A Little Lesson in Punctuality

Lately I have been looking over some of the books that my mother has bought for my brother to read. I have been enjoying many of them (even though many of them cater more to young men). I was reading through Anecdotes for Boys: Narratives Illustrative of Principles and Character by Harvey Newcomb (1851) and this paragraph jumped out at me.

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 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 over take 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 eight o'clock. "

Now, I don't feel so badly about my drive to be punctual and on time. Now knowing that the General was far more precise about being punctual.....I would hope now that my family will be easier on me.

For us young ladies, we can not escape from this lesson even though it was in a book for boys. We must consider being punctual as well. I love this quote in the book called Personal Help for Girls.... "The world will sometimes give the excuse that it is "in style" to be a little bit late....To make one's "appearance". Did you not know that there is no such thing as being "fashionably late"? There is only such thing as being unfashionably rude...!"
As young women training to be godly wives and mothers, we first must be capable godly daughters at home. We must train ourselves to obediently and willingly serve our Heavenly Father and our earthly fathers.

Parting thought.... "Sometimes we are late because we have too much on our plate."