Children ought to respect their parents, even though they cannot be blind to their faults. Under the rule of the Emperor Joseph II, the convicts were employed on the public works, and among other things they used to sweep and clean the streets of Vienna. One day a privy councilor (a good friend of the emperor) was looking out of his window at a group of convicts at work in the street below. He noticed a young man respectably dressed, apparently a student, go up to one of the convicts and kiss his hand. The minister of state instantly had the young man brought into his presence, and informed him that to kiss the hand of a criminal was not the proper thing to do.

The student's eyes filled with tears as he answered "But that was my father, sir."

This beautiful instance of filial affection made a great impression on the minister. He related the incident to the emperor, who was so delighted with it that he pardoned the convict and ordered him to be liberated. He stated that a man who could bring up a son so well and inspire him with such loyal affection could not be a bad man. Furthermore, he granted a sum of money to the student, to help his financial needs during his term of study.