Saburo's Reward: A Christmas in Japan

Christmas in Many Lands

by Sarah Gertrude Pomeroy

*All sales support programs for the Oceanside Public Library. Very collectable 1909 edition bound in teal with charming full color illustration on cover. Gift inscription on front fly leaf from 1920. Red/white & blue/white illustrations in book. Book boards are worn on all corners and starting to fray, binding is somewhat loose but pages still well retained. Pages tanned with age.and minor smudges here and there. hs

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1909

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saburo Hisada and his younger sister Ayako are educated at the mission school in this holiday story from 1909, but maintain their ancient aristocratic family's traditional customs and Shinto beliefs. Much struck by "Miss Chrysanthemum"—a nickname he has given a little American girls visiting the mission school—and by the Christmas celebration put on by the school, Saburo is looking forward to the traditional New Year festival his own family will be celebrating. The he discovers that his father is in debt, and might not be able to repay what he owes, thereby bringing disgrace on the family. How can he, a little boy, help...?

Saburo's Reward: A Christmas in Japan is the eleventh book I have read in the Christmas in Many Lands series, a collection of short stories, each published separately, each profusely illustrated, and each set at Christmastime in a different country, that was produced by the Boston-based publisher Dana Estes & Company. The series began in 1892, when the American publisher reprinted four Christmas short stories by sisters and author/illustrator team Florence and Edith Scannell, originally published in their native Britain in 1888, and set (respectively) in England, France, Germany and Italy. Each of these brief stories was published separately, in slim 32-page volumes, but it is also worth noting that these first four books in the series were also published in a single volume, Christmas in Many Lands: England, France, Germany, and Italy , in 1888 (the same year they were originally published in the UK). In 1894 the Boston publisher added an American volume to the collection, with Hezekiah Butterworth's The Parson's Miracle and My Grandmother's Grandmother's Christmas Candle: Christmas In America , and then in 1895 Peter Christen Asbjørnsen's 'Round the Yule-Log: Christmas in Norway was added.

The seventh entry in the series, Edward H. Knatchbull-Hugessen's The Forest Fairy: Christmas in Switzerland , was published in 1896, and after a gap of ten years, R.E.C.'s Harry's Temptation; or, Christmas in Canada and Mary Cowden Clarke's Little Paulina: Christmas in Russia , both adapted by one Anna Robinson, were published in 1906. Bertha Davidson Hoxie's Hilda's Wish: Christmas in Denmark was published in 1908, as was Sarah Gertrude Pomeroy's A Loyal Little Subject: A Christmas in Holland .

This volume from 1909 is the second of Pomeroy's four contributions to the series, and was enjoyable. Like its predecessors it was a brief read, being no more than an illustrated short story, but I found it entertaining and its eponymous hero sympathetic. There was never much doubt that Saburo would find a way to help out, given the title, but it was still satisfying watching him get to that point. I found many of the traditional Japanese details interesting, and found myself wondering whether the author had ever traveled to the country. The game played by the Hisada family at one point—the Ancient Odes card game—made me rather curious to know about the real game being referenced. I have read of at least one Japanese card game, Uta-garuta, which is based on Japanese waka poetry, which might be what the author had in mind, although it is not possible to be sure. In any case, I do recommend this one to those seeking vintage children's stories set in Japan, or featuring the Christmas and/or New Year season.