PREFACE,

WHICH SHOWS HOW THE AUTHOR WAS FORCED TO RELATE THE HISTORY
OF THE NUT-CRACKER OF NUREMBERG,

THERE was « juvenile party at the house of my friend
Lord M. ; and I had helped to add to the number
and noise of the company by taking my little daughter.

It is true that in half an hour, during which I joined in
four or five games of blind-man’s buff, hot cockles, and hunt
the slipper—in spite of the noise which was made by a
couple of dozen of delightful little rogues of from eight to
ten years old, and who seemed to try which would talk the
loudest—I slipt out of the drawing-room, and sought a
certain snug parlour which I knew, and where I hoped to
enjoy a little peace for an hour or so.

I had effected my retreat with as much skill as success,
escaping not only without being perceived by the juvenile
' guests, which was not very difficult, considering how intent
they were upon their games, but also unnoticed by their
parents, which was not so easy a matter. I had reached the
wished-for parlour, when I observed, on entering it, that it
was for the moment converted into a supper-room, the side-
boards being heaped up with confectionery and other re-
freshments. Now as these appearances seemed to promise
that I should not be disturbed until supper-time, I threw
myself into a comfortable arm-chair, quite delighted with

A