Ragged Dick: Or Street Life in New York With the Boot-blacks

The author hopes that- while the volumes in this series may prove interesting stories- they may also have the effect of enlisting the sympathies of his readers in behalf of the unfortunate children whose life is described- and of leading them to co-operate with the praiseworthy efforts now making by the Children’s Aid Society and other organizations to ameliorate their condition.' (From original Preface)