somewhere in a town in holy russia, there lived a rich merchant with his wife. he had an only son, a dear, bright, and brave boy called ivan. one lovely day ivan sat at the dinner table with his parents. near the window in the same room hung a cage, and a nightingale, a sweet-voiced, gray bird, was imprisoned within. the sweet nightingale began to sing its wonderful song with trills and high silvery tones. the merchant listened and listened to the song and said: