The following is an excerpt from V. M. Metcalfe’s book Uncle Minor’s Stories. It contains a lesson from a father to his son who had fallen behind in school.
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“Well,” said the father to his son, “you’ve fallen behind this month, have you?” “Yes, sir.” “How did that happen?” “Don’t know, sir.” The father knew, if the son did not. He had observed a number of dime novels scattered about the house, but had not thought it worth while to say anything until a fitting opportunity should offer itself. A basket of apples stood upon the floor, and he said: “Empty out those apples, and take the basket and bring it to me half full of chips.”
Suspecting nothing, the son obeyed.
“And now,” he continued, “put those apples back into the basket.”
When half the apples were replaced the son said: “Father, they roll oft; I can’t put in any more.”
“Put them in! I tell you.”
“But, father, I can’t put them in.”
“Put them in! No, of course you can’t put them in. Do you expect to fill a basket half full of chips, and then fill it with apples? You said you did not know why you fell behind at school, and I will tell you. Your mind is like that basket; it will not hold more than so much. And here you have been, the past month, filling it up with chip dirt—dime novels.”
The boy turned on his heel, whistled, and said: “Whew! I see the point.”