The Gift

[Verse 1]
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

[Verse 2]
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

[Verse 3]
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

[Verse 4]
Now the Christmas Eve service was coming
And the church shone with tinsel and light
And all of the town folks brought presents
To lay by the manger that night

[Verse 5]
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

[Verse 6]
She waited 'til just before midnight
So no one would see her go in
And crying, she knelt by the manger
For her gift was unworthy of Him

[Verse 7]
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"

[Verse 8]
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

[Verse 9]
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

[Verse 10]
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