code: def get_val(self):
          
          file_obj = file(os.path.join(self._base, self._attr), 'r')
          try:
              val = int(file_obj.readline())
          finally:
              file_obj.close()
          return val
docs: Gets attribute's value.
  
          @return: stored value.
          @rtype: int
          @raise IOError: if corresponding file in /proc/sys cannot be read.