THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER. 45

harlequins, a clown, two punches, and three other puppets,
cried out in a loud tone, ‘‘ Yes, my lord, we are your's in
life and death! We will conquer under your command, or
| die with you!”

At these words, which proved that
there was an echo to his speech in the
heart of his friends, Nut-cracker felt
himself so excited, that he drew his
sword, and without calculating the
dreadful height on which he stood,
leapt from the second shelf. Mary,
\ upon perceiving that dangerous leap,
gave a piercing cry; for Nut-cracker
i seemed on the point of being dashed
SSS to pieces; when Miss Clara, who was
on the lower shelf, darted from the
sof, and received -him in her arms.

   

“Ah! my dear little Clara,” said Mary, clasping her
hands together with emotion: “how have I mistaken your
disposition !”

But Miss Clara, thinking only of the
present events, said to the Nut-cracker,
“ What! my lord—wounded and suffer-
ing as you are, you are plunging head-
long into new dangers! Content yourself
with commanding the army, and let the
others fight! “Your courage is known;
and you can do no good by giving fresh
proof of it!”

. And as she spoke, Clara endeavoured to
restrain the gallant Nut-cracker by hold-
ing him tight in her arms; but he began
to struggle and kick in such a manner
that Miss Clara was obliged to let him glide down. He
slipped from her arms, and fell on his knees at her feet in a
most graceful manner, saying, ‘Princess, believe me, that