Соловей

           Therewasmuchquestioningaboutthisnightingale,whichwasknowntoalltheoutsideworld,buttonooneatcourt.Atlasttheyfoundapoorlittlemaidinthekitchen.Shesaid,’Ohheavens,thenightingale?Iknowitverywell.Yes,indeeditcansing.EveryeveningIamallowedtotakebrokenmeattomypoorsickmother:shelivesdownbytheshore.Onmywayback,whenIamtired,Irestawhileinthewood,andthenIhearthenightingale.Itssongbringsthetearsintomyeyes;Ifeelasifmymotherwerekissingme!’’Littlekitchen-maid,’saidthegentleman-in-waiting,’Iwillprocureyouapermanentpositioninthekitchen,andpermissiontoseetheemperordining,ifyouwilltakeustothenightingale.Itiscommandedtoappearatcourtto-night.’Thentheyallwentoutintothewoodwherethenightingaleusuallysang.Halfthecourtwasthere.Astheyweregoingalongattheirbestpaceacowbegantobellow.’Oh!’saidayoungcourtier,’therewehaveit.Whatwonderfulpowerforsuchalittlecreature;Ihavecertainlyhearditbefore.’’No,thosearethecowsbellowing;wearealongwayyetfromtheplace.’Thenthefrogsbegantocroakinthemarsh.’Beautiful!’saidtheChinesechaplain,’itisjustlikethetinklingofchurchbells.’’No,thosearethefrogs!’saidthelittlekitchen-maid.’ButIthinkweshallsoonhearitnow!’Thenthenightingalebegantosing.’Thereitis!’saidthelittlegirl.’Listen,listen,thereitsits!’andshepointedtoalittlegreybirdupamongthebranches.’Isitpossible?’saidthegentleman-in-waiting.