A lesson in the value of compassion. When Thomas Watson and Alexander Graham Bell begin their work for a multiple telegraph, Bell becomes convinced that he can send the sounds of human speech over a wire from its vibrations. Alexander Graham Bell and Watson begin to work on the telephone while continuing work on the telegraph. Bell is constantly inspired by his deaf students and longs to teach them to speak. His first dedication had always been to be a teacher of the deaf. But as Alexander Graham Bell becomes more engrossed in the telephone invention, he has little time for his students. As the inventors experience triumph in transmitting sound while playing with the telegraph, the compassionate Bell is distressed to learn of a student who is giving up and going home. Bell is disappointed in his failure to help the boy and in the unsuccessful attempts to make the telephone work. Frustrated, he rests on a bench until he realizes he could never fail if he keeps trying. He and Watson continue working on the telephone with great enthusiasm. Finally, the telephone experiment works as sound is transmitted through a tube. Watson clearly understands Alexander Graham Bell’s words and they share the joys of success. Includes 48-page activity book.