Chapter IV: "rules of Behavior."

For the five years following his father's death, George made his home at the house of his half-brother, Augustine Washington, at a considerable distance from his mother's, where he might have the benefit of a better school which that neighborhood afforded. His new schoolmaster was a Mr. Williams, a very worthy man; who, however, although he knew a vast deal more than Mr. Hobby, the poor old grave-digger, was far from being what we might call a first-rate scholar. But what his teacher lacked in learning, George made up in diligence, and the most judicious use of every means of self-improvement within his reach. And here, my dear children, let me remind you of a thing worthy of your remembrance through life, that success in the pursuit of knowledge depends far less upon the ability and skill of the teacher, than upon the industry, perseverance, and willing application of the learner.

Under the instruction of this, his second and last teacher, George got a little insight into English grammar, read some history, became well acquainted with geography, completely mastered arithmetic, and made handsome progress in geometry and trigonometry; which, as you must know, are higher branches of mathematics than arithmetic, and far more difficult to comprehend. In connection with the two latter, he studied surveying; by which is taught, as you must continue to bear in mind hereafter, the measurement of land.

When he had advanced so far in this study as to give him some idea of the proper use and handling of the chain and compass, the two principal instruments employed in this art, he began to put his knowledge into practice by taking surveys of the farms lying in the immediate neighborhood of his schoolhouse, and also of the lands belonging to the estate of Mount Vernon.

Assisted by his schoolmates, he would follow up, and measure off with the help of his long steel chain, the boundary lines between the farms, such as fences, roads, and watercourses; then those dividing the different parts of the same farm; determining at the same time, with the help of his compass, their various courses, their crooks and windings, and the angles formed at their points of meeting or intersection. This would enable him to get at the shape and size not only of each farm, but of every meadow, field, and wood composing it. This done, he would make a map or drawing on paper of the land surveyed, whereon would be clearly traced the lines dividing the different parts, with the name and number of acres of each attached; while, on the opposite page, he would write down the long and difficult tables of figures by which these results had been reached. All this he would execute with as much neatness and accuracy as if it had been left with him to decide thereby some gravely disputed land-claim.

To qualify himself for the management of business affairs upon reaching the age of manhood, he would copy off into a blank-book every form or instrument of writing he would meet with; such as deeds, wills, notes of hand, bills of exchange, receipts, bonds, land-warrants, &c., &c. And, what was still more remarkable in a boy of thirteen, he wrote down, under the head of what he called "Rules of Behavior in Company and Conversation," such wise maxims, and lines of wholesome advice, as he would pick up from time to time in the course of his reading or observation, to aid him in forming habits of industry, politeness, and morality. Some of these rules, your Uncle Juvinell, with an eye mainly to your well-being, will repeat to you; for, when but a boy, he got them by heart, well knowing, that, without some such aid, he would find it hard, if not impossible, to so order his walks through life as to win and deserve the esteem and confidence of his fellow-men, as well as the blessing and approbation of his Maker. And now that he has reached the evening of his days, and is well assured that the daily observance of these rules has made him a wiser, a better, and a happier man, he would most earnestly advise all his friends, great or small, but especially small, be they boys or girls, to pursue the like course, if they would be favored of Heaven in the like manner. Here they are:--

"1. Every action in company ought to be with some sign of
respect to those present.

"2. In the presence of others, sing not to yourself with a
humming noise, nor drum with your fingers or feet.

"3. Speak not when others speak, sit not when others stand,
speak not when you should hold your peace, walk not when others
stop.

"4. Turn not your back to others, especially in speaking; jog
not the table or desk on which another reads or writes; lean
not on any one.

"5. Be not a flatterer; neither play with any one that delights
not to be played with.

"6. Show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another, though
he were your enemy.

"7. It is good manners to prefer them to whom we speak before
ourselves, especially if they be above us; with whom in no sort
ought we to begin.

"8. Strive not with your superiors in an argument, but always
submit your judgment to others with modesty.

"9. Undertake not to teach your equal in the art himself
professes; for it is immodest and presumptuous.

"10. When a man does all he can, though it succeeds not well,
blame not him that did it.

"11. Before you advise or find fault with any one, consider
whether it ought to be in public or in private, presently or
at some other time, in what terms to do it; and, in reproving,
show no signs of anger, but do it with sweetness and mildness.

"12. Take all advice thankfully, in what time or place soever
given; but afterwards, not being blamable, take a time or place
convenient to let him know it that gave it.

"13. Mock not in jest at any thing of importance: if you
deliver any thing witty and pleasant, abstain from laughing
thereat yourself.

"14. Wherein you reprove another, be unblamable yourself; for
example is better than precept.

"15. Use no reproachful language against any one; neither curse
nor revile.

