The boy in the story helped his family during the great depression by selling news paper and by asking Mrs. Johnson can he see the baby carriage to put his newspaper in the carriage. In the story the author said that boy was disappointed but not surprised because his father only gave him a dime and he wanted a bicycle for his birthday. The author also said that Jacob was tossing a ball and catching It. Jacob threw It to me and shouted give me a high one and the boy was saying that he was Babe Ruth but when he caught the ball It slept out of his hand and Jacob was saying that he was not Babe Ruth. Jacob stayed for a while then he had to go to work. The author wants me to know that the boy is about to start working with Jacob, seling newspaper. He spend his birthday dime for two apples one for him and one for Jacob. The boy was happy he got rid of the dime. Near the next corner the boy saw a large briefcase.The boy looked up and there was his dad selling apples and the boy suddenly couldnt move because his father lied to his son and to his mother that he had a job. The boy kept his father's secret. The author also said that the boy sold a newspaper to Babe Ruth and made some money for the money jar. This shows that the boy helped his family by selling newspaper to make money and keeping his father's secret.