“Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 202, 23 May 1936, Page 25

“Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze”

I think one of the most delightful books I have read is a Chinese story by Eliza both Forman Lewis, called "Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze.” Young Fu and his mother, Fu-be-be, live in the country After her husband’s death. Fu-be-be wished her sou to enter a trade. As there was an apprentice wanted by Tang, the famous coppersmith, of Chitng King, Young Fu applied for the position. Letters passed to and fro between them. Eventually. Young Fu was accepted, and he and his mother, by means of a boat, shifted to Chung King, the famous city of the middle kingdom. During his fin--, day nt Tang’s, he was chaffed and taunted about his country, clothes and manner of speaking. Nothing daunted, however, he kept on and Tang was very affectionate toward him. Once he just escaped being kidnapped by some soldiers, and only escaped b.v fleeing when their backs were turned. On a journey down the river to deliver a set of brasses to the governor. Tang and he were nearly captured by bandits. Young Fu hid under a pile of dirty rugs with all the money, and Tang passed as an ordinary Chung King citizen, who had been to pay reverence to ancestral tablets. These and many other exciting adventures. did he have. Tang adopted him in the end. because all Chinese must have a son to worship at their graves. Kurt Wiese, who illustrated this book, spent many years in China. His illustrations are vivid and have a real Chinese atmosphere about them. — Moonflower (12), New Plymouth.