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"No, those are frogs," said the little every eye was turned to the little gray bird
maiden; "but I think we shall soon hear her when the emperor nodded to her to begin.
now:" and presently the nightingale began The nightingale sang so sweetly that the
to sing. tears came into the emperor's eyes, and
"Hark, hark! There she is," said the girl, then rolled down his cheeks, as her song
"and there she sits," she added, pointing to became still more touching and went to
a little gray bird who was perched on a every one's heart. The emperor was so
bough. delighted that he declared the nightingale
"Is it possible?" said the lord-in-waiting, should have his gold slipper to wear round
"I never imagined it would be a little, plain, her neck, but she declined the honor with
simple thing like that. She has certainly thanks: she had been sufficiently rewarded
changed color at seeing so many grand already. "I have seen tears in an emperor's
people around her." eyes," she said, "that is my richest reward.
"Little nightingale," cried the girl, An emperor's tears have wonderful power,
raising her voice, "our most gracious and are quite sufficient honor for me;" and
emperor wishes you to sing before him." then she sang again more enchantingly
"With the greatest pleasure," said the than ever.
nightingale, and began to sing most “That singing is a lovely gift;" said the
delightfully. ladies of the court to each other; and then
"It sounds like tiny glass bells," said the they took water in their mouths to make
lord-in-waiting, "and see how her little them utter the gurgling sounds of the
throat works. It is surprising that we have nightingale when they spoke to any one, so
never heard this before; she will be a great that they might fancy themselves
success at court." nightingales. And the footmen and
"Shall I sing once more before the chambermaids also expressed their
emperor?" asked the nightingale, who satisfaction, which is saying a great deal,
thought he was present. for they are very difficult to please. In fact
"My excellent little nightingale," said the the nightingale's visit was most successful.
courtier, "I have the great pleasure of She was now to remain at court, to have her
inviting you to a court festival this evening, own cage, with liberty to go out twice a day,
where you will gain imperial favor by your and once during the night. Twelve servants
charming song." were appointed to attend her on these
"My song sounds best in the green occasions, who each held her by a silken
wood," said the bird; but still she came string fastened to her leg. There was
willingly when she heard the emperor's certainly not much pleasure in this kind of
wish. flying.
The palace was elegantly decorated for The whole city spoke of the wonderful
the occasion. The walls and floors of bird, and when two people met, one said
porcelain glittered in the light of a thousand "nightin," and the other said "gale," and
lamps. Beautiful flowers, round which little they understood what was meant, for
bells were tied, stood in the corridors: what nothing else was talked of. Eleven peddlers'
with the running to and fro and the children were named after her, but not of
draught, these bells tinkled so loudly that them could sing a note.
no one could speak to be heard. In the One day the emperor received a large
centre of the great hall, a golden perch had packet on which was written "The
been fixed for the nightingale to sit on. The Nightingale." "Here is no doubt a new book
whole court was present, and the little about our celebrated bird," said the
kitchen-maid had received permission to emperor. But instead of a book, it was a
stand by the door. She was not installed as work of art contained in a casket, an
a real court cook. All were in full dress, and artificial nightingale made to look like a
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