The sparrow on the house-top

The sparrow on the house-top
Or chirping at the eaves,
Speaks holy words of comfort
To him whose soul believes;

Speaks holy words of comfort,
Altho' the heedless ear
Sounds only light and trifling
Can in its cherup hear.

"Fear not," — this is the burden
For ever of its song,
"Fear not," — tho' God seem slow to right,
And man seem swift to wrong;

"Fear not," — the mighty Father
Whose hand is over all
Counts every hair upon your heads,
Sees every sparrow fall.

Nothing to Him is little
Who is Himself so great,
His hand is large for every need,
His heart for every state;

"Fear not," but only trust Him,
'Tis thus the Sparrow sings,
And nestles, where we all should hide,
Beneath th' Almighty wings.

Five of us for two farthings
Are sold in every mart,
And yet not one forgotten
Before the Father's heart;

But ye are bought with precious blood
Than gold more costly far,
Then " Fear not," ye more value
Than many sparrows are.

Ye blessed little preachers!
My grateful heart receives
Your lessons from the house-tops,
Your precepts from the eaves;

And, resting in their shadow,
I thankfully rejoice,
In every sound of life around
To hear my Father's voice.

And when my soul is drooping,
And when my heart is low,
And when I am untrustful,
And know not where to go;

I'll ask no better teachers
Than ye must ever prove,
To him whose heart is wakeful
To hear the Voice of Love.