In the light of the rosy skies;
And as they listened the years rolled back,
And tears came into their eyes.

The years rolled back and they were young,
With the hearts and hopes of men,
They plucked the daisies and kissed the girls
Of dear dead summers again.


III.

But the eldest monk soon broke the spell;
"'Tis sin and shame," quoth he,
"To be turned from talk of holy things
By a bird's cry from a tree.

"Perchance the Enemy of Souls
Hath come to tempt us so.
Let us try by the power of the Awful Word
If it be he, or no!"

To Heaven the three monks raised their hands
"We charge thee, speak!" they said,
"By His dread Name who shall one day come
To judge the quick and the dead,--

"Who art thou? Speak!" The bird laughed loud
"I am the Devil," he said.
The monks on their faces fell, the bird