Love one another, as I have loved you.
John 13:34
Words: Fanny Crosby, in Bradbury’s Golden Chain, by William B. Bradbury (New York: Ivison, Phinney, 1861), pages 100–01. A Lesson from the Cowslip, the Dew-drop, and the Zephyr.
Suppose the little cowslip
Should hang its golden cup,
And say, I’m such a tiny flower,
I’d better not grow up!
How many a weary traveler
Would miss the fragrant smell,
How many a little child would grieve
To lose it from the dell.
How many a little child would grieve
To lose it, to lose it,
To lose it from the dell.
Suppose the glistening dew drop
Upon the grass, should say,
What can a little dew drop do?
I’d better roll away!
The blade on which it rested,
Before the day was done,
Without a drop to moisten it,
Would wither in the sun.
Without a drop to moisten it,
Would wither, would wither,
Would wither in the sun.
Suppose the little breezes,
Upon a summer’s day,
Should think themselves too small to cool
The traveler on his way;
Who would not miss the smallest
And softest ones that blow,
And think they made a great mistake
In talking ever so,
And think they made a great mistake
In talking, in talking,
In talking ever so.
How many deeds of kindness
A little child may do,
Although it has so little strength,
And little wisdom, too.
It wants a loving spirit,
Much more than strength, to prove
How many things a child may do,
For others by his love.
How many things a child may do,
For others, for others,
For others by his love.