A poor orphan girl named Maria

Was walking to market one day.

She stopped for to rest by the roadside

Where a bird with a broken wing lay.

A few moments passed 'til she saw it,

For its feathers were covered with sand.

But soon clean and wrapped it was traveling

In the warmth of Maria's small hand.



She happily gave her last peso

On a cage made of rushes and twine

She fed it loose corn from the market

And watched it grow stronger with time.



Now the Christmas Eve service was coming

And the church shone with tinsel and light

And all of the townsfolk brought presents

To lay by the manger that night

There were diamonds and incense and perfumes

In packages fit for a king.

But for one ragged bird in a small cage,

Maria had nothing to bring.



She waited till just before mid-night

So no one would see her go in

And, crying, she knelt by the manger

For her gift was unworthy of him.



Then a voice spoke to her through the darkness,

"Maria, what brings you to me?

If the bird in the cage is your offering,

Open the door, let me see."

Though she trembled, she did as he asked her

And out of the cage the bird flew

Soaring up into the rafters

On a wing that had healed good as new.



Just then the midnight bells rang out

And the little bird started to sing

A song that no words could recapture

Whose beauty was fit for a king



Now Maria felt blessed just to listen

To that cascade of notes sweet and long

As her offering was lifted to heaven

By the very first nightingale's song.