“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.