Little birds sheep sweetly In their soft, round nests,Crouching in the cover
Of their mothers" breasts.
Little lambs lie quiet
All the summer night, With their old ewe mothers,Warm, and soft, and white.
But more sweet and quiet Lie our little heads,With our own dear mothers Sitting by our beds;And their soft, sweet voices Sing our hushabies,While the room grows darker And we shut our eyes.
And We play at evening Round our fathers" knees;Birds are not so merry, Singing on the trees;Lambs are not so happy, "Mid the meadow flowers;They have play and pleasure, But not love like ours.
- C. Frances Alexander
Author.-Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1885) was an English poetess who wrote some well-known hymns and poems-"All Things Bright and Beautiful," "The Burial of Moses," "Once in Royal David"s City," "There is a Green Hill Far Away," etc.
General Notes.-What do little birds do at evening, little lambs, littlechildren? Why are children more blest than other young creatures?