"16. Be not hasty to believe flying reports to the injury of
any.

"17. In your apparel, be modest, and endeavor to accommodate
yourself to nature, rather than to procure admiration; keep to
the fashion of your equals, such as are civil and orderly, with
respect to time and places.

"18. Play not the peacock, looking everywhere about you to see
if you be well decked, if your shoes fit well, if your
pantaloons sit neatly, and clothes handsomely.

"19. Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem
your reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad
company.

"20. Let your conversation be without malice or envy, for it is
a sign of a kindly and commendable nature; and, in all causes
of passion, admit reason to govern.

"21. Be not immodest in urging a friend to make known a secret.

"22. Utter not base and frivolous things amongst grave and
learned men, nor very difficult questions or subjects among the
ignorant, nor things hard to believe.

"23. Speak not of doleful things in time of mirth, nor at the
table; speak not of melancholy things, as death and wounds;
and, if others mention them, change, if you can, the discourse.
Tell not your dreams but to your intimate friend.

"24. Break not a jest, when none take pleasure in mirth; laugh
not loud, nor at all, without occasion; deride no man's
misfortune, though there seem to be some cause.

"25. Speak not injurious words, neither in jest nor earnest;
scoff at none, although they give occasion.

"26. Seek not to lessen the merits of others; neither give more
than due praise.

"27. Go not thither where you know not whether you shall be
welcome. Give not advice without being asked; and, when
desired, do it briefly.

"28. Reprove not the imperfections of others; for that belongs
to parents, masters, and superiors.

"29. Gaze not on the marks or blemishes of others, and ask not
how they came. What you may speak in secret to your friend,
deliver not before others.

"30. Think before you speak; pronounce not imperfectly, nor
bring out your words too hastily, but orderly and distinctly.

"31. When another speaks, be attentive yourself, and disturb
not the audience. If any hesitate in his words, help him not
nor prompt him without being desired; interrupt him not nor
answer him until his speech be ended.

"32. Treat with men at right times about business, and whimper
not in the company of others.

"33. Be not in haste to relate news, if you know not the truth
thereof.

"34. Be not curious to know the affairs of others; neither
approach those that speak in private.

"35. Undertake not what you cannot perform, but be careful to
keep your promise.

"36. When your masters or superiors talk to anybody, hearken
not, nor speak or laugh.

"37. Speak not evil of the absent; for it is unjust.

"38. Make no show of taking delight in your victuals; feed not
with greediness; cut your food with a knife, and lean not on
the table; neither find fault with what you eat.

"39. Be not angry at the table, whatever happens; and, if you
have reason to be so, show it not, but put on a cheerful face,
especially if there be strangers; for good humor makes of one
dish a feast.

"40. If you speak of God or his attributes, let it be
seriously, in reverence; and honor and obey your parents.

"41. Let your recreations be manful, not sinful.

"42. Labor to keep in your breast that little spark of
celestial fire called conscience."

Now, does it not strike you, my dear children, as being most truly wonderful that it should have ever entered the mind of a boy of thirteen to lay down for his own guidance and self-improvement such rules and principles as these I have just repeated? It certainly must. And yet when I tell you that he strictly adhered to them through life, and squared his conduct by them daily, you will, no doubt, think it quite unreasonable that he could have been other than the good and great man he was.

These writings I have mentioned filled several quires of paper; and together with his business papers, letters, journals, and account-books, written later in life, and with the same neatness and precision, are still preserved at Mount Vernon with pious care; and are even now to be seen by those who go on pilgrimages to that sacred spot, although, since many of them were penned, more than a hundred years have come and gone.

And thus, my children, you have seen young Washington, at an age when most boys are wasting their precious hours in idle sports, seeking to acquire those habits of industry, punctuality, and method, which afterwards enabled him so to economize time and labor as to do with ease and expedition what others did with difficulty and tardiness. You have seen him making the best use of the slender means within his reach for storing his mind with those treasures of knowledge, and schooling his heart in the daily practice of those exalted virtues, which, after a life well spent and work well done, make good his title to the name he bears,--the greatest and the wisest of human kind.

At last, the day came when George was to leave school for ever; and a day of sorrow it was to his school-fellows, who parted from him with many an affectionate wish, and, as we are told, even with tears; so greatly had he endeared himself to them by his noble disposition, gentle manners, and earnest desire to do as he would be done by, which appeared in all his words and actions. In these regrets, Mr. Williams, his worthy schoolmaster, also shared; and it gave him in after-life, when his little George had become the great Washington, the most heartfelt pleasure to say, that it had never been his privilege to teach another pupil who could at all compare with him for diligence in application, aptitude in learning, docility of disposition, manly generosity, courage, and truth.