THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER. 17

Fritz tossed up his head with
an air of importance.

“And, for my part,” he con-
tinued, “I feel certain that if
Godfather Drosselmayer brings
anything at all, it will be a castle
with soldiers to watch it, cannons
to. defend it, and enemies to
attack it. We shall then have
some famous battles !”

“‘T do not like battles,” said Mary. ‘If he does bring a
castle, as you think he will, it must be for you: I shall, how-
ever, take care of the wounded.”

“Whatever it is that he brings,” returned Fritz, “you
know very well that it is neither for you nor for me; because
the toys which Godfather Drosselmayer gives us are always
taken away again immediately afterwards, under pretence
that they really are works of great art. Then, you know,
they are always put into that great cupboard with the glass
doors, and on the top shelves, which papa himself can only
reach when he stands upon a chair. So, after all, I much
prefer the toys which papa and mamma give us, and which
we are allowed to play with until we Thieak them into a
thousand pieces.”

*« And so do I,” answered Mary; ‘‘ only we must not say
so to godfather.”

“And why not ?”

‘Because he would feel annoyed to think that we do not
like his toys as much as those which papa and mamma give
us. He gives them to us, thinking to pleas us; and it would
be wrong to tell him the contrary.”

*¢Oh! nonsense,” cried Fritz.

“Miss Mary is quite right, Master Fritz,” said Dame
Trudchen, who was wenenully very silent, and only spoke on
important occasions.

“Come,” said Mary hastily, in order to prevent Fritz from