Regolo Ricci

Stephen Eaton Hume

Midnight on the Farm

Michael Bedard

Long, long ago there was an Emperor of China whose palace was quite the most wonderful in all the world. But when visitors came from afar, it wasn't the palace that impressed them. Instead, they spoke of the song of the nightingale that lived in the woods by the sea. When he heard this, the Emperor had the bird brought to him and he kept it in a golden cage and treasured it more than all he possessed. Then one day a parcel came to the palace - a gift from the Emperor of Japan. It was a mechanical nightingale made of gold and silver and precious jewels. It was much prettier than the real bird, and it could sing the same tune time and again without growing tired - just as long as there was someone to wind it.

The Nightingale

One, two! One, two! The soldier comes marching down the road on his way home from the wars. Little does he know that the old woman who waits by the gnarled tree will change his life forever. Copper, silver and more gold than he could ever have imagined can be his for the taking if only he will bring her the tinder box she so desires. But why does she want the tarnished old thing so badly, when all that wealth could be hers? The soldier ponders if the three gigantic dogs who guard the money are a part of the secret. We have only to look into their wondrous eyes to know that they are. In this unique retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's classic, Michael Bedard sweeps up along with the steady, relentless rhythm of a soldier's footsteps. Adventure, greed, danger and the love of a beautiful princess are the ingredients for a perfect fairy tale. This one has them all and more.

Regolo Ricci

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