St. Nicholas nothing would bring to her!

4. But Piccola never doubted at all
That something beautiful must befall
Every child upon Christmas day,
And so she slept till the dawn was gray.

5. And full of faith, when at last she woke,
She stole to her shoe as the morning broke;
Such sounds of gladness filled all the air,
'T was plain St. Nicholas had been there.

6. In rushed Piccola, sweet, half wild--
Never was seen such a joyful child--
"See what the good saint brought!" she cried,
And mother and father must peep inside.

7. Now such a story I never heard!
There was a little shivering bird!
A sparrow, that in at the window flew,
Had crept into Piccola's tiny shoe!

8. "How good poor Piccola must have been!"
She cried, as happy as any queen,
While the starving sparrow she fed and warmed,
And danced with rapture, she was so charmed.

9. Children, this story I tell to you
Of Piccola sweet and her bird, is true.
In the far-off land of France, they say,