Part 24 (2/2)

And thus a whole year passed away The Ele in the artificial bird's song, and just for this reason, they were all the better pleased with it

They could sing it the ”Iodizing,” and, ”cluck, cluck,” and even the E it Yes, it was certainly beautiful!

But one evening, while the bird was singing, and the E sound inside the bird, and so whizzed; all the wheels ran round, and theout of bed and sent for the Court Physician, but what could he do? Then they sent for the watch-maker, and after much talk and examination, he patched the bird up, but he said it must be spared as much as possible, because the hammers were so worn out--and he could not put new ones in so that the rief The bird could only be allowed to sing once a year, and even that was risky, but on these occasions, the band-master wouldthe bird was just as good as ever--and that was true

Five years passed away, and a great sorrow had come to the country

The people all really cared for their Emperor, and noas ill and it was said he could not live A new Emperor had been chosen, and the people stood about the streets, and questioned the Lord-in-Waiting about their Emperor's condition

”P!” he said, and shook his head

The Eeous bed; the whole Court believed that he was dead, and they all hastened to pay hoe to the new Emperor The footave a great coffee-party Cloth had been laid down in all the rooes, so that not even a footstep should be heard and it was all so very quiet But the Emperor was not yet dead

He lay stiff and pale in the suold tassels; high above was an open , and the moon shone in upon the Emperor and the artificial bird The poor Emperor could hardly breathe; he felt as if so on his chest; he opened his eyes and saw that it was Death sitting on his chest, wearing his golden crown, holding in one hand his golden sword, and in the other his splendid banner And froe faces peered forth; some terrible to look on, others ood and bad deeds, which gazed upon him now that Death sat upon his heart

”Do you remember this?” whispered one after the other ”Do you remember that?” They told him so much that the sweat poured down his face

”I never knew that,” said the Ereat Chinese drum!” he called out, ”so that I !”

But they kept on, and Death nodded his head, like a China they said

”Music, olden bird!

Sing to old and costly treasure

I have hungto me!”

But the bird was silent; there was no one to wind hi at the Ereat hollow eyes, and it was terribly still

Then suddenly, close to the , ca

It was the little live Nightingale perched on a branch outside It had heard of its E hi, the faces becah the Emperor's veins Even Death hiale Go on”

”Yes, if you will give ive ive ave back all these treasures for a song And still the Nightingale sang on He sang of the quiet churchyard, where the white roses grohere the elder flowers bloorass is kept moist by the tears of those left behind, and there caarden, that he floated out of the , like a could white mist

”Thank you, thank you,” said the Emperor ”You heavenly little bird, I know you well! I banished you from the land, and you have charmed away the evil spirits from my bed and you have driven Death from my heart How shall I reward you?”

”You have rewarded ht tears to your eyes the first tiet that Those are the jehich touched the heart of the singer; but sleep now, that youagain, and the Emperor fell into a sweet sleep