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THE SWALLOW 



and gentle little bird, sufferings caused by 

 the folk's belief in her power to do them 

 all kinds of good, with the explanation of 

 a pretty symbol. On the first day of March 

 the children of the country of Roumania 

 hang from their necks a charm in the form 



of a heart, which they call the " Martzisor." 

 On one side is engraved "March i," and 

 on the other are pictured swallows and 

 roses, symbols of the return of spring. 

 Around the pictured swallows are the words 

 which the Hungarian maidens say when they 

 spy the first swallow in the spring : " I see a 

 swallow ! Now I wash my freckles ! " This 

 charm is made of brass, silver, or gold, 



