ALWAYS SPEAK THE TRUTH.
George Washington, late President of the United States, always spoke the truth. During his whole life he had great regard for truth, and was never known, under any circumstance, to make a false statement.
When he was about six years old, a friend of his gave him a hatchet. George thought it a very fine present and was constantly going about, chopping every thing that came in his way.
One very pleasant morning, he walked out into his father's garden with his hatchet in his hand. It was a beautiful garden, in which were flowers, of various kinds, such as pinks, lilies, lilachs, roses, &c. which greeted the eye at every step. George was delighted with the prospect around him.
In the east end of the garden was a quantity of pea-bushes which had been placed there by his excellent mother. These bushes were dry and dead so that the hacking of George's hatchet on them did not do much hurt, except to weaken their strength and make them less able to bear the weight of peas that might grow on the pea-vines.
But George had the misfortune thoughtlessly to try the edge of his hatchet on the body of a beautiful young English cherry-tree which he injured so much that it scarcely if ever got over it.
On the following morning his papa, in his walk in the garden, observed the injury done to his favourite cherry-tree, and after walking awhile, returned to the house, and inquired of the different members of the family whether any of them knew who had done the mischief, remarking, at the same time, that he would not have taken five dollars for the tree. No one was able to inform him, for there was no person in the garden with George when he cut the tree.
Presently George made his appearance with his hatchet in his hand.
"George," said his papa, "do you know who killed that beautiful little cherry-tree yonder in the garden?"
Little George with his Hatchet in his hand, and his Papa pointing to the ruined Cherry-tree.
This was an unpleasant question, and George staggered under it for a moment; then looking at his papa, he bravely cried out "I can not tell a lie, papa; you know I can not tell a lie, I did it with my little hatchet!" "Run to my arms, my dearest boy", said his papa, "you have paid me for my tree a thousand times; I freely forgive you for killing it; and I hope my son will always be hero enough to tell the truth, let what will come."
I hope all my young friends will be as honest as little George Washington was, and remember always to speak the Truth.