By Arrangement with Alfred A. Knopf
COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY
ALFRED A. KNOPF
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Dear John Hemphill
This is a record and act of memory
of you at Dower House—of June
nights on the porch, with the foliage
of the willow tree powdered against
the stars; the white-panelled hearth
of the yellow room in smouldering
winter dusks; dinner with the candles
wavering in tepid April airs; and
the blue envelopment of late September
noons. A quiet reach like the old
grey house and green fields, the little
valleys filled with trees and placid
town beyond the hill, where the calendar
of our days and companionship is
set.
Joseph Hergesheimer
THE THREE BLACK PENNYS
A DEDICATION
CONTENTS
I THE FURNACE
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
II THE FORGE
X
XI
XII
XIII
XIV
XV
XVI
XVII
XVIII
XIX
XX
XXI
XXII
III THE METAL
XXIII
XXIV
XXV
XXVI
XXVII
XXVIII
XXIX
XXX
XXXI
XXXII
XXXIII
XXXIV
THE END
A twilight like blue dust sifted into the shallow fold of the thicklywooded hills. It was early October, but a crisping frost had alreadystamped the maple trees with gold, the Spanish oaks were hung wi