THE SILVER CROWN Another Book of Fables BY LAURA E. RICHARDS Author of "Captain January," "The Golden Windows," "The Joyous Story of Toto," etc. BOSTON LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY 1919

[transcriber note: [original decorative cover image]]

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

A WINTER THOUGHT
Hast thou e'er a grief, dear?
Lock it in thy heart!
Keep it, close it,
Sacred and apart;
Lest another, at thy sigh,
Hear his sorrow stir and cry.
Wakeful watch doth sorrow keep:
Hush it! hide it! bid it sleep!
Hast thou e'er a joy, love?
Bind it on thy brow!
Vaunt it, flaunt it,
All the world to know.
Where the shade lies dim and gray,
Turn its glad and heartsome ray.
Does thy sad-browed neighbor smile?
So thy life was worth the while!

Contents

THE SILVER CROWN[0]
THE GRUMPY SAINT[5]
THE HOUSEKEEPER[9]
BROTHER BARNABAS[12]
THE FATES[14]
THE STEPS[16]
THE GLASS[19]
IN THE SHADED ROOM[21]
HELL GATE[24]
THE THORN[25]
THE SERPENT[27]
IF THIS SHOULD BE[28]
THE FEAST[32]
THE SPIRIT[35]
THE ROOTS[37]
ALONG THE WAY[39]
THE GRAVE DIGGERS[42]
THE SICK CHILD[44]
AT LONG LAST[48]
GILLYFLOWER GENTLEMAN[50]
THE JUDGMENT[52]
THE BLIND CHILD[54]
THE CAKE[56]
THE SERMON[59]
THE TANGLED SKEIN[61]
THE NURSLING[64]
WORMWOOD[67]
THE PIT[69]
HOSPITALITY[73]
THE POT[75]
THE BODY[76]
THE RULER.[79]
THE TORCH-BEARER[81]
THE STONE BLOCKS[83]
THE POTTER[85]
THE NEIGHBOUR[87]
THE WOUND[88]
THE WHITE FIRE[90]
FOR YOU AND ME[96]
THE PICTURE BOOK[98]
THE FLOWER OF JOY[100]
THE BURNING HOUSE[102]
THE PLANT[104]