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A long； long time ago； as long ago as when there were fairies； there
lived an emperor in China； who had a most beautiful palace； all made of
crystal。 Outside the palace was the loveliest garden in the whole world；
and farther away was a forest where the trees were taller than any other
trees in the world； and farther away； still； was a deep wood。 And in this
wood lived a little Nightingale。 The Nightingale sang so beautifully that
everybody who heard her remembered her song better than anything else
that he heard or saw。 People came from all over the world to see the
crystal palace and the wonderful garden and the great forest； but when
they went home and wrote books about these things they always wrote；
〃But the Nightingale is the best of all。〃
At last it happened that the Emperor came upon a book which said this；
and he at once sent for his Chamberlain。
〃Who is this Nightingale？〃 said the Emperor。 〃Why have I never heard
him sing？〃
The Chamberlain； who was a very important person； said； 〃There
cannot be any such person； I have never heard his name。〃
〃The book says there is a Nightingale；〃 said the Emperor。 〃I command
that the Nightingale be brought here to sing for me this evening。〃
The Chamberlain went out and asked all the great lords and ladies and
pages where the Nightingale could be found； but not one of them had ever
heard of him。 So the Chamberlain went back to the Emperor and said；
〃There is no such person。〃
〃The book says there is a Nightingale；〃 said the Emperor； 〃if the
Nightingale is not here to sing for me this evening I will have the court
trampled upon； immediately after supper。〃
The Chamberlain did not want to be trampled upon； so he ran out and
asked everybody in the palace about the Nightingale。 At last； a little girl
who worked in the kitchen to help the cook's helper； said； 〃Oh； yes； I know
the Nightingale very well。 Every night； when I go to carry scraps from the
kitchen to my mother； who lives in the wood beyond the forest； I hear the
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Nightingale sing。〃
The Chamberlain asked the little cook… maid to take him to the
Nightingale's home； and many of the lords and ladies followed after。 When
they had gone a little way； they heard a cow moo。
〃Ah！〃 said the lords and ladies； 〃that must be the Nightingale； what a
large voice for so small a creature！〃
〃Oh； no；〃 said the little girl； 〃that is just a cow； mooing。〃
A little farther on they heard some bull… frogs； in a swamp。 〃Surely
that is the Nightingale；〃 said the courtiers； 〃it really sounds like church…
bells！〃
〃Oh； no；〃 said the little girl； 〃those are bullfrogs； croaking。〃
At last they came to the wood where the Nightingale was。 〃Hush！〃
said the little girl； 〃she is going to sing。〃 And； sure enough； the little
Nightingale began to sing。 She sang so beautifully that you have never in
all your life heard anything like it。
〃Dear； dear；〃 said the courtiers； 〃that is very pleasant； does that little
gray bird really make all that noise？ She is so pale that I think she has lost
her color for fear of us。〃
The Chamberlain asked the little Nightingale to come and sing for the
Emperor。 The little Nightingale said she could sing better in her own
greenwood； but she was so sweet and kind that she came with them。
That evening the palace was all trimmed with the most beautiful
flowers you can imagine； and rows and rows of little silver bells； that
tinkled when the wind blew in； and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds
of wax candles； that shone like tiny stars。 In the great hall there was a gold
perch for the Nightingale； beside the Emperor's throne。
When all the people were there； the Emperor asked the Nightingale to
sing。 Then the little gray Nightingale filled her throat full； and sang。 And；
my dears； she sang so beautifully that the Emperor's eyes filled up with
tears！ And； you know； emperors do not cry at all easily。 So he asked her to
sing again； and this time she sang so marvelously that the tears came out
of his eyes and ran down his cheeks。 That was a great success。 They asked
the little Nightingale to sing； over and over again； and when they had
listened enough the Emperor said that she should be made 〃Singer in
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Chief to the Court。〃 She was to have a golden perch near the Emperor's
bed； and a little gold cage； and was to be allowed to go out twice every
day。 But there were twelve servants appointed to wait on her； and those
twelve servants went with her every time she went out； and each of the
twelve had hold of the end of a silken string which was tied to the little
Nightingale's leg！ It was not so very much fun to go out that way！
For a long； long time the Nightingale sang every evening to the
Emperor and his court； and they liked her so much that the ladies all tried
to sound like her； they used to put water in their mouths and then make
little sounds like this： glu…glu…glug。 And when the courtiers met each other
in the halls； one would say 〃Night；〃 and the other would say 〃ingale；〃 and
that was conversation。
At last； one day； there came a little package to the Emperor； on the
outside of which was written； 〃The Nightingale。〃 Inside was an artificial
bird； something like a Nightingale； only it was made of gold； and silver；
and rubies； and emeralds； and diamonds。 When it was wound up it played
a waltz tune； and as it played it moved its little tail up and down。
Everybody in the court was filled with delight at the music of the new
nightingale。 They made it sing that same tune thirty…three times； and still
they had not had enough。 They would have made it sing the tune thirty…
four times； but the Emperor said； 〃I should like to hear the real
Nightingale sing； now。〃
But when they looked about for the real little Nightingale； they could
not find her anywhere！ She had taken the chance； while everybody was
listening to the waltz tunes； to fly away through the window to her own
greenwood。
〃What a very ungrateful bird！〃 said the lords a