【英訳】侏儒の言葉31：二宮尊徳

Sontoku NINOMIYA

I remember that my primary school textbook included a story of Sontoku Ninomiya in his childhood with some exaggeration. He was born in a poor family and while working just as adults did - helping family members with farming during the daytime and making some straw slippers at night - the admirable boy continued teaching himself. This is a story, like any other success story, that is to say, any lowbrow novel, that is likely to impress people.  Actually, I, as a boy under 15 years of age, was impressed with Sontoku’s spirit, even thinking it something unhappy that I was not born in as needy a family as his…

However, while this success story is one that offers Sontoku his fame, it necessarily  dishonours his parents. They accorded him no benefits at all in education. Rather, all that they offered him was obstacles. Considering their responsibility as parents, this is obviously nothing but a shame. Nevertheless, our parents and teachers have happily forgotten this fact. Whatever Sontoku’s parents might be - drunkards, gamblers, or anything else - it is Sontoku himself that matters. However hard a life he led, he never stopped learning. We must grow to be as brave as he was.

I almost feel shocked at their egoism. We have to admit that a boy like Sontoku, must have been a convenient son, not only working like a servant but winning fame for his parents. What a convenient boy he was! As a boy under 15 years old, I was impressed with his spirit, though, and regarded it as somewhat unfortunate that I wasn’t born in as poor a family as his. Just as a chained slave would want stronger chains.