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ght that the roses reigned here； and that the house hadbeen built for their sake。 That appeared to them to be really toomuch； but since all the people showed their love for the roses； theydid not wish to be behindhand。 〃Peep！〃 they said sweeping the groundwith their tails； and blinking with one eye at the roses； they had notlooked at them long before they were convinced that they were theirold neighbours。 And so they really were。 The painter who had drawn therose…bush near the ruined house； had afterwards obtained permission todig it up； and had given it to the architect； for finer roses hadnever been seen。 The architect had planted it upon Thorwaldsen'sgrave； where it bloomed as an emblem of 'the beautiful' and yieldedfragrant red rose…leaves to be carried as mementoes to distant lands。
〃Have you obtained an appointment here in the city？〃 asked thesparrows。 The roses nodded； they recognized their grey neighboursand were pleased to see them again。 〃How glorious it is to live and tobloom； to see old friends again； and happy faces every day。 It is asif every day were a festival。〃 〃Peep！〃 said the sparrows。 〃Yes； theyare really our old neighbours； we remember their origin near the pond。Peep！ how they have got on。 Yes； some succeed while they are asleep。Ah！ there's a faded leaf； I can see that quite plainly。〃 And theypecked at it till it fell off。 But the tree stood there fresher andgreener than ever； the roses bloomed in the sunshine onThorwaldsen's grave and became associated with his immortal name。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE NIGHTINGALE
by Hans Christian Andersen
IN China； you know； the emperor is a Chinese； and all thoseabout him are Chinamen also。 The story I am going to tell you happeneda great many years ago； so it is well to hear it now before it isforgotten。 The emperor's palace was the most beautiful in the world。It was built entirely of porcelain； and very costly； but so delicateand brittle that whoever touched it was obliged to be careful。 Inthe garden could be seen the most singular flowers； with pretty silverbells tied to them； which tinkled so that every one who passed couldnot help noticing the flowers。 Indeed； everything in the emperor'sgarden was remarkable； and it extended so far that the gardenerhimself did not know where it ended。 Those who travelled beyond itslimits knew that there was a noble forest； with lofty trees； slopingdown to the deep blue sea； and the great ships sailed under the shadowof its branches。 In one of these trees lived a nightingale； who sangso beautifully that even the poor fishermen； who had so many otherthings to do； would stop and listen。 Sometimes； when they went atnight to spread their s； they would hear her sing； and say； 〃Oh； isnot that beautiful？〃 But when they returned to their fishing； theyforgot the bird until the next night。 Then they would hear it again；and exclaim 〃Oh； how beautiful is the nightingale's song！〃
Travellers from every country in the world came to the city of theemperor； which they admired very much； as well as the palace andgardens； but when they heard the nightingale； they all declared itto be the best of all。 And the travellers； on their return home；related what they had seen； and learned men wrote books； containingdescriptions of the town； the palace； and the gardens； but they didnot forget the nightingale； which was really the greatest wonder。And those who could write poetry posed beautiful verses about thenightingale； who lived in a forest near the deep sea。 The bookstravelled all over the world； and some of them came into the handsof the emperor； and he sat in his golden chair； and； as he read； henodded his approval every moment； for it pleased him to find such abeautiful description of his city； his palace； and his gardens。 Butwhen he came to the words； 〃the nightingale is the most beautiful ofall；〃 he exclaimed； 〃What is this？ I know nothing of anynightingale。 Is there such a bird in my empire？ and even in my garden？I have never heard of it。 Something； it appears； may be learnt frombooks。〃
Then he called one of his lords…in…waiting； who was sohigh…bred； that when any in an inferior rank to himself spoke tohim； or asked him a question； he would answer； 〃Pooh；〃 which meansnothing。
〃There is a very wonderful bird mentioned here； called anightingale；〃 said the emperor； 〃they say it is the best thing in mylarge kingdom。 Why have I not been told of it？〃
〃I have never heard the name；〃 replied the cavalier； 〃she hasnot been presented at court。〃
〃It is my pleasure that she shall appear this evening。〃 said theemperor； the whole world knows what I possess better than I domyself。〃
〃I have never heard of her；〃 said the cavalier； 〃yet I willendeavor to find her。〃
But where was the nightingale to be found？ The nobleman went upstairs and down； through halls and passages； yet none of those whom hemet had heard of the bird。 So he returned to the emperor； and saidthat it must be a fable； invented by those who had written the book。〃Your imperial majesty；〃 said he； 〃cannot believe everything containedin books； sometimes they are only fiction； or what is called the blackart。〃
〃But the book in which I have read this account；〃 said theemperor； 〃was sent to me by the great and mighty emperor of Japan； andtherefore it cannot contain a falsehood。 I will hear thenightingale； she must be here this evening； she has my highestfavor； and if she does not e； the whole court shall be trampledupon after supper is ended。〃
〃Tsing…pe！〃 cried the lord…in…waiting； and again he ran up anddown stairs； through all the halls and corridors； and half the courtran with him； for they did not like the idea of being trampled upon。There was a great inquiry about this wonderful nightingale； whom allthe world knew； but who was unknown to the court。
At last they met with a poor little girl in the kitchen； who said；〃Oh； yes； I know the nightingale quite well； indeed； she can sing。Every evening I have permission to take home to my poor sick motherthe scraps from the table； she lives down by the sea…shore； and as Ie back I feel tired； and I sit down in the wood to rest； and listento the nightingale's song。 Then the tears e into my eyes； and it isjust as if my mother kissed me。〃
〃Little maiden；〃 said the lord…in…waiting； 〃I will obtain foryou constant employment in the kitchen； and you shall havepermission to see the emperor dine； if you will lead us to thenightingale； for she is invited for this evening to the palace。〃 Soshe went into the wood where the nightingale sang； and half thecourt followed her。 As they went along； a cow began lowing。
〃Oh；〃 said a young courtier； 〃now we have found her； whatwonderful power for such a small creature； I have certainly heard itbefore。〃
〃No； that is only a cow lowing；〃 said the little girl； 〃we are along way from the place yet。〃
Then some frogs began to croak in the marsh。
〃Beautiful；〃 said the young courtier again。 〃Now I hear it；tinkling like little church bells。〃
〃No； those are frogs；〃 said the little maiden； 〃but I think weshall soon hear her now：〃 and presently the nightingale began to sing。
〃Hark； hark！ there she is；〃 said the girl； 〃and there she sits；〃she added； pointing to a little gray bird who was perched on a bough。
〃Is it possible？〃 said the lord…in…waiting； 〃I never imagined itwould be a little； plain； simple thing like that。 She has certainlychanged color at seeing so many grand people around her。〃
〃Little nightingale；〃 cried the girl； raising her voice； 〃our mostgracious emperor wishes you to sing before him。〃
〃With the greatest pleasure；〃 said the nightingale； and began tosing most delightfully。
〃It sounds like tiny glass bells；〃 said the lord…in…waiting；〃and see how her little throat works。 It is surprising that we havenever heard this before； she will be a great success at court。〃
〃Shall I sing once more before the emperor？〃 asked thenightingale； who thought he was present。
〃My excellent little nightingale；〃 said the courtier； 〃I havethe great pleasure of inviting you to a court festival this evening；where you will gain imperial favor by your charming song。〃
〃My song sounds best in the green wood；〃 said the bird； butstill she came willi