Beside this, the moon causes that ebbing and flowing of the ocean called the tides. These keep it from being stagnant and prevent its becoming putrid. Were it not for the moon, the whole ocean would be unfit for the fishes that live in it, and they would all die. Men and beasts, too, would also perish from the unhealthiness of the land, were not the sea kept pure by the tides. Importance of Attention: A DIALOGUE. _Charles sitting with his book in his hand; his mother at work._ _Charles._ Mother! is it almost school-time? _Mother._ No; you have full half an hour. _Charles._ Only half an hour? Will you hear me try to say this lesson again? _Mother._ No, for I am sure you will say it no better than before. _Charles._ Why, mother? _Mother._ Because you have not been studying. I have been looking at you from time to time, and have scarcely seen your eyes fixed once on your book. _Charles._ I was only watching Jerry, for fear he would weed up my young balsams. _Mother._ I fancy Jerry knows what he is about. _Charles._ Well; I _will_ study now. _Mother._ Do you generally whistle when you study, Charles? _Charles._ Was I whistling? _Mother._ Yes, and with your eyes fixed on my canary bird. _Charles._ Well, mother, I can’t help it. This is the hardest and stupidest lesson that ever was. _Mother._ And yet you told me your cousin Richard learned it, yesterday, in twenty minutes. _Charles._ Then it is I that am stupid, I suppose. _Mother._ I rather think not. I believe your memory is as good as Richard’s. _Charles._ Oh, mother! he always learns his lessons quicker than I do. _Mother._ And does that prove that his memory is better? _Charles._ To be sure it does. _Mother._ When you are at play, does he remember things better than you do? _Charles._ Why, no, I believe not. _Mother._ Did not you tell us as much about the lecture the other night, when you came home, as he did? _Charles._ Yes, and more too; father said I did. _Mother._ That required memory certainly. I do not think you have any right to lay blame on any natural defect. _Charles._ Oh, I did not mean to say that; but all I know is that Richard gets his lessons quicker than I do; and what can the reason be? He is not three weeks older than I am, and don’t seem a bit cleverer than I am about other things. _Mother._ Did you ever happen to sit near him, when he was studying? _Charles._ Yes, that I have, and I would rather sit next any boy in school. _Mother._ Why? _Charles._ Oh, I don’t know; there’s no comfort in it. He is as dumpy and cross over his books as a dog with a bone. He won’t let anybody speak to him. _Mother._ What, not to ask a reasonable question?