Horatio Alger wrote 135 dime novels in the latter part of the 19th century. His stories were rags to riches stories illustrating how down-and-out boys might be able to achieve the American Dream. Alger's stories empathize the need for hard work and honesty as a way to get ahead. Ragged Dick was his first novel published in 1867. In Alger's books real boys are seen doing honest things and being successful. Helping Himself begins with Deacon Gridley who was a farmer. Gridley had managed to save a little money. His thriftiness meant that he had also hoarded all of the interest. Here our young hero enters the tale