The Silver Crown: Another Book of Fables

Copyright, 1906, By Little, Brown, and Company. All rights reserved Printers S. J. Parkhill & Co., Boston, U. S. A.
To my Sister MAUD HOWE ELLIOTT


And shall I be a king? asked the child, and shall I wear a crown?
You shall surely wear a crown, said the Angel, and a kingdom is waiting for you.
Oh, joy! said the child. But tell me, how will it come about? for now I am only a little child, and the crown would hardly stay on my curls.
Nay! that I may not tell, said the Angel. Only ride and run your best, for the way is long to your kingdom, and the time short.
So the child rode and ran his best, crossing hills and valleys, broad streams and foaming torrents. Here and there he saw people at work or at play, and on these he looked eagerly.
Perhaps, when they see me, he said, they will run to meet me, and will crown me with a golden crown, and lead me to their palace and throne me there as king!
But the folk were all busy with their tasks or their sport, and none heeded him, or left their business for him; and still he must fare forward alone, for the Way called him.
Also, he came upon many travellers like himself, some coming toward him, others passing him by. On these, too, he looked earnestly, and would stop now one, now another, and question him.