The Nightingale (4)

The Nightingale (4)

  " But the book in which I read this, " said the Emperor, " is sent me by His Great Majesty the Emperor of Japan ; so it cannot be untrue, and I will hear the Nightingale ! She must be here this evening !
  She has my gracious permission to appear, and if she does not, the whole Court shall be tramped under foot after supper ! "

  The First Lord ran up and down stairs, through the halls and corriders, and half the Court ran with him, for they did not want to be tramped under foot.

  Everyone was asking after the wonderful Nightingale which all the world knew of, except those at Court.

  At last they met a poor little girl in the kitchen, who said to them, " Oh ! I know the Nightingale well. I have permission to carry the scraps from the Court meals to my poor sick mother, and when I am going home at night, tired and weary, then I hear the Nightingale singing ! It brings teras to my eyes, and I feel as if my mother were kissing me ! "

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