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cared for me, spite of all my sins!-
- [Draws a deep breath.]
- What a marvellous feeling of safety and peace
- it gives one to know oneself specially shielded!
- But the desert! What about, food and drink?
- Oh, something I'm sure to find. He'll see to that.
- There's no cause for alarm;-
- [Loud and insinuatingly.]
- He would never allow
- a poor little sparrow like me to perish!
- Be but lowly of spirit. And give him time.
- Leave it all in the Lord's hands; and don't be cast down.-
- [With a start of terror.]
- Can that be a lion that growled in the reeds-?
- [His teeth chattering.]
- No, it wasn't a lion.
- [Mustering up courage.]
- A lion, forsooth!
- Those beasts, they'll take care to keep out of the way.
- They know it's no joke to fall foul of their betters.
- They have instinct to guide them;-they feel, what's a fact,
- that it's dangerous playing with elephants.-
- But all the same-. I must find a tree.
- There's a grove of acacias and palms over there;
- if I once can climb up, I'll be sheltered and safe,-
- most of all if I knew but a psalm or two.
- [Clambers up.]
- Morning and evening are not alike;
- that text has been oft enough weighed and pondered.
- [Seats himself comfortably.]
- How blissful to feel so uplifted in spirit.
- To think nobly is more than to know oneself rich.
- Only trust in Him. He knows well what share
- of the chalice of need I can bear to drain.