能孝能弟
A widow had two sons, Yao-Pao, a lad yet in school, and Yao-Moi who
tilled the soil.
Yao-Moi, the elder, was a good man; he had worked hard for thirty
years, but he had not gained riches. He sent Yao-Pao to school and
served his mother well.
One year there were great rains. The grain all died in the ground and
the people of that country had nothing to eat. Yao-Moi had debts which
he could not pay, and when his harvest failed he became poorer than
ever before.
Then there came a great famine and twenty thousand people died in that
land. Yao-Moi killed his oxen to keep his mother and brother from
starving. Last of all he killed the horses and mules, for it was yet
six months before the time of harvest. Each time when he would kill for
meat, the neighbors would come and beg food, and because he was sorry
for them, he could not refuse.
One widow came many times until she was ashamed to beg longer from the
little that he had. Finally she brought a girl child to him and said,
“We are again starving. I will give you this girl for some meat. She is
strong and can serve your mother,” But Yao-Moi said, “No, I will give
you the meat. I can not take your girl from you.”
So he gave her meat once more, and she took the meat home to her son.
But when it was gone and they were weak and fierce again with the death
hunger, the widow said, “We shall all die, unless one dies to save the
others. My son can not longer walk. I will kill the girl child and save
his life. He can then eat.” Her son said, “No, do not kill the girl,
trade her to Yao-Moi for meat.” And the mother said, “Yao-Moi will soon
starve, too, and then he will kill her. It is better that I do it;” and
she took the big sharp knife to make it sharper.
She laid the girl child down on a bench and prepared to kill; but
Yao-Moi passed by the house just then, and hearing the moans and
screams he stopped to ask the reason. And the widow said, “We are
starving. We will have a funeral to-day. We will now kill and eat each
other that the last one may live until the time of the harvest.” But
Yao-Moi said, “Oh, no, do not kill the girl, I will take her home with
me, and you can have meat in exchange for her;” and he took her to his
home and gave the widow many pounds of meat for herself and her dying
son.
Four months passed by. Yao-Moi had nothing in his own house to eat, and
they were all starving—Yao-Moi, his mother, his little brother, and the
girl.
When the death hunger came, and the mother saw that her sons must die,
she said, “I will kill the girl.” But Yao-Moi said, “No, I think we
shall not die. Let us sleep to-night and see. I think something surely
will come. Better kill me than the girl child.”
So they went to bed that night. It was winter and the house was cold
and dark. There was no wood, no light, no food; and they were starving.
Now, as the house grew more cold and dark, there came to them the quiet
of a great despair and they all slept.
And Yao-Moi had a dream, and he saw an old man in flowing white
garments, with a belt of gold around his waist. His hair was long and
white, and his face was gentle and kind. And he called, “Yao-Moi!
Yao-Moi! Yao-Moi! Hearken unto my words. Do you know how many people
are dead in this land?”
Yao-Moi answered, “No, but I do know they are many, for only three
among a hundred of all that were are now left.”
And the old man said, “In every house but yours some have died, but
those of your household are all alive: you have also saved the girl
child. I know you are a good man. You have plowed the soil for thirty
years, and have never complained about the heaven or the earth. The
thunder and waters come, the winds blow and the earth quakes, and still
you are patient and kind. You are good to your mother. You support your
brother, send him to school, and are as a father to him. You have a
kind heart for your neighbors’ troubles. You live a good life and,
because of this, you shall not starve. To-morrow morning you must arise
early and go to the East Mountain by the wilderness. There you will
find many meats and nuts and seeds. Bring them home to your family. I
am a spirit sent from the Greatest One to earth.”
After saying these things the man went out and Yao-Moi arose with great
joy and told his family. Then he went to the East Mountain by the
wilderness, where he found corn and peanuts and the meat of two hundred
foxes already prepared to eat.
And he was very glad, and brought home much food and saved many lives.
Ee-Sze (Meaning): If people do good they will have reward.