Moon Blossom & the Golden Penny

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Moon Blossom & the Golden Penny

   Author:  Louis Slobodkin
Copyright Date:  1963
Publisher:  Vanguard
Pagination:  59 p.

     Moon Blossom lived with her mother and three little brothers on a small boat in the harbor of Hong Kong. The little boat was called a sampan, and her brothers were called Little Tiger, Little Lion, and Little Pig. Little Pig was the baby.
     They were very poor. During the day Moon Blossom’s mother earned a few copper pennies by rowing people across the harbor in the sampan from Hong Kong to Kowloon. Two of

Moon Blossom’s brothers, Little Tiger and Little Lion, helped their mother row the boat. But Moon Blossom took care of Little Pig, the baby brother, and tried to get a few pennies along the Hong Kong or Kowloon streets.
     Every morning she tied Little Pig on her back and left the boat. When her little brother cried, she would bounce him on her back until he fell asleep. She did not have to do this too often because he was a very good baby and usually went to sleep by himself.
     There were many other little girls who took care of their baby brothers or sisters in the same way. And they, too, tried to get a few pennies on the streets. But they begged for pennies. They would hold out their hands and cry “Cumshaw” to almost everyone who passed.
     Moon Blossom did not beg for pennies.
     She tried to do some work. If she saw someone carrying a bundle, she would offer to help. Sometimes she ran errands.
     And as the day ended, Moon Blossom often brought one or two copper pennies to her poor mother.
     The evening, just before sunset, was the best part of the day for Moon Blossom and her three brothers. While their mother cooked their meager supper, they played on the sampan. Moon Blossom made a swing of an old rope and they would take turns on the swing. Sometimes they would play little games and sing. Yes, this was the best part of the day—just before supper. . . . . . . . . . . .

First | Previous | Next | Last | Book Index

	Moon Blossom lived with her mother and three little brothers on a small boat in the harbor of Hong Kong. The little boat was called a sampan, and her brothers were called Little Tiger, Little Lion, and Little Pig. Little Pig was the baby. They were very poor. During the day Moon Blossom’s mother earned a few copper pennies by rowing people across the harbor in the sampan from Hong Kong to Kowloon. Two of
Moon Blossom’s brothers, Little Tiger and Little Lion, helped their mother row the boat. But Moon Blossom took care of Little Pig, the baby brother, and tried to get a few pennies along the Hong Kong or Kowloon streets. Every morning she tied Little Pig on her back and left the boat. When her little brother cried, she would bounce him on her back until he fell asleep. She did not have to do this too often because he was a very good baby and usually went to sleep by himself. There were many other little girls who took care of their baby brothers or sisters in the same way. And they, too, tried to get a few pennies on the streets. But they begged for pennies. They would hold out their hands and cry “Cumshaw” to almost everyone who passed. Moon Blossom did not beg for pennies. She tried to do some work. If she saw someone carrying a bundle, she would offer to help. Sometimes she ran errands. And as the day ended, Moon Blossom often brought one or two copper pennies to her poor mother. The evening, just before sunset, was the best part of the day for Moon Blossom and her three brothers. While their mother cooked their meager supper, they played on the sampan. Moon Blossom made a swing of an old rope and they would take turns on the swing. Sometimes they would play little games and sing. Yes, this was the best part of the day—just before supper. . . . . . . . . . . .