick had been unusually successful
in business. He had several regular patrons, who had been drawn to
him by his ready wit, and quick humor, and from two of them he had
received presents of clothing, which had saved him any expense on
that score. His income had averaged quite seven dollars a week in
addition to this. Of this amount he was now obliged to pay one
dollar weekly for the room which he and Fosdick occupied, but he
was still able to save one half the remainder. At the end of nine
months therefore, or thirty-nine weeks, it will be seen that he had
accumulated no less a sum than one hundred and seventeen dollars.
Dick may be excused for feeling like a capitalist when he looked at
the long row of deposits in his little bank-book. There were other
boys in the same business who had earned as much money, but they
had had little care for the future, and spent as they went along,
so that few could boast a bank-account, however small.
"You'll be a rich man some time, Dick," said Henry Fosdick,
one evening.
"And live on Fifth Avenoo," said Dick.
"Perhaps so. Stranger things have happened.


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