1 Who shall sing, if not the children?
Did not Jesus die for them?
May they not, with other jewels,
Sparkle in his diadem?
Why to them were voices given--
Bird-like voices sweet and clear?
Why, unless the song of heaven
They begin to practice here?

2 There's a choir of infant songsters,
White-robed, round the Savior's throne;
Angels cease, and waiting, listen!
O! 'tis sweeter than their own!
Faith can hear the rapturous choral,
When her ear is upward turned;
Is not this the same, perfected,
Which upon the earth they learned?

3 Jesus, when on earth sojourning,
Loved them with a wondrous love;
And will he, to heaven returning,
Faithless to his blessing prove?
O! they can not sing too early;
Fathers, stand not in their way!
Birds do sing while day is breaking--
Tell me, then, why should not they?