THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER. 39

the queen of the mice suddenly appeared through a crevice
in the floor. With horrible squeaks she ran between his
legs ; so that just at the very moment when the future Prince
Royal placed his foot upon the ground, his heel came so fully
on the body of the mouse that he stumbled in such a manner
as nearly to fall.

O sorrow! at that same instant the
handsome young man became as ugly
as the princess was before him: his
legs shrivelled up; his shrunken form
could hardly support his enormous
head; his eyes became green, haggard, «
and goggle; his mouth split from ear to \N
ear; and his delicate little sprouting =
beard changed into a white and soft
substance, which was afterwards found
to be cotton.

But the cause of this event was punished at the same
moment that she produced it. Dame Mousey was weltering
in her own blood upon the floor. Her wickedness did not
therefore go without its punishment. In fact, young Dros-
selmayer had trampled so hard upon her with his heel, that
she was crushed beyond all hope of recovery. But, while
still writhing on the floor, Dame Mousey squeaked forth
the following words, with all the strength of her agonizing
voice :—

   

“ Crackatook! Crackatook! fatal nut that thou art,
Through thee has Death reached me, at length, with his dart!
Heigho! heigho!
But the Queen of the Mice has thousands to back her,
And my son will yet punish that wretched Nut-cracker,
I know! I know!

* Sweet life, adieu!
Too soon snatch’d away!
And thou heaven of blue,
And thou world so gay,
Adieu! adieu!’