When the summer days are over
And the winds of autumn blow,
When the frost has nipped the clover
And the ground is white with snow,
Tell me, children, how the birdies
Find their food and keep so warm:
Tell me how they keep from starving
And from freezing in the storm.
Tell me what the bees, so busy,
Find to make the honey sweet,
When the flowers have all been covered
By the blinding snow and sleet.
Up in heav’n a loving Father
Watches o’er these creatures small,
And without His careful notice
Not one sparrow e’er can fall.
He has taught the bees to wisely
Store up honey in their hive,
So through all the long cold winter
They have food on which to thrive.
And for cold and stormy weather,
To the birds He loves to give
Warmer coats of down and feathers
And the food whereby they live,
Thus, dear children, God is able
Both in sunshine and in storm
To protect the little creatures—
Ever keep them safe and warm.
How much more His own dear children
For whose sins the Saviour died,
Can at all times find protection
At His precious, loving side.
ML 10/25/1903