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The Three Weavers
This is a special allegory for fathers to read to their daughters. As the story goes, once upon a time there were three weavers, and to each was born a daughter. The ‘watcher of weavers' prophesied, A royal prince shall seek to wed thy child, but she must weave a mantle for the prince that will be fair to look upon with rich cloth of gold, and it must fit him as perfectly as the falcon's feathers fit the falcon. Each father is responsible to teach his daughter how to prepare for her prince. When should he begin? The father's approach, coupled with his daughter's cooperation, will decide the fate of her future.
59 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1897
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About the author
Annie Fellows Johnston
118 books12 followersAnnie Fellows Johnston (1863-1931) was an American author of children's fiction who wrote the popular "Little Colonel" series, which was the basis for the 1935 Shirley Temple film The Little Colonel. She was born and grew up in McCutchanville, Indiana, a small unincorporated town near Evansville, Indiana.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 9, 2021
This has long time been a favourite, and this time through I was able to read it aloud to my younger sister.
The story of the weavers teaching their daughters and preparing them for a life of marriage, is beautiful and poignant and wonderful. I love the allegory contained in this little gem, and I am thrilled that Lamplighter has republished it in a beautiful form!
The story of the weavers teaching their daughters and preparing them for a life of marriage, is beautiful and poignant and wonderful. I love the allegory contained in this little gem, and I am thrilled that Lamplighter has republished it in a beautiful form!
October 16, 2007
This is such a beautiful allegory of the importance of saving yourself for the man God has chosen for you!! And of the importance of trusting your parents' judgement, and giving your hearts to them. If you do not read this, you are crazy!!
September 24, 2020
The lesson of the book seems simple til you realize it packs about 50 simple life insights in its brief pages. I've reflected on its lovely, poetic story of the rewards of restraint many times as I keep on growing up, now in my late twenties. I first read it as a young teen. When I was dating a man with a kid, I saw the story through new eyes, too, as a lesson in how different styles of parenting will affect your children's futures. The book includes as well the poem 'The Lady of Shallot,' and that in itself is worth a read. It's a beautiful, old-timey book to have on your shelf ever after, as well.
August 1, 2020
While I think the message is a good one, that we should not settle or be led astray when it comes to marriage, we need to be careful not to idealize it either.
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February 9, 2025Wow, the soulmate fallacy infiltrated a lot earlier than I realized.
July 31, 2025
This book is short but good. It challenges single ladies to obey the wisdom of their fathers and scriptural values. The other challenge is to be a Proverbs 31 woman.
June 15, 2009
A "fairy" tale about three daughters and their fathers. At the birth of each of the girls, they are given a loom and golden thread on which to weave their ideals of the prince who will come for them, for a prince will come for each girl. The looms grow as the girls do, but their fathers have different responses to the looms.
One father laughs about it, and teases his daughter as she weaves about her thoughts of young men. She fancies many boys, and gives them the mantles she weaves. However, her standard was not that of the prince, and when he came for her, the mantle of her ideals did not fit him, and he went away.
Another father hides the loom, and she finds out about it from the previous girl. When she asks her father about it, he becomes angry, and tells her she is too young to be thinking of weaving on her loom. But her friend was weaving, so she wove and daydreamed in secret. She notices a page outside her window, and imagines him to be a prince. So she weaves her ideals to fit him, and gives the mantle to him. When her prince comes, her father decides to teach her how to weave an ideal of a true prince, to find that she has woven in her own way, and given her mantle away. She has nothing left to weave with, and the prince goes away.
The third girl hears about her loom, and asks her father. He teaches her how to weave, and gives her the yardstick by which to measure a true prince. As she weaves, she measures her ideals and dreams by the yardstick. Many young men come, but although she likes them, none measure to the stature of a prince. When finally the prince does come, the mantle she has woven had not been given away, and fitted him "in all faultlessness, as the falcon's feathers fit the falcon." And he took her away, and they lived happily ever after.
The book probably won't take anyone longer than a half hour to read, with large, storybook print, and poetic language (not meter). It's a sweet, excellent story.
One father laughs about it, and teases his daughter as she weaves about her thoughts of young men. She fancies many boys, and gives them the mantles she weaves. However, her standard was not that of the prince, and when he came for her, the mantle of her ideals did not fit him, and he went away.
Another father hides the loom, and she finds out about it from the previous girl. When she asks her father about it, he becomes angry, and tells her she is too young to be thinking of weaving on her loom. But her friend was weaving, so she wove and daydreamed in secret. She notices a page outside her window, and imagines him to be a prince. So she weaves her ideals to fit him, and gives the mantle to him. When her prince comes, her father decides to teach her how to weave an ideal of a true prince, to find that she has woven in her own way, and given her mantle away. She has nothing left to weave with, and the prince goes away.
The third girl hears about her loom, and asks her father. He teaches her how to weave, and gives her the yardstick by which to measure a true prince. As she weaves, she measures her ideals and dreams by the yardstick. Many young men come, but although she likes them, none measure to the stature of a prince. When finally the prince does come, the mantle she has woven had not been given away, and fitted him "in all faultlessness, as the falcon's feathers fit the falcon." And he took her away, and they lived happily ever after.
The book probably won't take anyone longer than a half hour to read, with large, storybook print, and poetic language (not meter). It's a sweet, excellent story.
September 6, 2016
Another in the fabulous Rare Collector's series from Lamplighter Publishing. Three weavers each have a daughter. The ‘watcher of weavers' prophesied that a prince would marry one of them, but she must weave a mantle for the prince that must be beautiful, and must fit him perfectly. Each father must teach his daughter how to prepare for her prince. When should he begin? The father's approach, coupled with his daughter's cooperation, will decide the fate of her future. A wonderful fairy tale from a Christian perspective.
December 23, 2010
I read this to my girls last night and it was really great. It has an underlying message about purity but it's veiled in symbolism (The weaving of the cloth for the prince who would someday come). It's short and has a nice fairy tale feel to it which really kept their interest, even the toddler.
November 8, 2007
This was a really neat book about waiting and purity.
June 9, 2008
I've have always loved this story I just had to go back and read it again ! <3 :)
November 26, 2008
This book is a gem.
A beautiful book that discusses purity in an age appropriate way!
This is a must read for every father, mother and daughter.
A beautiful book that discusses purity in an age appropriate way!
This is a must read for every father, mother and daughter.
December 10, 2008
I loved this book! It's about 3 girls and their mental purity. It bascially is about giving your heart away before it's time to. I think every teenage girl should read it. :)
January 6, 2009
A poignant illustration of how young girls give their hearts away and the wisdom and rewards of waiting for the real prince charming.
October 16, 2009
WONDERFUL book on purity!
October 14, 2011
This is such a sweet story to share with your daughters when they reach the age to learn about these things.
January 29, 2013
Read aloud to Anna.
September 8, 2014
Really short read for daddy to read to daughter/s. Excellent story to drive home the point of waiting for Mr. Right.
April 25, 2016
A great story but I think I like the illustrated version best.
September 22, 2016
For Naomi, Christmas 2015.
This book challenges fathers as they prepare their young daughters for adulthood.
This book challenges fathers as they prepare their young daughters for adulthood.
May 18, 2011
This is one of my favorite books I can't even count how may times I've read it :)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews