advantage one may derive
from having this confidence in his strict veracity established:

_Petrarch_, the celebrated Italian poet, by his strict regard for truth,
secured the unbounded confidence of Cardinal Colonna, in whose family
he resided. A violent quarrel broke out among the Cardinal's numerous
family of servants, which ended in a fight. The Cardinal, in order to
investigate the affair, and punish the offenders, assembled all his
people and put them under oath to tell the whole truth. Everyone took
the oath, not excepting the bishop of Luna, the Cardinal's own brother.
Petrarch, in his turn, presented himself, but the Cardinal closed the
book, saying, "As to you, Petrarch, your word is sufficient." Our
readers will perceive how great an advantage it will be to them to have
always such a strict regard to the exact truth, that their word will be
considered as good as an oath.

_Remember the bright side._

When Peter the Great heard any one speaking ill of another, he would
inquire, "Is there not a _fair side_, also, to the character of the
person of whom you are speaking? Come, tell me what _good_ qualities you
have remarked about him." If, in speaking of others, we should look
always at the _fair side_, and see what good things we can say of them,
it would make us feel better towards them; it would be doing them a
service instead of an injury; it would tend to make _peace_, rather than
foment strife.

SECTION VII.--PUNCTUALITY.

EXAMPLE OF WASHINGTON.

When Washington appointed the hour of twelve to meet Congress, he never
failed to be passing the door of the hall while the clock was striking
twelve. His dinner hour was four o'clock. If his guests were not there
at the time, he never waited for them. New members of Congress, who were
invited to dine with him, would frequently come in when dinner was half
over; and he would say to them, "Gentlemen, we are punctual here. My
cook never asks whether the company has arrived, but whether the hour
has." In 1799, when on a visit to Boston, he appointed eight o'clock in
the morning as the hour when he would set out for Salem. While the Old
South clock was striking eight, he was mounting his horse. The company
of cavalry, who had volunteered to escort him, was parading in Tremont
street, and did not overtake him till he had reached Charles River
Bridge. On their arrival, the General said, "Major, I thought you had
been too long in my family not to know when it was