The Pot of Gold by Mary E. Wilkins

Name: The Pot of Gold
Author: Mary E. Wilkins

A family of nine, the Flower family, lives in a quaint house by a river, surrounded by a picturesque meadow and a mountain. The father, an unappreciated poet, has a unique philosophy that everything should match harmoniously, including the names of his children, which reflect their characteristics. The family works hard to maintain their home and garden, finding joy in their labor and love for one another. One day, after a rainstorm, the father expresses a longing for the mythical Pot of Gold at the end of a rainbow, which he believes could change their lives. His daughter, Flax, intrigued by the idea, decides to seek out the Pot of Gold herself. She asks her mother for a holiday to explore the mountain, and despite concerns about an impending storm, her mother allows her to go. As Flax ventures into the woods, she hears the leaves whispering the words of her father's poem about the Pot of Gold. Determined, she races toward a tall pine tree where she believes the rainbow touches the ground. Despite the storm, she reaches the tree just as the rainbow appears, revealing the Pot of Gold at its base. Expecting to find treasure, Flax instead discovers that the pot reflects images of her family and home, showing their love and happiness. Overwhelmed with joy, she rushes back home to share her experience. However, her father, skeptical of her claim, insists she must be mistaken about the true nature of the Pot of Gold. Flax, undeterred, embraces her family, realizing that the true treasure lies in their love and togetherness rather than material wealth. The story concludes with Flax feeling content, suggesting that she may have indeed found the true Pot of Gold, despite her father's doubts.

By Mary E. Wilkins · First published 1910 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Fable · 3,818 words

First lines

The Flower family lived in a little house in a broad grassy meadow, which sloped a few rods from their front door down to a gentle, silvery river. Right across the river rose a lovely dark green mountain, and when there was a rainbow, as there frequently was, nothing could have looked more enchanting than it did rising from the opposite bank of the stream with the wet, shadowy mountain for a background. All the Flower family would invariably run to their front windows and their door to see it.

What this Textopian page supports

The Pot of Gold is listed on Textopian as a novella by Mary E. Wilkins, dated 1910 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novella
Author: Mary E. Wilkins
Date: 1910 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Fable, Literary Fiction, Adventure
Length: 3,818 words
Structure: 1 section, 62 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Work identity for The Pot of Gold by Mary E. Wilkins
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Discussion starters

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How does this novella by Mary E. Wilkins fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fantasy — The story revolves around the magical concept of a Pot of Gold at the end of a rainbow, embodying elements of fantasy.
Children's Literature — The narrative is aimed at a young audience, featuring a child protagonist and themes of family and adventure.
Fable — The story conveys moral lessons about happiness and the true meaning of wealth, akin to traditional fables.
Literary Fiction — The writing style is reflective and poetic, focusing on character development and emotional depth.