THE HISTORY OF A NU'T-CRACKER. 1]

bered also the singular fact that she was born with teeth. In
fact, immediately after her change from beauty to ugliness
she had begun to ery bitterly, until she found a nut near her:
she had then cracked it, eaten the kernel, and turned round
to sleep quietly. From that moment the nurses had taken
good care to fill their pockets with nuts, and give her one or
more whenever she made a face.

“Oh! instinct of nature! Eternal and mysterious sym-
pathy ofall created beings!” cried Christian Elias Drossel-
mayer, ‘‘thou showest me the door which leads to the
discovery of thy secrets! I will knock at it, and it will
open!” :

E At these words, which surprised the king, the mechanic
turned towards his majesty and requested the favour of being
conducted into the presence of the astronomer of the court.
The king consented, but on condition that it should be with
a guard. Master Drosselmayer would perhaps have been bet-
ter pleased to take that little walk all alone; but, as under
the circumstances he could not help himself, he was obliged
to submit to what he could not prevent, and proceed through
the streets of the capital escorted like a felon.

On reaching the house of the astrologer, Master Drossel-
mayer threw himself into his arms;
and they embraced each other a-
midst torrents of tears, for they
were acquaintances of long stand-
ing, and were much attached to
each other. They then retired to
a private room, and examined a
= great number of books which treat-
ed upon likings and dislikings,
and a host of other matters not a
whit less profound. At length
night came; and the astrologer ascending to his tower, and
aided by Master Drosselmayer, who was himself very skilful
in such matters, discovered, in spite of the difficulty of the