第 一百四十六 章 · The Sparrow And His Four Children

. The Sparrow And His Four Children

A sparrow had four young ones in a swallow’s nest. When they were

fledged, some naughty boys pulled out the nest, but fortunately all the

birds got safely away in the high wind. Then the old bird was grieved

that as his sons had all gone out into the world, he had not first

warned them of every kind of danger, and given them good instruction

how to deal with each. In the autumn a great many sparrows assembled

together in a wheatfield, and there the old bird met his four children

again, and full of joy took them home with him. “Ah, my dear sons, what

pain I have been in about you all through the summer, because you got

away in the wind without my teaching; listen to my words, obey your

father, and be well on your guard. Little birds have to encounter great

dangers!” And then he asked the eldest where he had spent the summer,

and how he had supported himself? “I stayed in the gardens, and looked

for caterpillars and small worms, until the cherries got ripe.” “Ah, my

son,” said the father, “tit-bits are not bad, but there is great risk

about them; on that account take great care of thyself henceforth, and

particularly when people are going about the gardens who carry long

green poles which are hollow inside and have a little hole at the top.”

“Yes, father, but what if a little green leaf is stuck over the hole

with wax?” said the son. “Where hast thou seen that?” “In a merchant’s

garden,” said the youngster. “Oh, my son, merchant folks are quick

folks,” said the father. “If thou hast been among the children of the

world, thou hast learned worldly shiftiness enough, only see that thou

usest it well, and do not be too confident.” After this he asked the

next, “Where hast thou passed thy time?” “At court,” said the son.

“Sparrows and silly little birds are of no use in that place—there one

finds much gold, velvet, silk, armour, harnesses, sparrow-hawks,

screech-owls and hen-harriers; keep to the horses’ stable where they

winnow oats, or thresh, and then fortune may give thee thy daily grain

of corn in peace.” “Yes, father,” said the son, “but when the

stable-boys make traps and fix their gins and snares in the straw, many

a one is caught fast.” “Where hast thou seen that?” said the old bird.

“At court, among the stable-boys.” “Oh, my son, court boys are bad

boys! If thou hast been to court and among the lords, and hast left no

feathers there, thou hast learnt a fair amount, and wilt know very well

how to go about the world, but look around thee and above thee, for the

wolves devour the wisest dogs.” The father examined the third also:

“Where didst thou seek thy safety?” “I have broken up tubs and ropes on

the cart-roads and highways, and sometimes met with a grain of corn or

barley.” “That is indeed dainty fare,” said the father, “but take care

what thou art about and look carefully around, especially when thou

seest any one stooping and about to pick up a stone, there is not much

time to stay then.” “That is true,” said the son, “but what if any one

should carry a bit of rock, or ore, ready beforehand in his breast or

pocket?” “Where hast thou seen that?” “Among the mountaineers, dear

father; when they go out, they generally take little bits of ore with

them.” “Mountain folks are working folks, and clever folks. If thou

hast been among mountain lads, thou hast seen and learnt something, but

when thou goest thither beware, for many a sparrow has been brought to

a bad end by a mountain boy.” At length the father came to the youngest

son: “Thou, my dear chirping nestling, wert always the silliest and

weakest; stay with me, the world has many rough, wicked birds which

have crooked beaks and long claws, and lie in wait for poor little

birds and swallow them. Keep with those of thine own kind, and pick up

little spiders and caterpillars from the trees, or the house, and then

thou wilt live long in peace.” “My dear father, he who feeds himself

without injury to other people fares well, and no sparrow-hawk, eagle,

or kite will hurt him if he specially commits himself and his lawful

food, evening and morning, faithfully to God, who is the Creator and

Preserver of all forest and village birds, who likewise heareth the cry

and prayer of the young ravens, for no sparrow or wren ever falls to

the ground except by his will.” “Where hast thou learnt this?” The son

answered, “When the great blast of wind tore me away from thee I came

to a church, and there during the summer I have picked up the flies and

spiders from the windows, and heard this discourse preached. The Father

of all sparrows fed me all the summer through, and kept me from all

mischance and from ferocious birds.”

“In sooth, my dear son, if thou takest refuge in the churches and

helpest to clear away spiders and buzzing flies, and criest unto God

like the young ravens, and commendest thyself to the eternal Creator,

all will be well with thee, and that even if the whole world were full

of wild malicious birds.”

“He who to God commits his ways,

In silence suffers, waits, and prays,

Preserves his faith and conscience pure,

He is of God’s protection sure.”