The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts   By: Abbie Farwell Brown (1871-1927)

THE STAR JEWELS AND OTHER WONDERS. Illustrated. Square 12mo, $1.00.

THE FLOWER PRINCESS. Illustrated. Sq. 12mo, $1.00.

THE CURIOUS BOOK OF BIRDS. Illustrated. Square 12mo, $1.10, net . Postpaid, $1.21.

A POCKETFUL OF POSIES. Illustrated. 12mo, $1.00, net . Postpaid, $1.09.

IN THE DAYS OF GIANTS. Illustrated. 12mo, $1.10, net . Postpaid, $1.21. School edition , 50 cents, net , postpaid.

THE BOOK OF SAINTS AND FRIENDLY BEASTS. Illustrated, 12mo, $1.25.

THE LONESOMEST DOLL. Illustrated. Sq. 12mo, 85 cents, net . Postpaid, 95 cents.

HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO. BOSTON AND NEW YORK

THE BOOK OF SAINTS AND FRIENDLY BEASTS

[Illustration: ST. BRIDGET & THE KING'S WOLF]

THE BOOK OF SAINTS AND FRIENDLY BEASTS BY ABBIE FARWELL BROWN. ILLUSTRATED BY FANNY Y. CORY

[Illustration]

HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND CO. BOSTON AND NEW YORK

COPYRIGHT 1900 BY ABBIE FARWELL BROWN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

IN LOVING MEMORY OF A FRIENDLY BEAST

BROTHER, HAST THOU NEVER LEARNED IN HOLY WRIT, THAT WITH HIM WHO HAS LED HIS LIFE AFTER GOD'S WILL THE WILD BEASTS AND WILD BIRDS ARE TAME?

SAINT GUTHLAC OF CROWLAND

IN the old legends there may be things which some folk nowadays find it hard to believe. But surely the theme of each is true. It is not hard to see how gentle bodies who had no other friends should make comrades of the little folk in fur and fins and feathers. For, as St. Francis knew so well, all the creatures are our little brothers, ready to meet halfway those who will but try to understand. And this is a truth which every one to day, even tho' he be no Saint, is waking up to learn. The happenings are set down quite as they read in the old books. Veritable histories, like those of St. Francis and St. Cuthbert, ask no addition of color to make them real. But sometimes, when a mere line of legend remained to hint of some dear Saint's relation with his friendly Beast, the story has been filled out in the way that seemed most likely to be true. For so alone could the old tale be made alive again. So all one's best is dressing old words new.

CONTENTS

PAGE Saint Bridget and the King's Wolf 1

Saint Gerasimus and the Lion 11

Saint Keneth of the Gulls 30

Saint Launomar's Cow 42

Saint Werburgh and her Goose 53

The Ballad of Saint Athracta's Stags 69

Saint Kentigern and the Robin 77

Saint Blaise and his Beasts 88

Saint Cuthbert's Peace 95

The Ballad of Saint Felix 108

Saint Fronto's Camels 114

The Blind Singer, Saint Hervé 126

Saint Comgall and the Mice 148

The Wonders of Saint Berach 156

Saint Prisca, the Child Martyr 166

The Fish who helped Saint Gudwall 176

The Ballad of Saint Giles and the Deer 183

The Wolf Mother of Saint Ailbe 190

Saint Rigobert's Dinner 199

Saint Francis of Assisi 211

A Calendar of Saints' Days 226

The legend of Saint Fronto's Camels originally appeared in The Churchman.

THE BOOK OF SAINTS AND FRIENDLY BEASTS

SAINT BRIDGET AND THE KING'S WOLF