Gonzaemon, the head-man of the village of Tamamura in the province
of Kōdzuké, whose family had from generation to generation enjoyed a
large fortune, employed a number of servants. Among them was one named
Kyūsuké who had been added to the household on the recommendation of a
peasant of the same village as being exceedingly honest. Though he was
very young, unlike other servants, he worked very hard and performed
all his duties as well when no one observed him as under the eye of
his master. Gonzaemon, therefore, began to look upon him as a great
acquisition and took a keen interest in him.