See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
Matthew 6:28–29
Words: Mildred J. Hill, in Songs and Hymns for the Primary Sunday School, edited by Frederica Beard (Chicago, Illinois: Clayton F. Summy, 1899), number 13, alt.
Music: Veracruz John T. Camp, 1893 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Camp (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
I asked the lovely little flower
Who gave her perfume sweet,
And dressed her in her velvet coat,
So beautiful and neat,
And she told me that it was God
Who clothed her with such care
And taught her how to sweetly breathe
Upon the evening air.
I asked the joyous little bird
Who taught him how to fly,
And sing such pretty songs up in
The bright blue morning sky,
And he told me that it was God
Who gave to him his wing
And taught him how to build his nest
And taught him how to sing.
I asked the busy little bee
I saw among the flowers
Who taught him how to gather sweets
To eat in winter hours.
From way down in a lilly bell
He sang these words to me:
’Twas God the Father, taught me how,
He teaches every bee.