In the early morning his little daughter “Glory,” only ten years old, came and knelt down before him, and with many tears besought [[53]]him to allow her to accompany him. He refused, but she persisted with prostrations and knockings of her head on the brick floor.
“If you do not let me go I can but die. How can I live through these days and not know how you are? I must go. Indeed I either go or die.” All of these words were accompanied with so many knocks of the little head on the bricks at his feet that the father gave way and told her mother and the servants to get her and her nurse ready for the journey.
On the road she told the servants that, as early as possible, after reaching the city they must find a way for her to see the Emperor, for she was going to plead for her father.
Now, in those days the Emperor of China was not shut away from his people as he was later, and little Glory was taken by her father’s steward to the palace gate. Here she knocked her head to the soldiers on guard and asked to be allowed to see the Emperor.
The hearts of the rough men were touched by her distress and sweet, pleading little face and the request was sent in to the palace. Word came back that little Glory was to enter. With trembling hands and quivering lips, but shining eyes, she knelt before her Emperor. Many times did she make her prostrations, and [[54]]at his command she told her story with much weeping.
She told him how good and kind her father was; that every one loved him; he had never made a mistake before, and indeed the thing for which he was to be punished had been much exaggerated. She finished with, “O Great Emperor, I entreat you to allow me to become one of your slaves and thus redeem my father’s mistake, and secure his pardon. I shall have long years to serve you, and my father is old. Alas! alas! the gods have given him no son to plead for him, and I am but a little girl! I entreat, I beg, oh, hear me, Great and Glorious Emperor, spare my father and let me be your slave forever.”
The Emperor’s heart was melted within him as he looked upon her distress and heard her voice so full of anguish; and, telling her to rise and stand near him, he said, “You are indeed a filial daughter. A country with such an one is blest like the possessor of a precious jewel. I pardon your father and restore his official position; and you may go home with him.”
The Emperor then called his ministers and commanded them to have it published abroad that from that day the punishment of cutting off the hands and feet of criminals was to be done away with forever. “This,” said he, “is an [[55]]expression of my pleasure that such a daughter of the gods lives within the ‘four seas.’ ”
When little Glory was taken to the prison where her father was confined, she knelt before him and told him of her visit to the palace and the Emperor’s promise. Great was his surprise that his little daughter had saved him, and it was with difficulty they convinced him of the truth of her story.
When he could no longer doubt he said, “My life is sweet because the gods have given me such a daughter. What need have I of sons?” [[56]]