82 THE SWALLOW 



grims from all Europe, is in Galicia, in the 

 northwestern corner of Spain. 



Saint James of Galicia and the 

 Swallows 



A Legend of Spain 



Saint James was grieving one day because 

 no one came to his Festival. But Galicia 

 is so very far away that only Saint Alexis 

 dared to make the long journey. 



Then, to console Saint James, Jesus said 

 to him : — 



" Be of good cheer, James. All those who 

 cannot visit you while they live will come to 

 see you after death." 



And from that time there has been a con- 

 stant knocking at the little door of the shrine 

 — and no person touches it ! It is the pro- 

 cession of the dead, who continually come 

 and go on their visits to the saint. 



And through that same little door come 

 also all the swallows in the world, and each 

 one bears in her mouth an olive. From 



