
A bright‑eyed city boy learns early that every minute counts. When a chance job as a telegraph messenger lands in his hands, he discovers that punctuality can open doors as surely as a firm handshake. He must race against ticking clocks, bustling streets, and the expectations of demanding supervisors, all while keeping his promise to a family that depends on his earnings.
Through a series of lively mishaps—missed trains, misdirected parcels, and a sudden storm that threatens to ruin his reputation—he discovers that honesty, hard work, and an unwavering sense of duty are his greatest assets. Along the way he befriends a kindly shopkeeper and a streetwise newsboy who teach him that true success comes from helping others as much as from keeping the schedule.
The story captures the bustling energy of a growing metropolis and celebrates the timeless lesson that being on time is more than a habit; it’s a pathway to trust, opportunity, and a brighter future.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (301K characters)
Series
Alger Series no. 149
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Demian Katz, Craig Kirkwood, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Images courtesy of the Digital Library@Villanova University (http://digital.library.villanova.edu/))
Release date
2021-06-07
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1822–1897
A 19th-century American storyteller and educator, he wrote lively adventure books for young readers under the pen name Oliver Optic. His tales of ships, schools, and moral choices made him one of the best-known juvenile authors of his era.
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