THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER. 69

mind, he returned
to the council, and
résumed, though
somewhat abstract-
edly, the subject of
discussion.

He had left the
kitchen just at the
important moment
when the fat, cut up :
in small pieces, was
about to be broiled
upon the silver grid-
irons. The queen, encouraged by his praises, now com
menced that important operation; and the first drops of
grease had just dripped upon the live coals, when a squeak-
ing voice was heard to chant the following lines:—

ti
ti

 

Dear sister, pray give to the Queen of the Mice,
A piece of that fat which is grilling so nice;

To me a good dinner is something so rare,

That I hope of the fat you will give me a share.

The queen immediately recognised the voice that thus
spoke; it was the voice of Dame ‘Mousey:

Dame Mousey had lived for many years in the palace.
She declared herself to be a relation of the royal family, and
was Queen of the kingdom of Mice. She therefore main-
tained a numerous court beneath the kitchen hearth-stone.

The queen was a kind and good-natured woman; and
although she would not publicly recognise Dame Mousey as
a sister and a sovereign, she nevertheless showed her in
private a thousand attentions. Her husband, more particular
than herself, had often reproached her for thus lowering
herself. But on the present occasion she could not find it in
her heart to refuse the request of her little friend; and she
accordingly said, “ Come, Dame Mousey, without fear, and

E 2