IN A NORMAN CHU RCH

As over incenàe-laden air

Stole winter twilight, soft aiid dim, The folk arose fom their last prayer —

When hark !the chïldren's hymn. ■. . ■

Rotmd y on great pillar ? .clrclewlse,

The singers stand up two and two —

Small lint-haired girls frora whose young eyes The gay sea looks at you.

Now heayehward the pure xflusïc w^ns With cadence soft and silvery beat.

In flûtes and subtte violins

Are harmonies less sweet* .* ' . .

It- is a chant mth plaintive ring,

Ând rhymes and refrains old and quaint.

" Ôh Monseigneur saint jacques",they sihg,

And u Oh Assisfs saint."

Through deepening dusk one just can see

; The Httle white-capped heads thatmovè ■.

In time to linestnrned rhythmically And starred wite liâmes of love.

Bred in nô gentle.sïlken eâse T

Trained to expect.nô éplendid ;fate, ~ They are but peasant children thèse,

Of véry meanestate.

Nay, ïs that true ? To-night perhaps

Unworldlier eyes had well dïsçerned

Among those little gleamnig caps ; An auréole that hurned.

For once 'twas thought the Gates of Pearl Best opened to the. poor that trod

The path of the meek peasant girl Who bore the Son of God.

Victor Plarr: