FOR THE CHILDREN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2556, 17 July 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

FOR THE CHILDREN.

i ~ *' THE EMPEROR’S NIGHTINGALE. The palace of the Emperor of China was the most magnificent in the world. It was made entirely of fine porcelain, exceedingly costly, but at the same time so brittle that it was dangerous even to touch it. The emperox , ’s garden extended so far that even the gardener did not know the end of it. Whoever walked beyond it, however, came to a beautiful wood with very >gh trees, and beyond that to a lake. The wood went down quite to the lake, which was very deep and blue; ami among the branches dwelt a nightingale, who sang so sweetly that even the poor fisherman, who' had so much else to do when he came out at night time to cast his nets, would stand sj;ill and listen to her song. Travellers came from all parts of the world to the Emperor’s city; and they admired the city, the palace, and the garden; but if they heard the nightingale, they said: “This is best of all.” And they talked about her after they went hopie, and learned men wrote most beautiful verses about the nightingale of the wood near, the lake. These books went round the world; and one of them’ at last reached the Emperor. “What in the world is this2” said he. “The nightingale! I do not know it! Can there be. such a bird in my garden without my having heard of it?” Bo he called his gentleman usher. Now this was so grand a personage that no one of inferior rank might .speak to him; and if one did Venture to ask him a question, .bis only answer was “Pish!” “There is said to be a very remarkable bird here, called the nightingale,” said the Emperor.* “Her song, they say, is worth more than anything else in all my dominions. Why has no one ever told me of her?” “I have never before "heard her mentioned,” said the gentleman usher. “She has never been presented at court.”

“I wish her to come and sing before me this evening,” said the Emperor. “The whole world knows what I have, and I do not know it myself!” “I have never before heard her mentioned,” said the gentleman usher, “hut I will seek her.” But where was she to be found? The gentleman usher ran up one flight of steps, down another, through halls, and through passages; not one of all whom he met had ever heard of the nightingale, and the gentleman usher returned to the Emperor and said: ,“It must certainly he an inTention of the man who wrote the book."” •

“But the book in which I have read it,” returned the Emperor, “was sent me by the high and mighty Emperor of Japan, and therefore It cannot be untrue. I wish to hear the nightingale: she must be here this evening, and if she does not come, the whole Court shall be flogged.” “Tsing-pe!” exclaimed the gentleman usher, and again he ran upstairs and downstairs, through halls and through -passages, and half the Court ran with him; for not one would have relished, the flogging. At last they met- a poor little girl in the kitchen who said: “Oh, yes. I know her very well!” •'.Little kitchen maiden,” said the gentleman usher, “I will procure for you a sure appointment in the kitchen

njou will conduct u s to the nighty So they went together to the where the nightingale used to sin* In If the court went with them 4 ” amt On and on they went till they the wood, and the little girl stopped h? fore a tree- “ There die is!” said she. “List™, listen! There she sits!” And S }J pointed to a little grey bird up i n the' branches. “How simple she looks!” sa id the' gentleman usher. “Little nightingale!” called out the kitchen-maid; and she sang in such a manner that it was delightful to hear her. . “Most excellent nightingale!” sa i<j the gentleman usher, “I have the honor to invite you to a court festival which is to take place this evening, wljJffluhU Imperial Majesty will doubtless be enchanted with your delightful song.” “My song would sound far better among the green trees,” said the nightingale. However, she followed willingly°when she heard that the Emperor wished it. There was a general cleaning anck polishing at the palace; the walls and the floors, which were all of porcelain, glittered with a thousand gold lamps; the loveliest flowers, with the merriest tinkling bells, were placed in the passages ; there was a running to and fro, which made all the bells to ring, so that, one could not hear one’s own words. In the midst of the grand hall where* the Emperor sat, a golden .perch was erected, on which the nightingale was to sit. The whole Court was present, and the little kitchen-maid received permission to stand behind the door, for she bad now actually the rank and title of “Maid or the ’Kitchen.” All were dressed cut in their finest clothes; and all eyes were fixed upon the little grey bird, to whom the Emperor nodded. as a signal for her to begin. The nightingale sang so sweetly that she touched the hearts of all who heard her and the Emperor was so delighted that,he said: “The nightingale shall have mv golden .slippers and wear them round ‘her neck.” But the nightingale said: __ a I have seen tears in the Emneror's eyes. That is the greatest reward I can liave.” ... , , Yes, indeed, the nightmga.es success was complete. She was now to remain at court, and to have her own cage, and all the city was talking of the wonderful bird. (To be Concluded next Saturday.)