Article August 16, 1930 Issue

Lessons from a Sparrow

ETTA L. CUMMINGS

ONE morning in winter, when the snow lay deep on the ground, the writer noticed a little sparrow hopping about on the back porch, as though in search of something to eat. She immediately threw out some crumbs, and on looking out a few moments later, noticed several more birds enjoying the feast. The next morning the sparrow came again, and again she stepped to the window to watch operations. When the door was opened to throw out the food, he flew off, but soon returned and alighted amidst the crumbs. But before partaking of the food, he again flew away and returned with many guests. Such a merry chattering there was over their feast!

For many days the writer pondered the lesson of unselfishness and trust contained in this incident, and thought it not surprising that our Master had used "the fowls of the air" to illustrate his teachings. No human voice had assured the little fellow that the crumbs would not diminish or fail, as the woman of Zarephath was assured by Elijah, if he divided them with his companions. He did not appease his own hunger first, or argue that the supply might not last him until the snow disappeared. His first thought was to share the crumbs with his friends.

How many of us have allowed our periodicals to accumulate until, for our own convenience, we decided to give some of them away. Then a sorting process began. Certain articles had been such a help to us that we felt we could not let them go just yet, or at any rate not until we had given them another reading; and by the time the culling process was finished we had, perhaps, more put aside to keep than to give away.

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