Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-03-23
THE NIGHTINGALE.

Once upon time there lived prince
who loved nothing in the world SO we'll
as the sound of the nightingalo's song.
Therefore he kept great number of
nightingales in golden cages and fed
and cared for them with his own hands.
One morning he was riding out on a
bird catching expedition, with groom
to follow him laden with nets and bait.
Over night the buds on the beech trees
had burst forth, and the tender leaves
were glistening in the morning sunshine
like green silk. The spring breeze gen.
thy stirred the anemones among the
brown leaves on the ground, and from
the grassy slopes nodded yellow prim-
roses. 1t was a delicious morning for
a ride.
In the densest part of the forest there
was spring where the animal inhab-
itants of the wood were won't to drink
There our two bird catchers dismount-
ed, led their horses to one side and
spread their net. Already the birds
were to be heard in the branches Of the
trees. Gay finches, red breasted robins
and steel blue tomtits were lowering
about, and in the distance could be
heard the call of the nightingale.
Suddenly the sound of song coming
from mortal lips was heard, the birds
flew startled away into the forest, and
the bird catchers were foiled for that
day. A slender maid came tripping to
the brook, a pale checked lass with long
brown braids, and in her hands she car
ried an earthen jug. Her song was
such as the village children sing, but
her voice was as clear as a bell. The
prince listened with pleasure and for
gave the songstress for having spoiled
his sport. He came out from behind
the bushes and after bowling to her gave
the maiden 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 a drink from her pitcher.
She offered the prince its pure, cool
contents, and as he took long, slow
draft she raised her eyes and allowed
her gaze to wander over his strong,
young figure. He thanked her, gave
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
rays brought out thousands Of buds.
"Ah, if / only were nightingale!'
said the maiden to herself II would
let myself be caught by him; he would
carry me away to his castle, where l
should see him every day."
"You would like to be a nightin-
gale?" inquired voice which came
from an old woman who suddenly stood
before the girl leaning with her palsied
right hand on a crutchlike staff.
$50 you would like to be nightin-
gale?" asked the old woman again.
"That can be managed. By my magic
Twill change you into one. In the day
time you must be nightingale and at
night little maiden. Will you do
that?"
eyes, mother, I will"
but as reward" went on the old
woman, "youmust give me 10 years OF
your life. Will you do this also?"
Eyes" answered the poor child JOY
fully.
VERY well; then follow me to my
hut. 1t is not very far from here. I
must give you 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 beauti-
full nightingale he had ever seen sing
ing among the hedges. He laid his net,
and the songstress came futtering to-
ward it, but instead Of falling into the
trap it flew over to him and perched it.
self upon his hand and SO was captured.
He carried the nightingale home,
placed 1t 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 80 dearly
that he could hardly be parted from her
at all. Wherever he went the nightin-
gale accompanied him, and even when
be was on horseback she perched upon
his shoulder. She sang ceaselessly from
morning until evening, but at night
after she had sung the prince to sleep
she took on her mortal form and sitting
at his bedside gazed at her beloved. As
soon Us the cocks began to crow the
maiden turned into nightingale 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 10
years old and will then be crowned
king. A king should also have queen.
I have therefore sought and found for
you the most beautiful and virtuous
princess under the sun, who also brings
to you half kingdom as dover. And
that is something. She arrives tomor-
8 = - q q