8o THE SWALLOW 



Saint Guthlac and the Swallows 



One day Saint Guthlac was receiving a 

 visit in his cell from his friend Wilfred, 

 when two swallows flew in and made the 

 little place resound with their merry chatter. 

 They lit upon the shoulders and upon the 

 head of the saint, and they caressed him 

 with their black wings. Wilfred marveled 

 at the actions of the birds, and said to 

 Guthlac : — 



" Oh, my brother, how is it that you have 

 inspired such confidence in these little winged 

 creatures of solitude ? " 



" Do you not know," replied the saint, 

 " that he who is united to God in pureness 

 of heart sees, in his turn, all created beings 

 joined to him ? The birds of heaven recog- 

 nize those who are of this brotherhood o{^ 

 man." 



At these words the swallows fluttered their 

 wings the livelier and set up loud, plaintive 

 cries, as if they wished to speak and to ask 



