He met with very kind men, to whom he looked up with respect; they spoke a pleasant word and complimented him on his promptness, perhaps asked him to deliver a message on the way back to the office.

I do not know a situation in which a boy is more apt to attract attention, which is all a really clever boy requires in order to rise.

Wise men are always looking out for clever boys.
One great excitement of this life was the extra charge of ten cents which we were permitted to collect for messages delivered beyond a certain limit.

These "dime messages," as might be expected, were anxiously watched, and quarrels arose among us as to the right of delivery.

In some cases it was alleged boys had now and then taken a dime message out of turn.