100 THE CROW. 



And yet it is thus that God sometimes punishes the 

 wickedness of nations. 



The young Ravens, in another place are spoken of, 

 as being under the particular care of providence. The 

 Most High said to Job, " who provideth for the Raven 

 his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they 

 wander for lack of meat." Job, chapter 38, verse 41. 

 Again, it is said, " He giveth to the beast his food, and 

 to the young Ravens when they cry." 



These passages, while they show the care which 

 God takes of all his creatures, are striking illustrations 

 of the natural history of this bird. The old Ravens, as 

 soon as the young ones are of a certain age, and 

 sometimes even before they are able to take care of 

 themselves, either forsake them, or drive them away 

 from the nest. And hence they are often heard to 

 cry, and are seen to wander, " for lack of meat." 



It is at this this time that the native instinct of these 

 young creatures is first called into action, in order to 

 seek out their food, and thus it is, that the God of Na- 

 ture and of Heaven, feeds them, by endowing them 

 with sagacity to provide for their own wants. 



This is a striking example of the fatherly care which 

 the Almighty exercises over all his works ; and from 

 it we may conclude that since He " feeds the young 

 Ravens when they cry," there i a certainty that the 

 children of men will never suffer want, so long as they 

 put their trust in Him. 



Solomon alludes to this bird in his awful warning to 

 children against disobedience to their parents. " The 

 eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey 

 the voice of his mother, the Ravens of the valley shall 



