THE DRUM AND BELL with THE THREE CHINESE BROTHERS

About the Book

This is one of three short stories about three Chinese brothers, Ping, Pong, and Pa Dul, who lived with their father, a widower, and a somewhat absent-minded professor. Living near the drum tower, they often played there and Pa Dul was the youngest and rather an imp. He found where the Drum and Bell had been moved and saw that they were deteriorating badly. Not knowing what to do, he finally showed the Drum and the Bell to an out of town friend of his father’s while the three brothers were taking him on a tour to the Drum Tower. The friend was upset to see these historical items being destroyed and wrote a letter to the city officials who repaired and relocated the Drum and Bell. This really happened to me and an American visitor but I wrote the story in a Chinese setting.

About the Author

Jonnie was born in 1925 by his missionary parents. He was brought up by Chinese Amah during the day. He spoke only Chinese during the day, English at night. He attended American schools in China until 1941 when the U.S government recommended that they leave. He finished high school and started college in 1943 and joined the navy until 1946, and finished college in 1948. He worked for G.E from 1948-1951, then for the U.S. Steel from 1951-1958. He taught at the University of Florida from 1958-1970 and from 1975-1993. He finished his MBA at the University of Florida in 1962 and his DBA at Western Colorado University in 1983. He became an associate in Block and Associates from 1958-1963, became president from 1963-1975, then went back to teaching in 1975. Jonnie had made ten trips to China from 1980-2007. He lectured, took Chinese language review, and toured.