He is always very anxious for his friend's letters, depending on them for news and for amusement.

"My messenger will return at once," he says, in one; "therefore, though you are coming yourself very soon, send me a heavy letter, full not only of news but of your own ideas."[258] In another: "Cicero the Little sends greeting," he says, in Greek, "to Titus the Athenian"-- that is, to Titus Pomponius Atticus.

The Greek letters were probably traced by the child at his father's knee as Cicero held the pen or the stylus.

In another letter he declares that there, at Formiae, Pompey's name of Magnus is no more esteemed than that of Dives belonging to Crassus.

In the next he calls Pompey Sampsiceramus.