stories to tell to children(儿童故事)-第20章
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outside of which was written； 〃The Nightingale。〃 Inside was an artificial
bird； something like a Nightingale； only it was made of gold； and silver；
and rubies； and emeralds； and diamonds。 When it was wound up it played
a waltz tune； and as it played it moved its little tail up and down。
Everybody in the court was filled with delight at the music of the new
nightingale。 They made it sing that same tune thirty…three times； and still
they had not had enough。 They would have made it sing the tune thirty…
four times； but the Emperor said； 〃I should like to hear the real
Nightingale sing； now。〃
But when they looked about for the real little Nightingale； they could
not find her anywhere！ She had taken the chance； while everybody was
listening to the waltz tunes； to fly away through the window to her own
greenwood。
〃What a very ungrateful bird！〃 said the lords and ladies。 〃But it does
not matter； the new nightingale is just as good。〃
So the artificial nightingale was given the real Nightingale's little gold
perch； and every night the Emperor wound her up； and she sang waltz
tunes to him。 The people in the court liked her even better than the old
Nightingale； because they could all whistle her tunes；which you can't do
with real nightingales。
About a year after the artificial nightingale came； the Emperor was
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listening to her waltz…tune； when there was a SNAP and WHIR…R…R inside
the bird； and the music stopped。 The Emperor ran to his doctor but he
could not do anything。 Then he ran to his clock…maker； but he could not do
much。 Nobody could do much。 The best they could do was to patch the
gold nightingale up so that it could sing once a year； even that was almost
too much； and the tune was pretty shaky。 Still； the Emperor kept the gold
nightingale on the perch in his own room。
A long time went by； and then； at last； the Emperor grew very ill； and
was about to die。 When it was sure that he could not live much longer； the
people chose a new emperor and waited for the old one to die。 The poor
Emperor lay； quite cold and pale； in his great big bed； with velvet curtains；
and tall candlesticks all about。 He was quite alone； for all the courtiers had
gone to congratulate the new emperor； and all the servants had gone to talk
it over。
When the Emperor woke up； he felt a terrible weight on his chest。 He
opened his eyes； and there was Death； sitting on his heart。 Death had put
on the Emperor's gold crown； and he had the gold sceptre in one hand； and
the silken banner in the other； and he looked at the Emperor with his great
hollow eyes。 The room was full of shadows； and the shadows were full of
faces。 Everywhere the Emperor looked； there were faces。 Some were very；
very ugly； and some were sweet and lovely； they were all the things the
Emperor had done in his life； good and bad。 And as he looked at them they
began to whisper。 They whispered； 〃DO YOU REMEMBER THIS？〃 〃DO
YOU REMEMBER THAT？〃 The Emperor remembered so much that he
cried out loud； 〃Oh； bring the great drum！ Make music； so that I may not
hear these dreadful whispers！〃 But there was nobody there to bring the
drum。
Then the Emperor cried； 〃You little gold nightingale； can you not sing
something for me？ I have given you gifts of gold and jewels； and kept you
always by my side； will you not help me now？〃 But there was nobody to
wind the little gold nightingale up； and of course it could not sing。
The Emperor's heart grew colder and colder where Death crouched
upon it； and the dreadful whispers grew louder and louder； and the
Emperor's life was almost gone。 Suddenly； through the open window； there
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came a most lovely song。 It was so sweet and so loud that the whispers
died quite away。 Presently the Emperor felt his heart grow warm； then he
felt the blood flow through his limbs again； he listened to the song until
the tears ran down his cheeks； he knew that it was the little real
Nightingale who had flown away from him when the gold nightingale
came。
Death was listening to the song； too； and when it was done and the
Emperor begged for more； Death； too； said； 〃Please sing again； little
Nightingale！〃
〃Will you give me the Emperor's gold crown for a song？〃 said the little
Nightingale。
〃Yes；〃 said Death； and the little Nightingale bought the Emperor's
crown for a song。
〃Oh； sing again； little Nightingale；〃 begged Death。
〃Will you give me the Emperor's sceptre for another song？〃 said the
little gray Nightingale。
〃Yes；〃 said Death； and the little Nightingale bought the Emperor's
