120. PUNCTUALITY.

If you desire to enjoy life, avoid unpunctual persons. They impede business, and poison pleasure. Make it your own rule not only to be punctual but a little beforehand.

The person who is negligent of time and its employment is usually found to be a general disturber of others' peace and serenity.

-SMILES.

In the most ordinary affairs in the business or calling by which we live at home or abroad—we must take heed of the value of time, keep watch over it, and be punctual to others as well as to ourselves. Without punctuality, indeed, men are kept in a perpetual state of worry, trouble, and annoyance. Punctuality is said to be the politeness of kings. It is also the politeness of subjects. When a certain nobleman, who had made an appointment with George III went to his Majesty too late, the king made a remark upon his unpunctuality; on which the nobleman replied, "Better late than never. ""No" said the king, "that is a mistake; I say, better never than late. "

-SMILES.

Washington asked his secretary to, go to him at an appointed time. The secretary went late, and when he was asked why he was so, he laid the blame on his watch; upon which Washington quietly said : "Then you must get another watch, or I another secretary.

At one time the Duchess of Sutherland held the great position of the office of mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria, and on public occasions her position was very near to the Royal person and deemed of great importance. A day and hour had been appointed for a public ceremony, in which the queen was to take part. The Duchess did not come in time, and when after great waiting the queen was about to enter the carriage without her first lady of honour, the Duchess in breathless haste appeared, stammering some faint words of excuse. "My dear Duchess," said the queen "I think you must have a bad watch." And as she thus spoke she unloosed from her neck the chain of a magnificent watch which she herself wore, and passed it around the neck of Lady Sutherland. Though given as a present, the lesson conveyed with it made a lively and deep impression. The proud Duchess changed colour, and a tear fell upon her cheek. On the next day she tendered her resignation, but it was not accepted. Ever afterwards she was more punctual than the queen herself.

121. PUPILS (INSTRUCTIONS TO).

After having taught the Veda, the teacher instructs

the pupil :

Say what is true.

Do thy duty.

Do not neglect the study of the Veda.

After having brought to thy teacher his proper reward, do not cut off the line of children (i. e. do not remain unmarried).

Do not swerve from the truth.

Do not swerve from duty.

Do not neglect what is useful.

Do not neglect the learning and teaching of the
Veda.

Do not neglect the sacrificial works due to the gods
and fathers.

Let thy mother be to thee like unto a god.
Let thy father be to thee like unto a god.
Let thy teacher be to thee like unto a god.
Let thy guests be to thee like unto a god.

Whatever actions are blameless those should be re-
garded, not others.

Whatever good works have been performed by us should be observed by thee, not others. *

-" UPANISHAT."

* From a Note in "The High-Caste Hindu Women" by

Pundita Ramâbâi.

122. PURITY.

Make thyself pure, O righteous man! any one in the world here below can win purity for himself, namely, when he cleanses himself with good thoughts, words and deeds. -"VENDÎDÂD." *

If thou wishest thy heart to be pure as a mirror, cleanse away ten things from thy heart,-impurity and envy, avarice and slander, pride and enmity, craftiness and oppression, all manner of iniquitous niggardliness, and unlawful revenge.

-M. C. MUNSOOKн. †

To be pure in mind a man ought to be free from passions, anger, avarice, &c. Just as the body can be purified by bathing, so the mind can be purified by being purged from the qualities mentioned above. ‡

Thou art thyself a stream, whose sacred ford
Is self-restraint, whose water is veracity,
Whose bank is virtue, and whose waves are love;
Here practise thy ablutions; by mere water

The inner man can never be purified.

-"HITOPADESHA."

The man who keeps his senses in control,

His speech, heart, actions pure and ever guarded,

• Translated by James Darmesteter (Sacred Books of the East). + Translated by W. H. Hamilton.

From a Paper read by Manmohandas D. Shroff, F.T.S.

Gains all the fruit of holy study; he
Needs neither penance nor austerity.*

Why shave the head and mow the chin
Whilst bristling follies choke the breast?
Apply the knife to parts within

And heed not how deformed the rest:
The heart of pride and passion weed,
And then the man is pure indeed.

-MANU.

"MRICHCHHAKATIKA."†

Call them not pure who wash their bodies and sit, O Nanak! Those alone are pure in whose heart He dwells.‡

-SIKH TEACHING.

The Prophet (Muhammed) would say, "there is a polish for everything that takes rust, and the polish for the heart is the remembrance of God; and there is no act that redeems from God's punishments so much as the remembrance of him."

"MISHCAT-UL-MASABIH." ||

The man of pure and simple heart;
Through life disdains a double part;
He never needs the screen of lies
His inward bosom to disguise.

-GAY.

* From Indian Wisdom by Monier Williams.

A drama translated from Sanskrit by H. H. Wilson.

From Annie Besant's Lecture on Sikhism.

Translated from Arabic by Captain Matthews.