Sparrows God's special care!


 


tree sparrow


    


"Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God." 


Psalms 84:3



 


chipping sparrow


 


Field Sparrow


  


"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  

   But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  

  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."


Matthew 10:29-31



 


House Sparrow




tree sparrow

 





 Birds At The Meetings   



Sparrows


"We are having meetings in a large tent in a village on the west shore of Lake Michigan. And for want of a more convenient spot, our tent is pitched in a gentleman's door-yard, where it covers a balsam tree about twelve feet high. The tree stands by the desk like a huge bouquet of evergreens. Being strangers in the place, we were not sure whether we would have a congregation or not. But after our tent was up, we discovered that the tree was inhabited by a family of sparrows consisting of the parents and four small children. They seemed to object to our proceedings; but we settled with them by leaving an opening in the tent wall, through which they could pass in and out, and all was satisfactory. The parents had their day's work done early, and were on hand at the beginning of each meeting, all remaining very quiet until the close. 

They never ran in and out, or went for a drink of water during meeting time; and in' this they set a good example for many larger parents and children. 

But their story has a sad ending. Soon the children began to think they were old enough to act for themselves, and one by one they left their nice home and the good influences of the meetings, and hopped out under the tent wall, much to the sorrow of their parents, who wished them to remain a little longer, until they were better prepared to care for themselves. 

The parents tried to induce them to return, and it was pitiful to hear their cries as they foresaw the danger of their children. But these little ones now had a taste of what they thought was freedom, and cared not for the good advice and cries of those who loved them. Perhaps they thought the sermons too long or did not like the singing, or they were thinking of other little birds who did not have to go to meeting. What became of all of them I know not ; but I saw a cat spring upon one and kill it before it could be rescued, and a few days after, I saw the remains of another. 

How much better it would have been for them to have heeded the good teaching they had received than it was to have their own way and come to such a cruel fate. At first I was reminded of Psalm 84: 3, 4. But at last I thought of the proverb, "The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth (obeyeth) reproof getteth understanding." 



ELD. G. C. TENNEY, 


who is preaching in Wis.









white crowned sparrow

 





  Sparrows


SPARROWS IN THE WEST.


A LETTER.



MY DEAR HALA: Some time ago I wrote you about the little prairie dogs that live in the West, of their towns, their dwellings, and the strange associates that live in the same hole with them. I thought that today I would tell you about the sparrows, and Sparrowville. But as I took my pen to write, I thought of your two little brothers, who have no mother to tell them stories, and that they, too, would like to hear about the sparrows.  

"Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?" The Saviour taught that God cares for all his creatures, and although the fowls of the air " sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them." 

And he not only furnishes them food, but a shelter from the storm, a place of safety, where they can build their nests and raise their young.

Where you live, and far away eastward, the sparrows build their nests in barns or under the roofs of dwellings; but what do you suppose they do upon the boundless prairie known until recently as the great American desert where houses and barns are but few, and where many people live in covered wagons ? Surely, you would say, there can be no place for the sparrow. 

But the Saviour says that they are not forgotten before God. About three miles from where I am writing is a place which we will call Sparrowville. There is a bank thirty or forty feet high with a ledge of rocks extending out over the bed of a stream; under this ledge thousands of sparrows live. 

They make their nests of mud and dry grasp, and fasten them on to the rock. There are also other places where they live, but this one seems to be their largest town, and it is well chosen; for it fronts the east, and as we have fewer storms from that direction, it furnishes a very safe retreat. The bed of the stream under the ledge is usually dry, so if by accident the little birds should fall out of the nest they would be likely to fall on the soft sand, where they would receive no serious injury, and where the parent bird could care for them.

The same God who provides for the sparrows will also regard us in mercy. He suffers little children to come unto him, and if they love him and obey his voice he will shelter them in his arms.



Your uncle, J. L. R.