sceptre for another song。
Once more Death begged for a song； and this time the little
Nightingale got the banner for her singing。 Then she sang one more song；
so sweet and so sad that it made Death think of his garden in the
churchyard； where he always liked best to be。 And he rose from the
Emperor's heart and floated away through the window。
When Death was gone； the Emperor said to the little Nightingale； 〃Oh；
dear little Nightingale； you have saved me from Death！ Do not leave me
again。 Stay with me on this little gold perch； and sing to me always！〃
〃No； dear Emperor；〃 said the little Nightingale； 〃I sing best when I
am free； I cannot live in a palace。 But every night when you are quite
alone； I will come and sit in the window and sing to you； and tell you
everything that goes on in your kingdom： I will tell you where the poor
people are who ought to be helped； and where the wicked people are who
ought to be punished。 Only； dear Emperor； be sure that you never let
anybody know that you have a little bird who tells you everything。〃
After the little Nightingale had flown away； the Emperor felt so well
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and strong that he dressed himself in his royal robes and took his gold
sceptre in his hand。 And when the courtiers came in to see if he were dead；
there stood the Emperor with his sword in one hand and his sceptre in the
other； and said； 〃Good…morning！〃
MARGERY'S GARDEN＇1＇
＇1＇ I have always been inclined to avoid； in my work among children；
the 〃how to make〃 and 〃how to do〃 kind of story； it is too likely to
trespass on the ground belonging by right to its more artistic and less
intentional kinsfolk。 Nevertheless； there is a legitimate place for the
instruction…story。 Within its own limits； and especially in a school use； it
has a real purpose to serve； and a real desire to meet。 Children have a
genuine taste for such morsels of practical information； if the bites aren't
made too big and too solid。 And to the teacher of the first grades； from
whom so much is demanded in the way of practical instruction； I know
that these stories are a boon。 They must be chosen with care； and used
with discretion； but they need never be ignored。
I venture to give some little stories of this type； which I hope may be
of use in the schools where country life and country work is an unknown
experience to the children。
There was once a little girl named Margery； who had always lived in
the city。 The flat where her mother and father lived was at the top of a big
apartment…house； and you couldn't see a great deal from the windows；
except clothes…lines on other people's roofs。 Margery did not know much
about trees and flowers； but she loved them dearly； whenever it was a
pleasant Sunday she used to go with her mother and father to the park and
look at the lovely flower…beds。 They seemed always to be finished； though；
and Margery was always wishing she could see them grow。
One spring； when Margery was nine； her father's work changed so that
he could move into the country； and he took a little house a short distance
outside the town where his new position was。 Margery was delighted。 And
the very first thing she said； when her father told her about it； was； 〃Oh；
may I have a garden？ MAY I have a garden？〃
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Margery's mother was almost as eager for a garden as she was； and
Margery's father said he expected to live on their vegetables all the rest of
his life！ So it was soon agreed that the garden should be the first thing
attended to。
Behind the little house were apple trees； a plum tree； and two or three
pear trees； then came a stretch of rough grass； and then a stone wall； with a
gate leading into the pasture。 It was in the grassy land that the garden was
to be。 A big piece was to be used for corn and peas and beans； and a little
piece at the end was to be saved for Margery。
〃What shall we have in it？〃 asked her mother。
〃Flowers；〃 said Margery； with shining eyes；〃blue； and white； and
yellow； and pink；every kind of flower！〃
〃Surely； flowers；〃 said her mother； 〃and shall we not have a little salad
garden in the midst； as they do in England？〃
〃What is a salad garden？〃 Margery asked。
〃It is a garden where you have all the things that make nice salad；〃
said her mother； laughing； for Margery was fond of salads； 〃you have
lettuce； and endive； and romaine； and parsley； and radishes； and
cucumbers； and perhaps little beets and young onions。〃
〃Oh！ how good it sounds！〃 said Margery。 〃I vote for the salad garden。〃
That very evening； Margery's father took pencil and paper； and drew
out a plan for her garden； first； they t
