78 



THE SWALLOW 



Three charming legends record the swal- 

 low's association with saintly men of olden 

 time. The first is the familiar story of 



Saint Francis and the' Birds 



Francis, the gentle saint of Assisi, was 

 preaching one day to a company of people 



silent 



in the open country. 

 Some birds in the trees 

 near by disturbed him 

 with their loud 

 chirping. The 

 saint at oncg 

 turned to them and 

 courteously asked them to be 

 and they reverently obeyed him. 



At another time Saint Francis, who loved 



