al PREFACE.

And what is the name of your story, sir?” asked a
young gentlemen, who, being the son of the nobleman that
gave the party, felt a right to question me.

“ The Nut-cracker of Nuremberg,” was my answer.
“‘ Does the title please you, my dear Henry?” |

“Hem! I don’t think the title promises anything -par-
ticularly fine. But, never mind; go on! If it does not
please us, we will stop you, and you must begin another ;
and so on, I can tell you, until you really do fix upon a
good one.”

“One moment!” I exclaimed. ‘I will not accept those
conditions. If you were grown-up persons, well and good!”

‘* Nevertheless, those are our conditions: if not, .a prisoner
you must remain with us for ever.”

“My dear Henry, you are a charming boy — well
brought up—and I shall be much surprised if you do not
some day become Prime Minister of England. Let me
go free, and I will do all you ask.”

‘On your word of honour?”

“On my word of honour.”

At the same moment I felt the thousand threads that
held me suddenly become loose: each of the little tormentors
had set to work to untie a knot; and in half a minute I was
at liberty.

Now as every one must keep his word, even when it is
pledged to children, I desired my audience to sit round me;
and when the children had all placed themselves in a manner
so comfortable that I fancied they would soon fall off to sleep
in their chairs, I began my story in the following manner.