From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

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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.
Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 35 Lawrence continued to read, "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 times and places. "Wherein you reprove another, be unblamable yourself, for example is better than precept. "When a man does all he can, though it succeeds not well, blame not him that did it." "Not many men reduce these rules to practise very thoroughly," remarked Lawrence. "To square one's life by these rules requires uncommon circumspection and decision. Few are equal to it." "I think that George comes as near doing it as any one," suggested Mrs. Washington. "I was just thinking of that," replied Lawrence. "I am not sure but his manly bearing is owing to these rules. No one can think enough of them to write them down carefully in a book without being more or less influenced by their lessons." "It would seem so," remarked Mrs. Washington; "but are there no rules relating to our higher duties to God among the whole number?" "Yes, several; but you should remember that these are rules of behavior in company and conversation alone, and not our religious duties. But here is one rule that lies in that direction": "Labor to keep in your heart that little spark of celestial fire called conscience." "And here is another": "If you speak of God or His attributes, let it be seriously, in reverence; and honor and obey your parents." "George has done that to perfection," remarked Lawrence. "Profanity and disobedience, even in their least offensive form, he was never guilty of. And here is still another rule having reference to our higher obligations, which he has observed with commendable carefulness": "Let your recreations be manful, not sinful." "I think it is remarkable, as you say, that one so young as George should make such a collection of rules," said Mrs. Washington. "May it not be that a remarkable future is before him?" "It may be, and I am inclined to think it will be," answered Lawrence. "If a bright spring-time is the harbinger of an ample harvest, such a youth must foreshadow noble manhood." Thus were George's "Rules of Behavior in Company and Conversation" discussed at Mount Vernon, and the young author of them was more admired in consequence. We will furnish our readers with more of his "Rules," since all of them are important, and had much to do, doubtless, with the formation of George's character. "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. "Break not a jest when none take pleasure in mirth; laugh not loud, nor at all, without occasion; deride no
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