# Johnny Nolan — Ragged Dick character guide

> Johnny Nolan in Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger Jr..

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Little Johnny

**First appearance:** 0004-ii-johnny-nolan

## Who they are

A lazy bootblack and Dick's former acquaintance.

## Relationships

### [Ragged Dick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ragged_dick_se/characters/ragged_dick)

_friendship_

Johnny Nolan is a lazy but good-natured fellow bootblack and friend of Dick.

### [Ragged Dick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ragged_dick_se/characters/ragged_dick)

_friendship_

Johnny Nolan is a lazy but good-natured fellow bootblack and friend of Dick.

### [Ragged Dick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ragged_dick_se/characters/ragged_dick)

_friendship_

Johnny Nolan is a lazy but good-natured fellow bootblack and friend of Dick.

## In the story

### [Ragged Dick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ragged_dick_se/chapters/ragged-dick)

A fellow bootblack and friend of Dick, depicted as lazy and unreliable.

### [II: Johnny Nolan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ragged_dick_se/chapters/ii-johnny-nolan)

A lazy bootblack who ran away from a farm job and now lives precariously on the streets, fearing the man who placed him.

### [Dick's New Suit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ragged_dick_se/chapters/iv-dick-s-new-suit)

Encountered on Broadway; is astonished by Dick's transformed appearance and questions if it's really him.

### [Chatham Street and Broadway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ragged_dick_se/chapters/v-chatham-street-and-broadway)

Mentioned as having bought cheap clothes on Baxter Street.

### [Dick Hires a Room on Mott Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ragged_dick_se/chapters/xii-dick-hires-a-room-on-mott-street)

Mentioned by Dick as a friend who would be surprised to learn Dick has a room of his own.

### [Dick Writes His First Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ragged_dick_se/chapters/xxv-dick-writes-his-first-letter)

Meets Dick at the post-office and expresses amazement that Dick can write, revealing his own lack of ambition.

### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ragged_dick_se/chapters/xxvii-conclusion)

Dick plans to give his bootblack business and customers to Johnny, seeing him as lacking enterprise.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ragged_dick_se/characters/johnny_nolan
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ragged_dick_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ragged_dick_se/characters