Bootblack

It's a biography of the 19th century young-adult author of such "rags to riches" books as "Ragged Dick" and "Tom the Bootblack."

Reaching for That First-Edition High 2010

And number three, maybe most importantly, I think we ` re all really tired of 15th century Middle English titles like Sam the Bootblack or Henry the Stable Hand.

CNN Transcript Nov 7, 2008 2008

These were the boys, it suddenly occurred to me, that Horatio Alger wrote about; he was alive now, I recalled, maybe writing Tom, the Bootblack at this moment.

Time and Again Finney, Jack 1995

Obviously, explains Mr. Morris, it came initially from the 19th century literature of the adolescent, the dime-novel hero Deadwood Dick -- the self-made man, and from the tireless Mr. Alger whose Phil the Fiddler, Swim or Sink, Sam the Bootblack, etc. stressed the same theme.

Who's Who and Why 1958

The plan failed, and Gilbert Grey, once Tom the Bootblack, came into a comfortable fortune.

Dick, Marjorie and Fidge A Search for the Wonderful Dodo

I remember once seeing the titles of two little books, the contents of which were being read or told to children; one was called, "Tom the Bootblack"; the other, "Dan the Newsboy."

The Art of the Story-Teller 1915

I remember once seeing the titles of two little books, the contents of which were being read or told to children; one was called, "Tom the Bootblack"; the other, "Dan the Newsboy."

The Art of the Story-Teller Marie L. Shedlock 1894

We take leave of "Tom, the Bootblack," trusting that the record of his struggles and final success may inspire all boys who read it to emulate him in bold and manly effort.

Tom, The Bootblack or, The Road to Success Horatio Alger 1865

The Bootblack portion of the contest is also unique in that it's inclusive of all gender identities, as evidenced by the diversity of this year's contestants.

unknown title 2009

Bootblack; Struggling Upward; Facing the World; The Cash Boy; Making

Herbert Carter's Legacy Horatio Alger 1865