16 THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER.

to custom; so
they were talk-
ing in a low tone
to each other,
just as children
talk when they
are afraid.

“ Fritz,” said
Mary, “I am
sure papa and
mamma are busy
in preparing the
Christmas tree;
for ever since
the morning I
have heard a

eat deal goin
et in the awe
ing-room, which
we were forbid-
‘den to enter.”

* And I know,” said Fritz, ‘by the way Turk barked
ten minutes ago, that Godfather Drosselmayer has arrived.”

“Oh! I wonder what our dear kind godfather has
brought us!” exclaimed Mary, clappmg her little hands.
‘‘T am sure it will be a beautiful cation planted with trees,
and with a beautiful river running between banks, covered
with flowers. And on the river, too, there will be some
silver swans with collars of gold, and a little girl will bring
them sweet-cake, which they will eat out of her apron.”

“In the first place, Miss,” said Fritz, in that authoritative
tone which was natural to him, and which his parents con-
sidered to be one of his greatest faults, “ you must know that
swans do not eat sweet-cake.”

“T thought they did,” answered Mary; ‘‘ but as you are
a year and a half older than I, you must. know best.”