“Hark!” cried the little girl. “Listen!” and pointing to a little bird sitting up in the branches, said, “There she is.”
“It doesn’t seem possible that so very common looking a bird as that can sing,” said the First Lord. “It must be that she has lost her brilliant plumage because there are so many distinguished people here.”
Then the little kitchen maid called out, “Little Nightingale, our gracious Emperor invites you to sing before him this evening!”
“It will give me great pleasure to do so,” said the Nightingale; and then she began to sing so gloriously that they were all entranced. The First Lord said, “I have never heard anything so beautiful before. His Majesty will be delighted.”
The Nightingale, thinking the First Lord was the Emperor, said, “Shall I sing again for your Majesty?”
“My dear little bird,” said the First Lord, “His Most Gracious Highness has sent me to invite you to his palace this evening so that he may listen to your charming song.”
“It’s much better out here in the forest,” replied the Nightingale, but when she heard that the Emperor wished her to go to the palace, she gladly offered to go with them.
At the palace everything was splendidly prepared. The many lights made the porcelain walls and floors glitter, and the gorgeous tinkling flowers helped to make the place look very beautiful. The people moving back and forth caused the little golden bells to tinkle all the time. In the center of the great hall, in which was the Emperor’s throne, was a golden perch, put there for the Nightingale. The whole court was present, and the little kitchen maid, who had shown the First Lord where the bird could be found, was allowed to stand behind the door where she could see and hear everything. All were dressed in their best clothes and everyone looked toward the little bird, whom the Emperor requested to commence singing.
And how the Nightingale did sing! Very soon the tears came into the Emperor’s eyes and ran down his cheeks. At this the Nightingale sang even more beautifully, and the heart of everyone was touched. The Emperor was so delighted that he said she should wear the golden necklace around her neck, but the Nightingale said that she had already received a sufficient reward, for she had brought tears to the eyes of the Emperor.
Even the servants, who were always most difficult to please, said that they were greatly touched. This in itself proved how successful was the Nightingale’s concert.