New Zealand accent, a point of difference.
Description
Vocal Characteristics
Language
EnglishVoice Age
Child (5-12)Accents
New ZealandTranscript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
once there was a boy who listened to a wise old man and thus began to learn about the prison. The old man and the boy had known each other for more than a year and enjoy talking together one day. The old man said. It is called simply the present. Because of all the gifts you might receive you'll find this present is the most valuable one of all. Why is it so valuable? The boy asked. The old man explained, Because when you receive this gift you become happier and better able to do whatever you want to do. Wow! The little boy exclaimed, although not fully understanding. I hope someone gives me the present someday. Maybe I'll get it for my birthday. Then the boy ran off to play. The old man smiled. He wondered how many birthdays would pass before the blue would realize what the present really was. The old man enjoyed watching the boy play in the neighborhood. He often saw a smile on the youngster's face and heard him laughing as he swung from a nearby tree. The boy was happy and completely engaged in whatever he was doing, he was a joy to behold. As the boy grew older, the old man couldn't help but notice the way the boy worked on saturday mornings. He would occasionally observe his young friend mowing the lawn across the street. The boy actually whistled while he worked. He seemed to be happy. No matter what he was doing. One morning the boy saw the old man and remembered what the old man had told him about the present. The boy knew all about presents, like the bicycle he got for his last birthday and the gifts he found under the tree on christmas morning. But as he thought more about it, he realized that the joy of some presents didn't last very long. He wondered what is so special about the present? What could make it so much better than any other present? What could make me happier and better at doing things? Wanting answers to his questions? He crossed the street to ask the old man. He asked what the young boy might ask. Is the president like a magic wand, and can make all my wishes come true. No, the old man answered with a laugh. The present is not about the magical wishing, unsure of the old man's answer, the boy returned to his work, mowing the lawn, still wondering about the present. As he grew older, the boy continued to wonder about the present. It has nothing to do with wishing. Could it have something to do with going away someplace special? Did it mean traveling to a foreign land where everything looked different? The people, the clothes they wore, the language they spoke, The houses they lived in, even their money. How would he get there? He went to see the old man. Is the present? He asked, a time machine that I could get in and go anywhere I wanted. No, the old man replied. When you received the present, you no longer spend your time dreaming about somewhere else. Time passed. And the boy grew into his teens, he became more and more dissatisfied. He had hoped he would be happier as he grew older, but he always seemed to want more, more friends, more things, more excitement in his impatience. He dreamed about what awaited him out in the world. His thoughts drifted back to the thoughts with the old man and he found himself thinking more and more about the promise of the present. He approached the old man again and asked, Is the present something that will make me rich? Yes, in a way it can. The old man told him the present can lead you to many kinds of riches, but its value is not measured in gold for money alone. The teenager was confused. You told me that when you received the present you are happier. Yes, the old man said, And better able to do whatever you set out to do. In other words, to be successful. What do you mean by successful? The teenager asked, Success is progressing towards whatever you think is important, The old man answered for you and maybe getting good grades in school, doing well in sports, Having a good relationship with your parents, getting a good part time job after school and then getting a raise because you do the job so well or just enjoying life and appreciating what you have. So I get to decide what success is for myself. The teenager asked, We all do, The old man said, success is something we all defined for ourselves at different stages of our lives. Well, no one has ever given me a gift like that. In fact, I've never heard anyone else talk about such a present. I'm beginning to think it doesn't exist, the old man replied, Oh, it exists, but I'm afraid you don't yet understand. You already know what the present is. You already know where to find it and you already know how it can make you happy and successful. You knew it best when you were younger, you have simply forgotten.