<h2><SPAN name="THE_SCEPTICS" id="THE_SCEPTICS"></SPAN>THE SCEPTICS</h2>
<h3>BY BLISS CARMAN</h3>
<p><span style="margin-left: 1em;">It was the little leaves beside the road.</span><br/>
<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Said Grass, "What is that sound</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">So dismally profound,</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That detonates and desolates the air?"</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"That is St. Peter's bell,"</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Said rain-wise Pimpernel;</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"He is music to the godly,</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Though to us he sounds so oddly,</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And he terrifies the faithful unto prayer."</span><br/>
<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Then something very like a groan</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Escaped the naughty little leaves.</span><br/>
<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Said Grass, "And whither track</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">These creatures all in black,</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">So woebegone and penitent and meek?"</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"They're mortals bound for church,"</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Said the little Silver Birch;</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"They hope to get to heaven</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And have their sins forgiven,</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">If they talk to God about it once a week."</span><br/>
<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And something very like a smile</span><br/>
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_1627" id="Page_1627"></SPAN></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ran through the naughty little leaves.</span><br/>
<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Said Grass, "What is that noise</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That startles and destroys</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Our blessed summer brooding when we're tired?"</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"That's folk a-praising God,"</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Said the tough old cynic Clod;</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"They do it every Sunday,</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">They'll be all right on Monday;</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">It's just a little habit they've acquired."</span><br/>
<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And laughter spread among the little leaves.</span><br/>
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_1628" id="Page_1628"></SPAN></span></p>
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