Page 60 - English Reader - 3

The emperor threw the bird in a corner.

Without the music, the emperor grew

sad. Soon he fell ill.

The royal physicians came, but could
not find anything wrong with him.

They decided that the only cure for the
ailing emperor would be the song of,
nightingale.

In the mean time, the nightingale

had heard of emperor’s illness from
other birds in the forest. She was a
kindhearted bird. She decided to go to

the emperor’s palace and sing for him
again.

One day, as the emperor lay in his
bed, cold and pale, the loveliest song

wafted into the palace. It was the real
nightingale sitting on the emperor’s window-sill and singing ever so sweetly. She had
come to cure the emperor.

Soon the emperor was well again. He was very pleased with the bird. He wanted to

reward her.

The nightingale said, ‘‘Please do not ever ask me to live in the cage. I can neither live in
a cage nor can I live in a palace. I shall come and sing for you whenever you call for me
from this window-sill.’’

The emperor happily agreed and let the bird be free.

Word Meanings

1. reluctantly : hesitantly

2. artificial : not real
3. banished : made somebody/something to go away

4. wafted : moved gently through the air

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