RAGGED DICK
...one so himself. He thought it mean.” (99) . After meeting Mr. Whitney a successful businessman and his nephew Frank Whitney, Dick decided that he would have to change to obtain a better life. Mr. Whitney offered him new clothing, money, and valuable motivating advice "I hope, my lad, you will prosper and rise in the world. You know in this free country poverty in early life is no bar to a man's advancement… yet there was a time when I was as poor as you." (125). Ragged Dick realized that he was going to have to stop attending the theater, gambling and wasting money on any other entertainment. He was not going to sleep on the streets he would use the money that Mr. Whitney gave him to rent out a room. Dick opened a bank account, which he added money to weekly. Ragged Dick never received a formal education, which proposed an obstacle. He befriends Henry Fosdick a studious and ambitious twelve years old, and makes a deal. "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. That'll be better'n door-steps or old boxes, where I've slept many a time." (169). "All labor is respectable, my lad, and you have no cause to be ashamed of any honest business; yet when you can get something to do that promises better for your future prospects, I advise you to do so. Till then earn your living in the way you are accustomed to, avoid extravagance, and save up a little money if you can." 125 126 Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography recounts the life of an 18th century self-made man. The autobiography is an inspiration piece of work, which includes Franklin’s achievements, values, and habits, which made his success attainable. Franklin is an example of a self-made, self-educated man who started of with nothing. His family’s history, tradition and beliefs are among the components that shape and develop him. Josiah Franklin was his father, who immigrated to New England to find greater religious freedom, and who instilled in his son a desire to become both prosperous and useful. Benjamin’s brother James is an important figure. Ben is sent at the age of twelve to Boston to become James apprentice. During this time Ben’s love for writing and reading began to transform his life. He began to structure his life so he had more time and money to feed his appetite for literature. “From a child I was fond of reading, and all the little money that came into my hands was ever laid out in books.” (16). I do appreciate the effort of Franklin to include women and the issue of their education twice in his autobiography. During his apprentic...