The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-31

Suddenly the sound of a song coming
| from mortal lips was heard the bird few
startled away in the forest, and the bird
catchers we're foiled for that day. A
slender maid came tripping To the brook,
pale checked lass with long brown
braids, and in her hands she carried an
earthen jug. Her song was such as the
village children sing, but her voice was
clear as a bell. The prince listened with
pleasure and forgave the sOngstress for
having spoiled his sport. He came out
from behind the bushes and after bowling
to her gave the maiden a very kindly
| greeting.
The little lass was startled when the
kings son stood so suddenly before her.
She turned TO flee away into the forest,
but the prince begged her to stay and to
| grant him drink from her pitcher. She
offered the prince its pure, cool contents,
| and as he took long, slow draught she
| raised her eyes and allowed her gaze 10
| wander over his strong, young figure He
| thanked her, gave her back the jug, and
had his horse brought to him. When he
! was IN the saddle he bent down again TO
the pale child and caressed her brow with
| his white hand Then he rode away
She followed him with her gaze until he
| had quite disappeared behind the tree
trunks. Then she sat down on a stone
and stared at the water. The sun rose
| higher, and the strength of his warm rays
brought out thousands of buds.
| "Ah, II only Iwere a nightingale" said
the maiden to herself, Il would let my
self be caught by him; he would carry
me away 10 his castle, where l should see
him every day"
"You would like to be a nightingale7n
inquired voice which came from an old
woman who suddenly stood before the
girl, leaning with her palsled right hand
| on crutch-like stan.
80 you would like to be nightingale"
asked the old woman again. That can
| be managed. BY my magic will change
you into one. In the daytime you must
be a nightingale and at night little
maiden, VIII you do that2"
"Yes, mother 1 will"
"But as a reward" went on the old
woman, you must give me ten years of
| your life VIII you do this alsol"
Eyes" answered the poor child Joy
fully.
Every well; then follow me to my hut;
il is not very far from here must give
you a powerful drop to drink With
these words the witch led the girl deep
into the forest.
The next day when the prince came to
| the brook he found the most beautiful
nightingale he had ever seen singing
among the hedges. He laid his net and
the songstress came huttering towards It,
but instead Of falling into the trap il few
over to him and perched itself upon his
| hand and so was captured
He carried the nightingale home, placed
II in splendid cage and was delighted
with its wonderful notes. To the other
captive birds, however, he gave their
| freedom, for he now valued their singing
little more than he would the twittering
Of sparrows. At last he began to love
the nightingale so dearly that he could
hardly be parted from her at all Wher-
ever he went the nightingale accompa-
| MED him. and even when he was on horse
| back she perched upon his shoulder. She
! sang ceaselessly from morning until
night, but at night after she had sung the
| prince 10 sleep she took on her mortal
form and sitting at his bedside gazed at
her beloved. AS soon as the cocks began
to crow the maiden turned into nightin-
gale again and woke the prince with her
song.
One day the old queen mother sent for
| the prince and said TO him my dear
son, next month you will be IS years old
| aud will then be crowned king. A king
should also have queen. l have there
fore sought and found for you the most
beautiful and virtuous princess under the
| sun, who also brings to you half a king
| dom as dover. And that Is something.
She arrives tomorrow and the wedding
will be celebrated in three days. Does
| this please youf'
Eyes, my lady mother" answered the
| prince, and went of TO his nightingale.
| Next day the princess arrived, driving
| in glass coach. The queen stood. with
! her son and all the court, on the castle
steps, and the prince lifted his beautiful
| bride from the carriage. Her long silken
| train rustled behind her like the sound of
a forest brook. Up stairs, in the kings
| hall, was laid a splendid feast, drums and
| trumpets were sounded, and the prince
sat beside his bride and rejoiced in her
beauty and her wit.
That evening when he went to his
| apartment he was quite shocked, because
for the first time he had forgotten TO care
for his nightingale, and the poor bird sat
| dumb and sad upon its perch with its
wings Imply drooDing. But when the
| prince had LAID himself down upon his
couch she sang TO him more beautifully
| than ever before, and the prince fell
asleep to dream of his bride. Once he
awoke; it seemed to him that a burning
| drop had fallen upon his brow, but sleep
quickly overcame him again and he went
on dreaming.
Next day when the court had assembled
for more feasting the princess said to the
prince: They say you cherish precious
nightingale. VIII you not even let me
! hear her voice2"
And the prince ordered servant to
! bring the birds cage TO him. But the
nightingale sat dumb on her perch and
hid her head under her wing Only when
| neF master Opeueu bue l!bble uOOF ulQ Suo
| fly TO him, and. perched upon his hand,
| she lifted up her voice.
The lords and ladies all held their
breath as they listened. They had never
| heard such a song before.
They heard the spring zephyrs stir
! among the tree tops, the gurgling of the
| brooks, and through it all the passion
ately sad song of a lover. Poor night
| lngale
The young princess went close to her
! betrothed, and laying her hand upon his
arm said Beloved, give me the night
| inRale II is the first boon have ever
asked of you"
And the prince nodded ''Take her. he
said, 'she is yours"
| Then the nightingale beat her wings
and raised her voice again. Her song
sounded like the lamentation of a suffer-
| ing heart. Suddenly she ceased and fiut-
| tered Imply from the princes hand to
| the ground
| Her heart is broken" said some one,
and the courtiers gathered around Bpf
dreadful feeling of fear came over them
all for there on the floor, instead of a
| bird lay the body of a beautiful maiden.
whose pale lips were stained with blood
The guests scattered like flock Of
| doves at sight of a hawk. The bride
/ lid a. 80