From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 34
All these copy books, with other proofs of George's thorough scholarship and progress, can now be seen at
Mount Vernon, where he lived and died.
Irving says of these: "His manuscript school-books still exist, and are models of neatness and accuracy. One
of them, it is true, a ciphering book, preserved in the library at Mount Vernon, has some school-boy attempts
at calligraphy; nondescript birds, executed with the flourish of a pen, or profiles of faces, probably intended
for those of his school-mates; the rest are all grave and business-like. Before he was thirteen years of age he
had copied into a volume forms for all kinds of mercantile and legal papers, bills of exchange, notes of hand,
deeds, bonds and the like. This early self-tuition gave him throughout life a lawyer's skill in drafting
documents, and a merchant's exactness in keeping accounts; so that all the concerns of his various estates, his
dealings with his domestic stewards and foreign agents, his accounts with governments, and all the financial
transactions, are to this day to be seen posted up in books, in his own handwriting, monuments of his method
and unvaried accuracy."
There was yet another manuscript more important, really, than those of which we have spoken. It contained
one hundred and ten rules for regulating his conduct, to which he gave the title, "RULES OF BEHAVIOR IN
COMPANY AND CONVERSATION."
When Lawrence Washington examined this manuscript he remarked to his wife, "It is remarkable that a boy
of his years should make such a collection of rules as this. They are creditable to a much older head than his."
"They are not original with him, are they?" responded his wife.
"I think not; they must be a collection which he has made from time to time. It would not be possible for a boy
of his age to produce such a code of manners and morals out of his own brain. Hear this," and he proceeded to
read some of the "Rules."
"Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your reputation, for it is better to be alone than in
bad company."
"Good counsel, surely, and well expressed," remarked Mrs. Washington.
"It shows a degree of thoughtfulness and desire to be correct, beyond his years," added Lawrence. "The other
rules are no less practical and significant." He continued to read:
"Every action in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those present.
"Speak not when others speak; sit not when others stand. Speak not when you should hold your peace. Walk
not when others stop."
"That is paying attention to little things with a will," remarked Mrs. Washington.
"And that is what impresses me," responded Lawrence. "Most boys think that such small matters are beneath
their notice, when attention to these secures attention to more important things."
"Very true," replied his wife; "and it certainly shows a desire to be correct in behavior that is commendable."
"And as unusual as it is commendable," added Lawrence. "It is such a manly view of life as we seldom meet
with, except in ripe manhood."
"Well, read more of his rules," suggested Mrs. Washington.