I was almost always present when they talked of their affairs, laid out their plans, and decided upon a course of action.

I thus had an advantage over other boys of my age, who were quicker and who could figure and write better than I.The firm conducted a business with so many ramifications that this education was quite extensive.

They owned dwelling-houses, warehouses, and buildings which were rented for offices and a variety of uses, and I had to collect the rents.

They shipped by rail, canal, and lake.

There were many different kinds of negotiations and transactions going on, and with all these I was in close touch.
Thus it happened that my duties were vastly more interesting than those of an office-boy in a large house to-day.