Punctuality is the habit of never being behind time
appointed. The punctual boy comes to college in good time for his lessons, and
is in his place with his books spread out ready for immediate use as soon as
his teacher comes into the room. He has his lesson well prepared, as he began
to learn it in good time. When he grows up to manhood, he is distinguished by
the same excellent characteristic. If he makes an appointment, you may count
upon finding him at the appointed time at the place of meeting agreed upon.
Give him any work to do, and if he promises to have it completed at a certain
date, be is sure not to disappoint you.
The un punctual man. On the contrary. Goes through
life as if he had deliberately determined to make a practice of being too late
on every possible occasion. He begins the day by lying in bed too long. After hurriedly
dressing. He finds that he has only time to snatch a few mouthfuls of
breakfast, which he swallows so hastily that he suffers from ingestion for the
rest of the day. He now starts off at a run in a vain effort’ to be in time for
his work. On his way he suddenly recollects that in his hurry he has forgotten
some important paper, so he has to run back to his house to get them. Perhaps
he goes to his office by the railway. If this is the case, of course he misses
his proper train, and has to wait impatiently for half an hour on the station
platform. Hot and tired with his struggles against time. he rushes into office
at least half an hour late and receives a rebuke from his superiors. A large
office is a complicated machine, and probably his more punctual associates have
been unable to get on with their work satisfactorily owing to the absence of
the late. Corner, for whom therefore they entertain no kindly feelings. The
whole establishment may have to be kept working for some time after office
hours because one man has come late.
In the evening we may suppose that our un punctual man’s
wife has a well-cooked dinner to refresh him after his day’s work. But she has
to be ready at the hour when he ought to return, and he loiters on the way. So
when at last he arrives, the carefully prepared dinner beys been kept waiting
till it is Overcooked, and the whole family Sits down in no pleasant temper to
a meal which might have been, but for on man’s selfish irregularity, an
agreeable termination to the labors of the day.
In this’ the vice Of un punctuality makes a man a
continued source worry and annoyance to himself and others. In special cases it
may produce far more serious evil effects. Many men by being late for
appointments have lost valuable chance of improving their position in life, and
opportunities of this kind, when once lost, are too likely never to return.
Un punctuality in the starting of a train often leads to a disastrous railway
accident. A campaign in war may be mined by the failure of a general to affect
a junction with his colleague at the appointed time and place. Marshall Blucher
pledged himself to come to the support of Wellington on June 18th, 1815. If he
had not made tremendous efforts punctually to keep his promise, Napoleon might
have won the battle of Waterloo and changed the future course of European
history. Although in ordinary matters such relay issues do not depend on the
faithful observance of appointments. In almost all cases the habit of’
un punctuality works much mischief, and everyone who, without sufficient excuse,
is late for an appointment, is besides guilty of great rudeness to those whom
he keeps waiting.