"Listen, boys," said the teacher, "I am going to tell you about a land
across the sea, not much more than twenty miles from England--the sunny
land of France." So he went on to tell them of the vines loaded with
grapes, from which wine is made; of the apples growing by the roadside,
and of the French people, how gay and merry they are, and how neatly the
poor people dress.
Many more interesting things he told them, and then he said: "Now, take
your papers, and write down all that you can remember about France". The
boys set to work, and soon all were very busy, except one--a boy named
Albert, who could not think of anything to write, and who, when the
papers were collected had not managed to pen a single line. How was
this, do you think? It was simply because he had =not attended= to the
teacher when he was speaking, and so he could not remember anything that
had been told him.
One day, when Albert was about ten years old, his mother sent him to a
farm for some eggs. He had not been to the farm before, but his mother
told him exactly which way to go, and if he had listened he could have
found it easily.
In about an hour Albert came back, swinging the empty basket. He had not
been able to find the farm. Why? Because he did not =attend= when his
mother was telling him the way.
You will readily see that a child who does not attend cannot learn
much, and will never be bright and clever, nor of much use in helping
others.
(Blackboard.)
Do not be Heedless; Listen and Attend.