Bird So Blithe

O bird so blithe

O bird so blithe

How firm thy trust ab­id­eth!

Thou sow­est not

thou reap­est not

And hoard­ed grain thou heap­est not;

Yet bird so blithe

O bird so blithe

God for thy wants pro­vid­eth.

O li­ly fair

O li­ly fair

How sweet thy beau­ty’s sto­ry!

Thou toilest not

thou spin­nest not

And earth­ly hon­ors win­nest not;

Yet li­ly fair

O li­ly fair

Thou art ar­rayed in glo­ry.

O child­hood bright

O child­hood bright

How sweet the joy thou bring­est

When

trust­ful as the bird in air

And sim­ple as the li­ly fair

O child­hood bright

O child­hood bright

Thy hap­py song thou sing­est!

O bird in air

O bird in air

Think not of com­ing sor­row

The Fa­ther dear who lov­eth all

Doth bear thy wing

doth watch thy fall;

So bird in air

O bird in air

Still leave to Him the mor­row.

O li­ly frail

O li­ly frail

How soon thy glo­ry wan­eth!

Up-springing with the morn­ing glow

At ev­en­ing’s breath thou li­est low;

Yet li­ly frail

O li­ly frail

Thy frag­rance still re­main­eth.

O child­hood brief

O child­hood brief

Tho’ swift thy days pass by us

May thy firm trust

thy sim­ple grace

Be aye our strength in man­hood’s race;

Then

child­hood brief

O child­hood brief

Thy joy shall still be nigh us.