Hans Christian Andersens FairyTales – Hans Christian Andersen

And the footmen and chambermaids also expressed their satisfaction, which is saying a great deal, for they are very difficult to please. In fact the nightingale’s visit was most successful. She was now to remain at court, to have her own cage, with liberty to go out twice a day, and once during the night. Twelve servants were appointed to attend her on these occasions, who each held her by a silken string fastened to her leg.

There was certainly not much pleasure in this kind of flying. The whole city spoke of the wonderful bird, and when two people met, one said “nightin,” and the other said “gale,” and they understood what was meant, for nothing else was talked of. Eleven peddlers’ children were named after her, but not one of them could sing a note.

One day the emperor received a large packet on which was written “The Nightingale.” “Here is no doubt a new book about our celebrated bird,” said the emperor. But instead of a book, it was a work of art contained in a casket, an artificial nightingale made to look like a living one, and covered all over with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. As soon as the artificial bird was wound up, it could sing like the real one, and could move its tail up and down, which sparkled with silver and gold.

Round its neck hung a piece of ribbon, on which was written “The Emperor of China’s nightingale is poor compared with that of the Emperor of Japan’s.” “This is very beautiful,” exclaimed all who saw it, and he who had brought the artificial bird received the title of “Imperial Nightingale- Bringer-in-Chief.”

“Now they must sing together,” said the court, “and what a duet it will be.” But they did not get on well, for the real nightingale sang in its own natural way, but the artificial bird sang only waltzes.

THERE WAS ONCE AN EMPEROR who had a horse shod with gold. He had a golden shoe on each foot, and why was this? He was a beautiful creature, with slender legs, bright, intelligent eyes, and a mane that hung down over his neck like a veil. He had carried his master through fire and smoke in the battle-field, with the bullets whistling round him; he had kicked and bitten, and taken part in the fight, when the enemy advanced; and, with his master on his back, he had dashed over the fallen foe, and saved the golden crown and the emperor’s life, which was of more value than the brightest gold.

This is the reason of the emperor’s horse wearing golden shoes. A beetle came creeping forth from the stable, where the farrier had been shoeing the horse. “Great ones, first, of course,” said he, “and then the little ones; but size is not always a proof of greatness.” He stretched out his thin leg as he spoke. “And pray what do you want?”

asked the farrier. “Golden shoes,” replied the beetle. “Why, you must be out of your senses,” cried the farrier. “Golden shoes for you, indeed!” “Yes, certainly; golden shoes,” replied the beetle. “Am I not just as good as that great creature yonder, who is waited upon and brushed, and has food and drink placed before him?

And don’t I belong to the royal stables?” “But why does the horse have golden shoes?” asked the farrier. “Of course you understand the reason?” “Understand! Well, I understand that it is a personal slight to me,” cried the beetle. “It is done to annoy me, so I intend to go out into the world and seek my fortune.” “Go along with you,” said the farrier. “You’re a rude fellow,” cried the beetle as he walked out of the stable; and then he flew for a short distance, till he found himself in a beautiful flower-garden, all fragrant with roses and lavender.

The lady-birds, with red and black shells on their backs, and delicate wings, were flying about, and one of them said, “Is it not sweet and lovely here?

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: 760aa6dcbd9594d6
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 6,941,990 bytes (6.62 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• Pages: 290
• Language: English (en)

Reading & Word Statistics

• Estimated Reading Time: 537.29 minutes
• Total Words: 107,458
• Total Characters: 572,122
• Average Words per Page: 370.54
• Average Characters per Page: 1972.83

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