A sparrow had four young ones in a swallow's nest. When they werefledged, some naughty boys pulled out the nest, but fortunately all thebirds got safely away in the high wind. Then the old bird was grievedthat as his sons had all gone out into the world, he had not first warnedthem of every kind of danger, and given them good instruction how todeal with each. In the autumn a great many sparrows assembled togetherin a wheatfield, and there the old bird met his four children again, and fullof joy took them home with him. "Ah, my dear sons, what pain I have beenin about you all through the summer, because you got away in the wind withoutmy 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 eldestwhere he had spent the summer, and how he had supported himself? "Istayed in the gardens, and looked for caterpillars¹ and small worms, until thecherries got ripe." "Ah, my son," said the father, "tit-bits are not bad, butthere is great risk about them; on that account take great care of thyselfhenceforth, and particularly when people are going about the gardens whocarry long green poles which are hollow inside and have a little hole at thetop." "Yes, father, but what if a little green leaf is stuck over the hole withwax?" 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 thefather. "If thou hast been among the children of the world, thou hast learnedworldly shiftiness enough, only see that thou usest it well, and do not be tooconfident." 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 thatplace -- there one finds much gold, velvet², silk, armour³, harnesses, sparrow-hawks,screech-owls and hen-harriers; keep to the horses' stable where they winnow⁴ 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 andsnares in the straw, many a one is caught fast." Where hast thou seen that?" saidthe old bird. "At court, among the stable-boys." "Oh, my son, court boys are badboys! If thou hast been to court and among the lords, and hast left no feathers there,thou hast learnt a fair amount, and wilt⁵ know very well how to go about the world,but look around thee and above thee, for the wolves devour⁶ the wisest dogs." Thefather examined the third also: "Where didst thou seek thy safety?" "I have brokenup tubs and ropes on the cart-roads and highways, and sometimes met with a grainof corn or barley⁷." "That is indeed dainty fare," said the father, "but take care whatthou art about and look carefully around, especially when thou seest any one stoopingand 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 beforehandin 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 amongmountain lads, thou hast seen and learnt something, but when thou goest thitherbeware, for many a sparrow has been brought to a bad end by amountain boy." At length the father came to the youngest son:

"Thou, my dear chirping⁹ nestling, wert always the silliest and weakest;stay with me, the world has many rough, wicked birds which havecrooked beaks¹⁰ and long claws, and lie in wait for poor little birdsand swallow them. Keep with those of thine own kind, and pick uplittle spiders and caterpillars from the trees, or the house, and then thouwilt live long in peace." "My dear father, he who feeds himself withoutinjury to other people fares well, and no sparrow-hawk, eagle, or kitewill hurt him if he specially⁸ commits himself and his lawful¹¹ food, eveningand morning, faithfully to God, who is the Creator and Preserver of allforest and village birds, who likewise heareth the cry and prayer of theyoung ravens¹², for no sparrow or wren¹³ ever falls to the ground exceptby his will." "Where hast thou learnt this?" The son answered, "Whenthe great blast of wind tore me away from thee I came to a church, andthere during the summer I have picked up the flies and spiders from thewindows, and heard this discourse¹⁴ preached. The Father of all sparrowsfed me all the summer through, and kept me from all mischance and fromferocious birds.""In sooth, my dear son, if thou takest refuge in the churches and helpestto clear away spiders and buzzing flies, and criest unto God like the youngravens, and commendest thyself to the eternal Creator, all will be well withthee, and that even if the whole world were full of wild malicious¹⁵ 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."

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