"Oh dear!" was now the general exclamation among the young people, while
the eyes of all of them were in an instant fixed on the same object.
"Pray, sir, whose portrait is that?" cried John, the eldest boy.--"That,
my dear," said Mr. Willock, "is your face, and the face of all of you at
this moment."--"Indeed, papa," cried Henry, "you are only jesting with
us; for I am sure that it is not in the least like me."--"Well then,"
said Mr. Willock, "look at your brother William, and tell me if it is
not like him."--"Yes, indeed, papa," cried Henry; "he makes just such
another face."--"True, my dear Henry," returned Mr. Willock; "and so do
_each_ of you; because this is the face of _Attention_, which _each_ of
you show at this moment. Only observe how the eyebrows sink and approach
the sides of the nose--how the eyeballs turn towards the object of
notice--how the mouth opens, and especially the upper part--how the head
declines a little, and becomes fixed in that posture, without any
remarkable alteration--such," said he, "is the portrait of _Attention_,
drawn by Le Brun.
"But now, my dear children," continued Mr. Willock, "as I have showed
you the picture of _Attention_, it will be proper that I should describe
the passion to you. _Attention_ is implanted in us by nature, as the
means by which we may become acquainted with the objects of our
curiosity, and is a virtue, whenever a proper object is selected. The
face is then always interesting, however intent it may appear; but it is
the choice of a proper object which can alone make this passion of
value, and truly estimable. _Attention_ is therefore either praiseworthy
or not, according to the object it selects. Praiseworthy Attentions are
chiefly as follow:--
"_Attention_ to the duties of religion.
"_Attention_ of children to parents.
"_Attention_ of young people to their studies.
"_Attention_ to our friends and acquaintance.
"_Attention_ to the sick.
"_Attention_ to business.
"_Attention_ to dress.
"_Attention_ to the duties of religion, such as praying to God, and
attending the divine service, is not only the most delightful
_Attention_ that can be paid, but is of most advantage to us, as by it
we secure the blessing of Providence upon our actions, and it is only a
preparation for the numerous comforts we enjoy.
"_Attention_ of children to parents who have taken care of them from
infancy, being a proof of a grateful mind, is always lovely and
praiseworthy.
"_Attention_ of young people to their studies is the only way for them
to acquire improvement, for without it they must remain for ever in
ignorance; for instance, if, when I shewed you this portrait, you were
all the time playing, or thinking of something else, you could never
know what _Attention_ meant, nor the advantages to be gained by it.
"_Attention_ to our friends and acquaintance, particularly to the aged,
is not only a duty, but shows our politeness and good breeding.
"_Attention_ to the sick is required from us by the precepts of
religion, and by the need we may some day have for such _Attention_
ourselves.
"_Attention_ to business merely consists in minding what we have got to
do, and is always rewarded with profit.
"_Attention_ to dress is necessary, as far as relates to cleanliness and
propriety, but no further; and you will observe, that there are many
other Attentions which rank before it.
"There is another _Attention_, which may be called _Attention_ to
trifles, which ought only to be paid when there is not any thing more
worthy of our regard which ought to have the preference.
"But as you have all of you been so attentive, I will tell you a story,
which will show you the great virtue and use of _Attention_,
"Charles and George were twin brothers, the children of Mr. Wilson, a
gentleman of small income, but who had nevertheless given them an
excellent education. Both Charles and George were boys of naturally good
dispositions; but Charles was careless, and George thoughtful: George
always paid attention to what was said to him, and Charles did not.
Charles was clever, and George rather dull; but the attention which
George paid to his studies was so great, that he presently got the start
of his brother. Charles was very much astonished when he found that
George understood Latin better than himself, and was not aware that his
deficiency was entirely owing to the want of _Attention_.
"One day, when George and Charles were both of them very young, their
father, who was a wise and good man, made each of them a present of a
duplicate of this portrait, with strict injunctions to keep them safe,
and to look at them often.
"George had made a great many friends when young, by the _Attention_ he
was always disposed to pay to his acquaintance, and particularly one old
gentleman, who was very infirm, and who received his civilities with
great kindness; Charles, on the contrary, as he did not care for any
one, so there were very few but his parents who cared for him.
"At length George and Charles were both of them sent into the world, and
placed in the counting-houses of merchants of eminence, who were friends
of Mr. Wilson.--George immediately began to pay _Attention_ to business,
and Charles was as _inattentive_ as ever. George was always employed,
and Charles did nothing but follow pleasure. Now there is not any thing
more agreeable than amusement, when it does not interfere with business;
but at the same time, there is not any thing that can be more dangerous,
when it does.
