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. Paul's story begins "Here's your prize packages! Only five cents! Money prize in every package! Walk up, gentlemen, and try your luck! The speaker, a boy of fourteen, stood in front of the shabby brick building, on Nassau street, which has served for many years as the New York post office. In front of him, as he stood with his back to the building, was a small basket, filled with ordinary letter envelopes, each labeled "Prize Package." His attractive announcement, which, at that time, had also the merit of novelty - for Paul had himself hit upon the idea, and manufactured the packages, as we shall hereafter explain - drew around him a miscellaneous crowd, composed chiefly of boys."