There was once a little boy called Lewis, who had one bad fault--he was
very, very slow; so slow, that I am afraid he was really lazy. He could
do his sums quite well, but he was always the last boy to get them
finished; and in a morning his mother had no end of trouble to get him
off to school in time, he did everything so slowly. (Read the following
sentence very deliberately, and allow the children to fill in the
adverbs): He got out of bed (slowly), dressed himself (slowly), washed
himself (slowly), laced his boots (slowly), ate his breakfast (slowly),
and walked to school at the same pace (slowly).
Now one day a gentleman came to the school, and told the teacher that he
was going to take all the children in a boat down the river to have a
picnic by the seaside. Could anything be more delightful? The scholars
clapped their hands for gladness, and talked and thought of nothing but
the picnic. It was to be on the very next day, and they were to start
from the school at nine o'clock in the morning.
"Lewis," said the teacher, "remember to be in time, for the boat will
not wait!"
The morning came, and Lewis was called by his mother at seven o'clock.
"There is plenty of time," said Lewis, "I will lie a little longer;" and
he did so. Then his mother called again, and this time he rose, but he
went through all his work as slowly as ever, and all the time his mother
was telling him to "hurry up" or he would be too late.
At last he is ready to start; but just as he leaves the house a bell is
rung. "What is that?" says Lewis; "it must be the bell of the steamer. I
have no time to go round by the school; I must go straight to the pier,"
and off he ran. But, alas! by the time he reached the pier the boat was
steaming off. He could see the children with their pails and spades
waving their handkerchiefs in glee, and there was he left behind!
I was telling this story to a little boy once, and when it came to this
part he said: "Oh, auntie! could not they get a little boat and take
Lewis to the steamer? It is so hard for him to be left behind."
But you see, boys and girls, we =must= be left behind, if we are slow
and lazy.
I am glad to tell you, however, that Lewis was cured of his fault by
this disappointment. He really did try to get on more quickly
afterwards, and he succeeded. At school he had his sums finished so soon
that the teacher began to let him help the other boys who did not get on
so well, and Lewis was quite proud and happy. Then he came to school so
early that he was made "monitor," and had to put out the slates and
books, ready for the others. So, after all, Lewis grew up to be smart
and quick, and not like the man you will hear of in another story (Story
Lesson 84), who grew worse as he grew older.
(Blackboard.)
Do not be Slow and Lazy, or you will be always "Too Late".