Let us not do anything that we need be ashamed of. We know what is right better than the elephant, because we can think better.
(Blackboard.)
Do nothing that you need be ashamed of.
XXXIX. EARS AND NO EARS.
86. Heedless Albert.
"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.