ll the
bells rang so exactly together that one could not hear any noise.

In the midst of the great hall, where the Emperor sat, a golden perch
had been placed, on which the Nightingale was to sit. The whole court
was there, and the little Cook-maid had leave to stand behind the door,
as she had now received the title of a real cook-maid. All were in full
dress, and all looked at the little gray bird, to which the
Emperor nodded.

And the Nightingale sang so gloriously that the tears came into the
Emperor's eyes, and the tears ran down over his cheeks; and then the
Nightingale sang still more sweetly; that went straight to the heart.
The Emperor was happy, and he said the Nightingale should have his
golden slipper to wear round its neck. But the Nightingale thanked him,
it had already got reward enough.

"I have seen tears in the Emperor's eyes--that is the real treasure to
me. An Emperor's tears have a strange power. I am paid enough!" Then it
sang again with a sweet, glorious voice.

"That's the most lovely way of making love I ever saw!" said the ladies
who stood round about, and then they took water in their mouths to
gurgle when any one spoke to them. They thought they should be
nightingales too. And the lackeys and maids let it be known that they
were pleased too; and that was saying a good deal, for they are the
hardest of all to please. In short, the Nightingale made a real hit.

It was now to remain at court, to have its own cage, with freedom to go
out twice every day and once at night. It had twelve servants, and they
all had a silken string tied to the bird's leg which they held very
tight. There was really no pleasure in going out.

The whole city spoke of the wonderful bird, and when two people met, one
said nothing but "Nightin," and the other said "gale"; and then they
sighed, and understood one another. Eleven storekeepers' children were
named after the bird, but not one of them could sing a note.

II--THE TOY NIGHTINGALE

One day a large parcel came to the Emperor, on which was written "The
Nightingale."

"Here we have a new book about this famous bird," said the Emperor.

But it was not a book: it was a little work of art, that lay in a box; a
toy nightingale, which was to sing like a live one, but it was all
covered with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. So soon as the toy bird
was wound up, he could sing one of the pieces that the real one sang,
and then his tail moved up and down