o have to learn what was
in the book, to say nothing of writing it in the beginning.

At the same time that Yung Pak was learning to read, he was also
learning to write. But you would have been amused if you could have seen
his efforts. The strangest thing about it was that he did not use a pen,
but had a coarse brush on a long handle. Into the ink he would dip this
brush and then make broad marks on sheets of coarse paper. You would not
be able to understand those marks at all. They looked like the daubs of
a sign-painter gone crazy.

Later on, Yung Pak had to study the history and geography of his
country. Some of the names he had to learn would amuse you very much.
The name of the province of Haan-kiung, for instance, meant Perfect
Mirror, or Complete View Province. Kiung-sang was the Korean name for
Respectful Congratulation Province, and Chung-chong meant Serene Loyalty
Province. One part of Korea, where the inhabitants were always peaceable
and unwarlike, was called Peace and Quiet Province, or, in the Korean
language, Ping-an.

Under Wang Ken's instruction Yung Pak made rapid progress in his
studies, and when the boy's father questioned him from time to time as
to what he had learned, he was very much pleased, and commended his son
for his close attention to his studies.

"Sometime," Ki Pak said to the boy, "if you continue to make such good
progress in your studies, you will be able to hold a high position in
the service of the king."

In explanation of this remark, you should understand that no young man
was able to enter into the government service of Korea until he could
pass a very hard examination in many studies.

Many things besides book-learning did Wang Ken teach his pupil. In all
the rules of Korean etiquette he was carefully and persistently drilled.

As you have already been told, Yung Pak had from his earliest days been
taught the deepest reverence and honour for his father. This kind of
instruction was continued from day to day. He was told that a son must
not play in his father's presence, nor assume free or easy posture
before him. He must often wait upon his father at meal-times, and
prepare his bed for him. If the father is old or sickly, the son sleeps
near him by night, and does not leave his presence by day. If for any
reason the father is cast into prison, the son makes his home near by in
order that he may provide such comforts for his unfortunate parent as
the prison officials wil