724--A little bird I am,

A little bird I am,

724

	1.	A little bird I am,
		Shut from the fields of air,
		And in my cage I sit and sing
		To Him who place me there;
		Well pleased a prisoner to be,
		Because, my God, it pleaseth Thee.
	2.	Nought have I else to do,
		I sing the whole day long;
		And He whom most I love to please
		Doth listen to my song;
		He caught and bound my wandering
		wing;
		But still He bends to hear me sing.
	3.	Thou hast and ear to hear
		A heart to love and bless;
		And though my notes were e'er so
		rude,
		Thou wouldst not hear the less;
		Because Thou knowest as they fall,
		That love, sweet love, inspires them all.
	4.	My cage confines me round;
		Abroad I cannot fly;
		But though my wing is closely bound,
		My heart's at liberty;
		For prison walls cannot control
		The flight, the freedom of the soul.
	5.	O it is good to soar
		These bolts and bars above!
		To Him whose purpose I adore,
		Whose providence I love;
		And in Thy mighty will to find
		The joy, the freedom of the mind.