"In a few years, Charles and George were established in business as
Leghorn merchants, by the liberality of their father, who left himself
but a very small income to live upon. Mr. Wilson had, however, the
pleasure to see both his children well circumstanced, and in a way of
making fortunes, before his death, which happened shortly after.
"George paid so much attention to his concerns, that he was already in a
way of getting rich; and, in addition to his own industry, he had the
pleasure to reap the benefit of his kindness and attention to the infirm
old gentleman, who died about this time, and left him his whole
property.
"Charles, during the whole time of his being in London, had not visited
his brother more than three times; and though George had frequently
called to see him, he never took any notice of his kindness, but
altogether neglected him. Charles was engaged wholly in folly and
extravagance, and was going on in a very bad way; in short, his concerns
had been so mismanaged that he was on the point of becoming a bankrupt.
"One day, Charles returned home to his house, in great distress of mind,
as he had not been able to make up a payment on which his credit
depended. He had occasion to examine his desk to find some papers of
consequence, when, in his search, he happened to lay his hand upon, and
unrolled the _neglected_ gift of his father, the portrait of
_Attention_.
"Charles burst into tears when he beheld the picture, and threw himself
in an agony of despair upon his bed, when a letter was brought him by
the servant from an acquaintance, which informed him that his brother
George was very ill. Charles, for the first time in his life, felt that
he had neglected his brother, for the portrait of _Attention_ had made
an impression upon his mind. He arose immediately, and went to the house
of Mr. George Wilson, but found that he kept his bed: he was however
admitted; and George, who had not expected such a visitor, was nearly
overcome at the sight of his brother. They embraced: and Charles, who
had happened to have heard of a case similar to his brother's which had
been managed with great success by his own physician, sent for him,
while he remained at the bed-side. In the course of conversation, George
inquired very kindly after the state of his brother's affairs, and told
him, that he hoped he was going on prosperously. Charles, with a heart
full of pain, only gave evasive answers; and on his brother's insisting
that something pressed on his spirits, took his leave.
"Mr. George Wilson presently got well by the advice of the physician, who
understood his case perfectly; and the very first thing that he did was
to call upon his brother Charles, to thank him for his kind _Attention_,
which had been the means of restoring him to health.
"George, having found the door open, walked immediately towards his
brother's counting-house, when he heard some very strong language, and
found his brother engaged in conversation with one of his principal
creditors, who threatened to make him a bankrupt, if he did not
immediately come to a settlement.
"George had been noticed by his brother, and could see, in his turn,
that Charles was sensible that he had heard every thing. George,
therefore, begged of the creditor to acquaint him of the cause of his
treating a merchant of eminence with so little respect. The creditor
made answer, that payment had been put off continually, and that he
would wait no longer. George requested to know the amount of the debt,
which was five thousand pounds, and, with a heart full of love and joy,
sat down instantly at the desk, and having drawn a cheque on his banker
for that amount, put it into the hands of his brother, saying at the
same time, 'My dear Charles, this is but a small return for the kind
_Attention_ you shewed me a few days ago.'--The creditor retired
satisfied, and Charles embraced his brother, while the tears of
gratitude for such a timely assistance flowed from his eyes.
"George now desired to know the real state of his brother's affairs,
which, after some difficulty, he was prevailed upon to disclose, and
which were as bad as they could be. However, such was the prudence and
_Attention_ of Mr. George Wilson, that he soon presented his brother
with a plan, by which, with _Attention_, he might extricate himself.
Charles, thoroughly sensible of his brother's advice, forsook his former
propensities, and paid the necessary _Attention_ to his affairs; when
his difficulties lessened by degrees; and at length he had the pleasure
to find himself out of debt, and is now a rich man.--Thus, my dear
children, you see that the very _first_ mark of _Attention_ of Charles
was blessed with a speedy and successful return of good, and led to
prosperity. It was too much to expect that he should reap as great a
harvest as his brother, because he had been wanting of the same
industry; nevertheless, as soon as he determined to be industrious and
careful, he found that--To _pay_ Attention, is to _receive_ Profit."
The young people had been extremely attentive during the whole time that
Mr. Willock was relating the history of George and Charles Wilson, and
seemed not only very much pleased with the story, but convinced of the
truth of its moral--that _to pay attention is to receive profit_.
Caroline began now to show some impatience to see the next picture, and
contrived to peep under one corner, when she cried out, "Oh dear! what a
beautiful face!"--It was