And the two mothers, the mother who raised him and the mother who bore him, were called by the government; and when the Emperor heard this story, they were given a beautiful house, and Kwoh-King lived near and took loving care of them both as long as they lived. [[55]]
[1] This story is about two thousand years old and is found in Chinese historical literature. [↑]
THE BOY WHO WOULD NOT TELL A LIE[1]
童不說謊
Si-Ma-Quong lived in the Province of Sze-Chuen. When he was young (about six years old) he played [[56]]with a dog and a cat, but they hunted all night long for food in the wilderness, and his mother feared he might get the devil-sickness from them. So one day his father paid much silver for Wa-Na-Juch, a bird with a beautiful song, for his son to play with.
Wa-Na-Juch hopped on Si-Ma-Quong’s lap and shoulder and ate from his hand. He was a very handsome bird, and he sang all day long.
One day he flew out to the lake to bathe, and Si-Ma-Quong was very happy watching him. Then he ran and told his mother, “Mü-Tsing,[2] I saw the bird bathe in the lake. I think the water is too cold for him. Give him a good hot bath, as you give me.”