The Sparrow and His Four Children (Grimm)
Division into chapters is editorial.
The separation and autumn reunion
A sparrow had four young ones living in a swallow's nest. When the young birds were ready to fly, naughty boys destroyed their nest, but fortunately all the birds escaped safely in a strong wind. The old bird felt deep sorrow because his sons had gone into the world without receiving proper warnings about dangers or good instruction on how to handle them.
Then the old bird was grieved that as his sons had all gone out into the world, he had not first warned them of every kind of danger, and given them good instruction
In autumn, many sparrows gathered in a wheatfield where the father joyfully found his four children again and took them home with him.
The eldest son: garden life and its perils
The father warned his sons about the great dangers little birds must face and asked each where he had spent the summer. The eldest son explained that he had stayed in gardens, hunting caterpillars and small worms until the cherries ripened.
The father warned him about the great risks of such delicacies, particularly when people carried long green hollow poles with holes at the top. The son revealed his worldly knowledge by asking what to do if a green leaf covered the hole with wax. When asked where he had seen this, the son replied it was in a merchant's garden. The father acknowledged that merchant folks were quick and clever, advising his son to use his learned worldly wisdom well but not to be overconfident.
The second son: court life and cunning boys
The second son had spent his time at court. The father explained that sparrows and silly little birds were useless there, among the gold, velvet, silk, armor, and birds of prey. He advised staying in the horses' stables where oats were winnowed, where fortune might provide daily grain in peace.
The son demonstrated his knowledge by mentioning the traps and snares that stable-boys set in the straw. The father praised his learning from court life among the lords, noting he had left no feathers there, but warned him to look around and above, for wolves devour even the wisest dogs.
Oh, my son, court boys are bad boys! If thou hast been to court... thou hast learnt a fair amount... but look around thee and above thee, for the wolves devour the wisest dogs
The third son: highway dangers and mountain folk
The third son had broken up tubs and ropes on cart-roads and highways, sometimes finding grains of corn or barley. The father called this dainty fare but warned about people stooping to pick up stones, leaving little time to escape.
The son showed his experience by asking about people who carried bits of rock or ore ready in their breast or pocket. He had observed this among mountaineers, who generally took little bits of ore with them when going out. The father acknowledged that mountain folks were working and clever people, but warned that many sparrows had met bad ends from mountain boys.
The youngest son: church refuge and divine protection
The father addressed his youngest son as his dear chirping nestling, calling him the silliest and weakest. He advised him to stay close, warning about the world's rough, wicked birds with crooked beaks and long claws that prey on little birds. He suggested keeping with his own kind and picking spiders and caterpillars from trees and houses to live long in peace.
The youngest son replied with profound wisdom, explaining that those who feed themselves without harming others fare well, and no birds of prey will hurt those who commit themselves faithfully to God morning and evening. He had learned this when the great wind carried him to a church, where he spent the summer picking flies and spiders from windows while hearing religious discourse. The Father of all sparrows had fed and protected him from all harm.
He who to God commits his ways,
In silence suffers, waits, and prays,
Preserves his faith and conscience pure,
He is of God's protection sure.