Procrastination—Putting off until tomorrow, or some other time, what ought to be done today, and keeping back not only one person but the whole nation.
Hospitality—Always glad to see friends, to entertain people, even strangers, and to take care of relations, even to the making of one’s self poor—[[88]]a habit carried too far as the years and centuries rolled on.
Inexactness—The habit of not usually thinking clearly, counting correctly, or stating facts precisely, and when telling a story of “blowing a conch;” that is, of exaggerating.
Love of family—How the mothers and fathers in Korea do love their children, their kinsfolk and their relatives!
Sense of humor—A Korean can always see the funny side of things. He loves to joke and he bears his troubles well, because he likes to smile. As for the girls, they laugh as easily as the rain falls, or the flowers bloom.
And what the Queen Mother predicted came true. Just as five fingers make up the hand, so the average people among the Koreans are known by the five traits, for better or for worse. [[89]]
THE MAGIC PEACH
Out on the ocean, so far away that no ship ever sailed there, is an island on which stood the seven storied palace of the royal lady, Su Wang Moo. In our language, this title means Western Queen Mother. She is always ready to help good mortals with her gifts and favors.
On this island thousands of genii wait to obey the commands of the Queen Mother. She has also chariots of silver and gold drawn by dragons, by which she sends her messages everywhere.