Long ago in China there lived an emperor who owned many, many beautiful things. He Had the most beautiful garden, the most beautiful ships and much more. One day he heard his servants talking about a bird that sang the most beautiful song. The emperor knew he had to have the bird with the beautiful sond and sent his servants to bring the bird to him.

The emperor was surprised to see such a plain little bird. Hearing the Nightingale's delighful voice brought tears to the emperor's eer. The Nighteingale

was now to remain at court, have her own cage and be taken out twice daily for exercies held by a silken string fastened to her leg. The Nightingale did not at all enjoy being caged.

One day the emperor received a gift from the emperor of Japan. It was a mechanical gold and silver nightengale coverd with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and other precious stones. When wound it sand a lovely song and never tired of doing so. The living nightingale quietyl flew to freedom unnoticed.

For a year the mechanical nightingale sang to the emperor until one evening it whizzed and cracked and sang no more. The royal physician and royal music-maker were called to repair him, but nothing could be done.

Missing the song of the mechanical bird the emperor fell ill and all thought he would surely die. Suddenly there came through the open window the sound of sweet music. The living nigheingale had heard of the emperor's illness and came to sing to him of hope.

Soon the emperor began to recover. He promised the nightingale anything she wanted if she would stay with him. Not wanting to be caged again the nightingale promised to come to the emperor's beautiful garden each evening and sing to him. So saying the nightingale flew away but kept her promise and returned each evening to sing her delightful song to the emperor.