The edges of the world men heard a confused and 



Children dreadful sound rising from the Abyss. Though 

 and the ^ ne g rea ^ an( ^ the sma ^ are the same, it is the 

 Clan of great that withdraws from remembrance and 

 Peace, the small that remains, and that may be why 

 men have grown old with time, and have 

 forgotten, and remember only the little things 

 of the common life : as that in these years the 

 Herring became the king of all fishes, because 

 his swift gleaming clan carried the rumour of 

 great tidings to the uttermost places of ocean ; 

 as that in these years the little fly became king- 

 over lions and panthers and eagles and over all 

 birds and beasts, because it alone of all created 

 things had remained tameless and fearless ; as 

 that in these years the wild-bees were called 

 the clan of wisdom, because they carried the 

 Word to every flower that grows and spread 

 the rumour on all the winds of the world ; as 

 that in these years the Cuckoo was called the 

 Herald of God, because in his voice are heard 

 the bells of Resurrection. 



But, as I was saying, it was in the last 

 month of the last year of the seven years' 

 silence and peace : the seventh year in the 

 mortal life of Jesus the Christ. It was on the 

 twenty-fifth day of that month, the day of His 

 holy birth. 



It was a still day. The little white flowers 

 250 



