GOD'S CARE.
I SAT in the door at eventide;
My heart was full of fears,
And I saw the landscape before me lie
Through mists of burning tears.
I thought to myself, the world is dark,
No light nor joy I see;
Nothing but toil and want is mine,
And no one cares for me.
A sparrow was twittering at my feet,
With its beautiful auburn head,
And looked at me with dark, mild eyes
As it picked up crumbs of bread;
And said to me, in words as plain
As the words of a bird could be,
I'm only a sparrow, a worthless bird,
But the dear Lord cares for me.
A lily was growing beside the hedge,
Beautiful, tall, and white,
And it shone through the glossy leaves of green,
Like an angel clothed in light;
And it said to me, as it waved its head,
On the breezes soft and free,
I'm only a lily, a useless flower,
But the Master cares for me.
Then it seemed that the hand of the loving Lord
Over my head was laid,
And he said to me, O faithless child,
Wherefore art thou dismayed?
I clothe the lilies, I feed the birds,
I see the sparrows fall;
Nothing escapes my watchful eye,
My kindness is over all.
A. C. Edwards.