round, and then the music stopped. The emperor immediately sprang out of
bed, and called for his physician; but what could he do? Then they sent for a
watchmaker; and, after a great deal of talking and examination, the bird was
put into something like order; but he said that it must be used very carefully,
as the barrels were worn, and it would be impossible to put in new ones
without injuring the music. Now there was great sorrow, as the bird could
only be allowed to play once a year; and even that was dangerous for the
works inside it. Then the music-master made a little speech, full of hard
words, and declared that the bird was as good as ever; and, of course no one
contradicted him.
Five years passed, and then a real grief came upon the land. The Chinese
really were fond of their emperor, and he now lay so ill that he was not
expected to live. Already a new emperor had been chosen and the people
who stood in the street asked the lord-in-waiting how the old emperor was;
but he only said, “Pooh!” and shook his head.
