Ragged Dick

Dick did not have much and had given up much hope of obtaining his dream.  Until one day his world was flipped upside down when he was given all of this for one heroic action.  The implicit argument in this excerpt is saying that if you are willing to dive in and risk your self for one thing expecting nothing in return, you will be greatly rewarded.  It is trying to prove that in order to become successful you must take chances in life for this to happen because things are rarely handed to you.  In addition to this, when taking these risks you must not have your own good will in mind, but the interests of others.  In this story in order to be successful you have to be willing to do anything even if it means putting your own life at risk for the sake of others.  If you have what it takes to be a "hero" then you will be rewarded with your greatest desires in life.  essentially, if you give with nothing expected in return you will receive much more than if your motives were not for the good of the cause.