I wish to send peace to the far ends of the The 

 world." Children 



" Tell your secret to the birds," said one. and the 



" Tell your secret to the birds," said the Clan of 

 other. Peace - 



So Jesus called to the birds. 



" Come," He cried ; and they came. 



Seven came flying from the left, from the 

 side of the angel beautiful as Night. Seven 

 came flying from the right, from the side of 

 the angel beautiful as Morning. 



To the first He said : " Look into my heart." 



But they wheeled about Him, and with 

 new-found voices mocked, crying, " How could 

 we see into your heart that is hidden" . . . 

 and mocked and derided, crying, "What is 

 Peace ! . . . Leave us alone ! Leave us 

 alone ! " 



So Christ said to them : 



" I know you for the birds of Ahriman, who 

 is not beautiful but is Evil. Henceforth ye 

 shall be black as night, and be children of the 

 winds." 



To the seven other birds which circled 

 about Him, voiceless, and brushing their wings 

 against His arms, He cried : 



" Look into my heart." 



And they swerved and hung before Him in 

 a maze of wings, and looked into His pure 



253 



