Seven songs once went up to heaven, and on their way they fell to talking with each other. Said the first song, “The one who sung me did not understand a word she was singing, but her heart was full of love and joy, and she sung because she wanted to praise God and tell others how happy she was. I am sure that they will be glad to welcome me in heaven.”
Said the second song, “It wasn’t a good voice that sung me, but the owner did not seem to care for that. She sung with all her heart, because she thought her voice was needed, and she knew the song would help others. They will be glad to see me up above I am sure.”
“My singer,” put in the third, “didn’t feel at all like singing when she began, but she did not like to keep silent when all were singing around her, and very soon, as she thought what the beautiful words meant that she was singing, she fell to singing because she liked to, and had hard work to stop. I shall be welcome, also.”
Softly said the fourth song, “The singer from whom I came sung me with a prayer in her heart that the words she was uttering might help some one, and I am sure the Father will be glad to see me.”
Then the fifth song spoke. “I am sure that the boy who sung me understood every word he was singing, his eyes were so bright, and there was such a noble expression on his face. He sung me because he had made his own the words of the hymn. I shall be received with joy, I know.”
But the sixth song and the seventh hung their heads. “I was sung by a girl who was vain and proud,” said the sixth. “All the time she was singing, she was thinking how well she looked, what a fine voice she had, and hoping that her voice was heard above the rest, and that people would look at her. I am afraid they will not even admit me to heaven.”
“And I,” said the seventh song, its head drooping still lower, “was sung carelessly. The boy who sung me was looking around all the time and thinking of his sport for the morrow. Not a thought did he give to the beautiful words he was singing. I am afraid that they will not care to see me in heaven.”
Now which of these seven songs, children, came from you?