N/A : หน้า 13/194

The parents taught their children to be honest to themselves and to others, to be diligent and never to waste time. The farmer’s life made Chandra used to hardship and endurance because she had to help her parents with work all day long. When she worked, she never showed signs of weariness and always persevered despite difficulties. Helping in such a way, the family’s financial status in the community gradually improved. She was never indebted to anyone financially. Her lack of chance for education never decreased her wish to learn — she made a classroom of the vast paddy fields of her youth. Chandra loved life amongst the open fields of Nakorn Chaisri. Surveying the sea of rice fields and the unruffled heads of rice that seemed to extend as far as the eye could see, she felt a special contentment as if something inside her was set free. In the morning, the huge crimson orb of the sun against the horizon looked close enough to touch. Like all children, she wondered where the sun had come from. Even though she saw the sun every day just like anyone else, her thoughts concerning her surroundings went beyond those of others. She dared to think of reaching the sun. Little did she know at that time, that her dreams might be truer than she ever imagined... She began to realize from an early age that she didn’t see the world like other people. She had no interest in dressing up in fine clothes or wearing perfume, like the other village girls of her age. She never wore the jewellery she had. She grew up, worked diligently and presented everything she earned to her mother. When young men attempted to court her, they tried to start a conversation about this or that. She simply replied, "I don’t know." She wouldn’t chide them