When George Washington was a boy, a beautiful cherry tree was killed in
his father's garden, by some violent hand stripping its bark. Mr.
Washington said he would not have taken five guineas for the tree, and
he would like to know the offender. Shortly after, seeing George with
an axe in his hand, he asked him if he knew who had killed the cherry
tree. George hesitated for a moment, then said, "I cannot tell a lie,
father, I cannot tell a lie. I cut it with the hatchet." "Come to my
arms," said his father; "you have paid for it a thousand times." Such an
act of heroism in telling the truth he valued more than a thousand
cherry trees.
1998
Hundreds would never have known _want_ if they had not first known
_waste_.
--_Spurgeon._
1999
He who plays with dollars in his youth, will be apt to have to beg for
farthings in his age.
--_Hone._
2000
When you take out, and do not put in, expect to reach the bottom.
--_Modern Greek._
2001