TAUGHT BY EXAMPLE. 107

Another thing to be observed is, that in
adopting good habits, Washington rejected
bad ones. He was guilty of no profanity, no
rudeness or harshness of speech ; he was not
addicted to sprees ; he was no haunter of bar-»
rooms or taverns; he had no leet love of
eccentricity; he affected not that kind of
smartness which displays itself in irregularity
or excess; he did not think it clever to dis-
obey teachers or parents ; he was no lover of
scandal, or of profane and rude society.
Perhaps one of the most remarkable charac-
teristics of Washington was his complete
power over himself; the entire subjection of
his feelings, and passions, and desires, to his
judgment, to his sense of right. 7

The teaching, then, of Washington’s ex-
ample is this:—study obedience, patience,
industry, accuracy, neatness, order, method,
respect to the rights and feelings of others:
make these things habitual rail-tracks.in the
mind. The course of obedience is the path to,
glory; that of disobedience is the path of
failure and disappointment in the race of life.