FOR THE CHILDREN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17568, 19 June 1925, Page 11

FOR THE CHILDREN.

TH E NIGHTINGALE. A long time ago there lived in a foreign country a very rich emperor who had everything he desired. His palnco was made of white marble, and bis garden was like fairyland. At the end of tbe gardem there was a little wood where all Kinds of beautiful wild flowers and plants grew. In ihe trees of this little wood lived lots of birds, but there was one bird which sang more sweetly than the rest. This was the nightingale. People came from great distances to hear it. At Inst tho emperor heard about the nightingale, and. calling a courtier, he ordered that the bird should he brought, to the court to sing for him. The courtier told tho emperor that he did not know* whero the nightingale lived, but that did not satisfy his master, who commanded that all the servants should seek tho wonderful singer. Up and down the stairs, in and out the doors, tho servants searched for the nightingale, till at last one little servant girl said that she knew where io find the wonderful bird. Quickly she led the eager crowd of. servants through the pretty gardens down to the wood at tho bottom. “Listen !” she said, as they all stood silently under a tree; while tho little servant girl pointed, to a small grey bird high up in the tree. M hat a beautiful song i*. snug! After it had finished the little servant girl told the nightingale what had happened, and begged it to go to the palace. 1. will certainly obey the emperor’s wish,’’ said the nightingale. That night there were great rejoicings at tho palace, and in the centre ol the Throne Room sat tho nightingale on a golden perch. The emperor was so pleased with the nightingale's lovely voice that he had a golden cage made for it, so that it could live in tho palace and sing to the emperor whenever it liked. One day soon afterwards a- parcel oamo for tho emperor, and what do you think was inside it!*' Another nightingale! Only this one was a toy. Instead of feathers it was covered with jewels, and when you turned a key it sang some beautiful tunes. The emperor said that the, two birds should sing together to see which had the most beautiful voice; but when he turned to tho golden cage the real nightingale was Jiofc there—it had flown away! But tho toy bird had almost as good a voice, and, besides, it had a more beautiful body, and i r never got tired. So for time the emperor was content. For a whole year the toy bird sang the emperor to sleep every night, until ho knew the song by heart. One night tho bird ceased to sing, anfl tho emperor sent far and wide for someone to come and mend the bird. But no one could mend it, and so it was put in its .rage, and there it sat and never moved. One day the emperor fell ill, and ho bogged liis servants to bring him a bird that would sing him to sleep. But not ono could be found. That night, ns he Jay in bed very ill, he asked his servants to open the window so that ho could ‘look out on tho moon and Ins wonderful gardens. Jn the distance could be* heard the sweet song of tho nigbtingalo singing in the wood. The emperor was so happy when he heard tho song that after a- timo he fell fast asleep, and wheu he awoke bo was refreshed and cheered. Tie was so pleased tjiat ho offered to give the nigh tingalo auy things that it I wished if only it would stay in tlie palace. “ T must bo free.” said tho ni ghtingnle, “ but in tho evening I will com© and sing to you, and cheer you, and make you happy.” How happy tho emperor was once more, as ho lay in bed, to hear the voice of tbo nightingale' singing him to sleep ! And how' happy was tho nightingale- at not being shut up in a cage, although it was a golden one. ( Adapted from Hans Andersen’s Fairy Talcs.) A THORNY SUBJECT. 4 A little bird—a friend of mine— Is building in a tree. I heard him argue with his wife Just where the. site should be. She wanted it upon the branch That swings and sways about, lie chirped and twittered “ Foolish one, The eggs would all fall cut ! "Tt’s very nice to sway and swing When one is-young and giddy. But when you 1 plan a house to build You daren't be waddy-wirldy.’’ “Then here,” said she, “this garden wall Is broad and safe and fiat.” “Tut! tut!” said he. “Have you not heard About that burglar-cat?’’ “Tweet-tweet. ■ ” she answered; then they flew Right up into a thorn. And there, among its ivied trunk, They set to work this morn. I know, because he came and perched Upon my window-sill. With tinq little strands of hav Held firmly in his bill. And she was picking bits of moss From off an apple tree. But, ah! I give the game away! You’ll know what birds these be. I should not give my friends away, For thieves there are, I know. Who think it public property A robin’s bungalow. But this pair live on friendly land And foes must deal with me. I’ll broacast all their names about, Who rob mv robins’ tree. LEW. THE LEGEND OF NARCISSUS. A long time ago there lived a youth named Narcissus, who loved no one but himself. One day a god named Nemesis was so angry with Narcissus that iic led him to a lake which was surrounded bv ferns and mosses. Narcissus looked into the deep clear water, and when he saw his reflection he grew more conceited than ever, for he was a beautiful youth. So vain was he that he fell in Jove with his own reflection. and, ir. leaning nearer to the . water in order to see himself better, no fell into the iake and was drowned. When some, fair nymphs came to the i a beautiful yellow and white flower, lake to mourn his loss they saw only with a sweet scent, growing on the ua nk. "This must be Narcissus! ” they i ried: and jf?o we have calk'd that flower of spring Narcissus ever since. ’ RIDDLES. I Why i.i an aged invalid like a naii i driven in well?--Because he is infirm. Which letter is the most useful to a < leaf old woman? A. because it makes her ” " hear." Why is the letter A like nine inches? Because it. is the fourth part.of a ' aid. If a king kiss a queen and a queen -.i:-s a king, what public building in London will it represent?—The Royal Exchange. \