Page:Chinese Fables and Folk Stories.djvu/174

170 and went into the kitchen for food. But the kitchen was dark; there was no fire, no food.

He said to himself, "It is queer; so late and no breakfast. He went to his mother's room and called, "Mü-Ts'ing;" but there was no answer. He then went close to her bed and touched her, but she did not move. He then ran to his aunt and told her to go and see—that his mother was surely dead.

She answered, "It may be that the gods have taken her away because you have been such a bad boy. Now will you be a better boy?" And he promised. Then she ran to her sister's home to see if she was dead.

Kong-Hwa stayed outside trembling with fear, while his aunt went in. She soon saw that her sister was not dead and told of the promise of Kong-Hwa.

"Did my boy think I was dead?" asked his mother. "Well, keep him at your house for two or three days and send him to school. Let him think, and think, and he may be a better boy."

Kong-Hwa's aunt told him that if he learned his lessons and obeyed his teacher, it might be the gods would allow his mother to stay with him after all. While his aunt prepared breakfast for him, he asked many questions. "What did you do with my mother? Will there be a funeral?"