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.
Olive and Gertie were walking along a country road, and high up in the sky a lark poured forth his sweet song.
"How beautifully that skylark sings," said Olive; "it is worth while to come out into the country just to hear it."
"I did not hear it," said Gertie, swinging her parasol.
"It is there, right overhead," exclaimed Olive; "do look, Gertie; it will drop like a stone when it gets nearer the ground."
"Oh! I cannot trouble to look up," replied Gertie, "it makes my neck ache."
By-and-by they passed a field of oats, nearly ripe, and as the wind swayed them to and fro, they made a pleasant rustling sound.
"How nice it is to hear the corn as it rustles in the wind," said Olive, "and listen, Gertie, is not this a pretty tinkling sound?"
Olive had plucked one of the ears of oats, and was shaking its little bells close to her friend's ear.
"To me it is lovely," replied Olive, "and the tinkle of the harebells is just as sweet."
Then a bee went buzzing by, and Olive liked to hear its drowsy hum, but Gertie did not notice it.
Presently they were on the edge of the cliffs, and could hear the splash of the waves as they rolled in and broke on the beach.