"where didst thou seek thy safety?" "i have broken up tubs and ropes on the cart-roads and highways, and sometimes met with a grain of corn or barley." "that is indeed dainty fare," said the father, "but take care what thou art about and look carefully around, especially when thou seest any one stooping and about to pick up a stone, there is not much time to stay then." "that is true," said the son, "but what if any one should carry a bit of rock, or ore, ready beforehand in his breast or pocket?" "where hast thou seen that?" "among the mountaineers, dear father; when they go out, they generally take little bits of ore with them." "mountain folks are working folks, and clever folks. if thou hast been among mountain lads, thou hast seen and learnt something, but when thou goest thither beware, for many a sparrow has been brought to a bad end by a mountain boy." at length the father came to the youngest son: "thou, my dear chirping nestling, wert always the silliest and weakest; stay with me, the world has many rough, wicked birds which have crooked beaks and long claws, and lie in wait for poor little birds and swallow them. keep with those of thine own kind, and pick up little spiders and caterpillars from the trees, or the house, and then thou wilt live long in peace." "my dear father, he who feeds himself without injury to other people fares well, and no sparrow-hawk, eagle, or kite will hurt him if he specially commits himself and his lawful food, evening and morning, faithfully to god, who is the creator and preserver of all forest and village birds, who likewise heareth the cry and prayer of the young ravens, for no sparrow or wren ever falls to the ground except by his will." "where hast thou learnt this?" the son answered, "when the great blast of wind tore me away from thee i came to a church, and there during the summer i have picked up the flies and spiders from the windows, and heard this discourse preached. the father of all sparrows fed me all the summer through, and kept me from all mischance and from ferocious birds."