Page:Chinese Fables and Folk Stories.djvu/80

76 The evening came and she did not return, and Tsen-Tsze could not eat food or sleep that night from anxiety for his mother. And when the maid servant called him for the morning meal, he said, "No; I can not eat food until I see my mother's face." But his father said, "You must eat and go to school."

"I can not eat food or study books until my mother comes," said Tsen-Tsze, and word was sent his teacher who said, "You are not quite wise, Tsen-Tsze. If your mother should die, would you then no longer study? I hope to see you soon at school."

At midday his mother came. Then he had food, and went to school and studied his lessons.

When he came home from school, he always went to see where his parents were before going to play. At meal time he would not take food until his father and mother began eating. When he met an old person on the street, he uncovered his head and stood aside respectfully to let him pass before he went on.

These and all other customs of courtesy were observed and honored by Tsen-Tsze. At school he studied his lessons faithfully, and never left tasks unfinished. Every day he asked his teacher, "Have I done any wrong to-day?"—so great was his desire to know the right and to do all that he knew.