The hero begins his story on a boat ride as a reward to himself for earning 100 dollars as a shoe shiner. Dick aspires to hold a more respectable job. He is improving his English and perfecting his speech to further his capabilities, so that eventually he can obtain a position as a store clerk. Coincidentally, a young boy has fallen overboard on this same boat and courageously Dick jumps in after him. Saving the boy’s life Dick instantly becomes a hero, and in return the boy’s father, a wealthy businessman, repays him with adequate clothing and a new job. Dick was naïve to the fact that this boy’s father was rich, and naïve to the idea that he would be rewarded for his good deed, but on instinct he reacted heroically and was rewarded for his actions.
The author is implicitly arguing that rewards and good happenings are given back in return of good deeds. Dick’s intentions were solely to save that little boy, he wasn’t seeking a gift in return. The circumstance brought Dick upon a better job but it was completely unexpected and ended up being much more appreciated, because it was unanticipated.
I also think that the author might be arguing, that luck and contingency is a factor. It was by coincident that Dick was the man able save the boy, it was only fortunate that the boy’s father was wealthy and willing to repay him with a job. Although Dick had been working to become eligible for a job as a store clerk that improvement was irrelevant as to how he actually became a store clerk. Luckily the father felt a everlasting debt toward Dick, and was able to reward him with what Dick had been seeking.