If, by chance, the father should be banished from the country for his misdeeds, the son must accompany him at least to the borders of his native land, and in some instances must go with him into exile.

When the son meets his father in the street, he must drop to his knees and make a profound salute, no matter what the state of the roadway.  In all letters which the son writes to his father he uses the most exalted titles and honourable phrases he can imagine.

[Illustration:  He must drop to his knees and make A profound salute]

CHAPTER V.

A LESSON IN HISTORY

As you already know, Yung Pak’s father intended that his son, when he grew up, should fill a position in the service of the king.  To fit him for this work, it was important that the boy should learn all that he could of his country’s history.

On this account Yung Pak’s tutor had orders to give to the lad each day, during the hours devoted to study, some account of events in the rise and progress of the Korean nation or of its royal families.

You must know that Korea is a very old country, its history dating back hundreds of years before America was discovered by Christopher Columbus.

Now Wang Ken knew that dry history had very few attractions for his young pupil, or any lively boy for that matter, so as far as possible he avoided the repetition of dates and uninteresting events, and often gave to Yung Pak much useful information in story form.

One day, when the time came for the usual history lesson, Wang Ken said to Yung Pak: 

“I think that to-day I will tell you the story of King Taijo.”

At this Yung Pak’s eyes sparkled, and he was all attention in a moment.  He thought one of Wang Ken’s stories was a great deal better than puzzling over Korean letters or struggling with long strings of figures.  The tutor went on: 

“When Taijo was born, many, many years ago, our country was not called Korea, but had been given the name of Cho-sen.”

Yung Pak had been told that Cho-sen meant Morning Calm, so he asked Wang Ken how it came about that such a peaceful name had been given to his country.

“Why,” said Wang Ken, “the name was given to our land years and years ago by the leader of some Chinese settlers, whose name was Ki Tsze.  In his native land there had been much violence and war, so with his friends and followers he moved to the eastward and selected this country for his home.  Here he hoped to be free from the attacks of enemies and to be able to live a peaceful life.  For this reason he chose a name which well expressed its outward position—­toward the rising sun—­and his own inward feelings,—­Cho-sen, or Morning Calm.  This is still the official name of our country.

“But to come back to our story of Taijo.  At the time of his birth, the rulers of the country were very unpopular because of their wickedness and oppression of the people.  There was much suffering on account of the misrule, and the people longed for a deliverer who should restore prosperity to Cho-sen.