The Sparrow And His Four Children

A sparrow had four little ones in a swallow's nest. When they were big enough to fly, some naughty boys pulled out the nest, but luckily all the birds got safely away in the strong wind.

Then the old bird was sad that his sons had gone out into the world without him first warning them about every kind of danger and teaching them how to handle each one. In autumn, many sparrows gathered together in a wheat field, and there the old bird met his four children again.

Full of joy, he took them home with him. "Ah, my dear sons, how worried I have been about you all summer, because you flew off in the wind without my lessons. Listen to my words, obey your father, and be on your guard.

Little birds have to face great dangers!" Then he asked the oldest 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, "tasty treats are not bad, but there is great risk.

From now on, be very careful, especially when people are walking in the gardens carrying long green poles that 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 did you see that?" "In a merchant's garden," said the youngster. "Oh, my son, merchant folks are quick folks," said the father. "If you have been among the children of the world, you have learned worldly cleverness enough.

Just make sure you use it well and don't be too confident." After that, he asked the next son, "Where did you spend your time?" "At court," said the son. "Sparrows and silly little birds are no use in that place.

There you find much gold, velvet, silk, armour, harnesses, sparrow-hawks, screech-owls, and hen-harriers. Stay near the horses' stable where they winnow oats or thresh, and then fortune may give you your daily grain of corn in peace." "Yes, father," said the son, "but when the stable-boys make traps and set their nets and snares in the straw, many a bird is caught fast." "Where did you see that?" said the old bird.

"At court, among the stable-boys." "Oh, my son, court boys are bad boys! If you have been to court and among the lords, and have not lost any feathers there, you have learned a fair amount and will know how to get along in the world.

But look around you and above you, for the wolves devour the wisest dogs." The father asked the third son, "Where did you seek your safety?" "I have broken up tubs and ropes on the cart-roads and highways, and sometimes found a grain of corn or barley." "That is indeed fine food," said the father, "but take care what you are doing and look carefully around, especially when you see someone stooping to pick up a stone.

There is not much time to stay then." "That is true," said the son, "but what if someone carries a piece of rock or ore ready beforehand in his breast or pocket?" "Where did you see that?" "Among the mountain people, dear father.

When they go out, they often take little bits of ore with them." "Mountain folks are working folks and clever folks. If you have been among mountain lads, you have seen and learned something. But when you go there, beware, for many a sparrow has come to a bad end because of a mountain boy." At last the father came to the youngest son: "You, my dear chirping nestling, were always the silliest and weakest.

Stay with me. The world has many rough, wicked birds with crooked beaks and long claws that lie in wait for poor little birds and swallow them. Keep with those of your own kind, and pick up little spiders and caterpillars from the trees or the house, and then you will live long in peace." "My dear father," said the youngest, "he who feeds himself without harming others fares well, and no sparrow-hawk, eagle, or kite will hurt him if he especially commits himself and his rightful food, evening and morning, faithfully to God, who is the Creator and Preserver of all forest and village birds, and who hears the cry and prayer of the young ravens.

For no sparrow or wren ever falls to the ground except by his will." "Where did you learn this?" The son answered, "When the great blast of wind tore me away from you, I came to a church, and there during the summer I picked up flies and spiders from the windows and heard this sermon preached.

The Father of all sparrows fed me all summer long and kept me from all harm and from ferocious birds." "Indeed, my dear son," said the father, "if you take refuge in the churches and help clear away spiders and buzzing flies, and cry out to God like the young ravens, and commend yourself to the eternal Creator, all will be well with you, 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.