RULES OF DEPORTMENT. 33 15. Strive not with your superiors in argument, but always submit your judgment to others with modesty. 16. Undertake not to teach your equal in the art himself professes; it savours of arrogancy. 17. When a man does all he can, though it succeeds not well, blame not him that did it. 18. Being to advise or reprehend 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 choler, but do it with sweetness and mildness. 19. Take all admonitions thankfully, in what time or place soever given; but afterwards, not being culpable, take a time or place convenient to let him know it that gave them. 20. Mock not, nor jest at any thing of importance; break no jests that are sharp-biting, and if you deliver any thing witty and pleasant, abstain from laughing thereat yourself. 21. Wherein you reprove another be unblamable yourself; for example is more prevalent than precepts. 22. Use no reproachful language against any one, neither curse nor revile. 23. Be not hasty to believe flying reports to the disparagement of any. 24. In your apparel, be modest, and endeavor to accommodate 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. 25. Play not the peacock, looking everywhere about you to see if you be well decked, if your shoes fit well, if your stockings sit neatly, and clothes handsomely. 26. Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation, for it is better to be alone, than in bad company. 27. Let your conversation be without malice or envy, for it is a sign of a tractable and commendable nature ; and in all causes of passion, admit reason to govern. 28. Be not immodest in urging your friend to discover a secret. 29. Utter not base and frivolous things amongst grave and learned men; nor very difficult questions or subjects among the ignorant; nor things hard to be believed. 30. 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. 31. Break not a jest where none takes pleasure in mirth; laugh not aloud, nor at all without occasion. Deride no man's misfortune, though there seems to be some cause. 32. Speak not injurious words neither in jest nor earnest ; scoff at none, although they give occasion. 33. Be not forward, but friendly and courteous; the first to salute, hear and answer; and be not pensive when it is a time to converse. 34. Detract not from others, neither be excessive in commending. 35. Go not thither, where you know not whether you shall be welcome or not. Give not advice without being asked, and when desired, do it briefly. 36. If two contend together take not the part of either unconstrained, and be not obstinate in your own opinion; in things indifferent, be of the major side. 37. Reprehend not the imperfections of others, for that belongs to parents, masters, and superiors. RULES OF DEPORTMENT. 35 38. 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. 39. Speak not in an unknown tongue in company, but in your own language, and that as those of quality do, and not as the vulgar; sublime matters treat seriously. 40. Think before you speak, pronounce not imperfectly, nor bring out your words too hastily, but orderly and distinctly.. 41. 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, till his speech be ended. 42. Treat with men at fit times about business, and whisper not in the company of others. 43. Make no comparisons, and if any of the company be commended for any brave act of virtue, commend not another for the same. 44. Be not apt to relate news, if you know not the truth thereof. In discoursing of things you have heard, name not your author always. A secret discover not. 45. Be not curious to know the affairs of others, neither approach to those who speak in private. 46. Undertake not what you cannot perform, but be careful to keep your promise. 47. When you deliver a matter, do it without passion, and with discretion, however mean the person be you do it to. 48. When your superiors talk to anybody, hearken not, neither speak, nor laugh. 49. In disputes be not so desirous to overcome, as not to give liberty to each one to deliver his opinion, and submit to the judgment of the major part, especially if they are judges of the dispute. 50. Be not tedious in discourse; make not many di gressions, nor repeat often the same manner of discourse. 51. Speak not evil of the absent; for it is unjust. 52. Make no show of taking great delight in your victuals; feed not with greediness; cut your bread with a knife; lean not on the table; neither find fault with what you eat. 53. Be not angry at table, whatever happens, and if you have reason to be so, show it not; put on a cheerful countenance, especially if there be strangers, for good humor makes one dish of meat a feast. 54. Set not yourself at the upper end of the table; but if it be your due or that the master of the house will have it so, contend not, lest you should trouble the company. 55. When you speak of God, or his attributes, let it be seriously in reverence. Honor and obey your natural parents, although they be poor. 56. Let your recreations be manful, not sinful. 57. Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience. CHAPTER III. FIRST CAMPAIGN. Emigration to the West-The Ohio Company-Appointment from Gov. Dinwiddie-A Winter Journey to Visit the French CommanderVenango and Fort Le Boeuf-Washington's Diary-The French Answer A New Commission-War in Fact-The First Bullets-A Retreat - Fort Necessity - Carlyle's Account; Smollett's; the 'Half-King's" Criticism-Washington's Welcome and Reception in Virginia. THE of before he was twenty HE reputation of Washington as a military commander, was made before he was twentysix years old. It is an interesting illustration of the history of this country, that, from the very beginning, its fortunes should so often have been intrusted to the foresight, promptness, courage, decision, and judgment of young men. The immediate undertaking on which Washington was engaged in his early life, which endeared him so closely to the people of Virginia, and which eventually made him known to the people throughout the colonies, was an enterprise of colonization. It was true then as it is true to this hour, that the business of the young American is to found new States. Lawrence Washington, with wisdom and foresight which would have made him a distinguished man, had he lived, had entered on an enterprise for the coloni |