In the story it was 1932 in the midst of the great Depression and  millions of people were out of work. Next in the story for the boy birthday he wanted a bike but they only gave him a dime. Last in the story, he was selling newspapers and sold one to Babe Ruth and he gave him $5.00 bill. And the boy went to Babe Ruth game.The author is trying to tell me that the boy is very helpful. This shows that the boy is helpful. This remind me of when I had went to work with my uncle and I got payed, just like the boy in the story. You just read why the boy sold newspaper to help his family.