THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER. 49

creatures have actually eaten up all my poor little Mary’s
sugar-plunis.”

The lady was not quite right; the sugar-plums and
cakes were only spoilt, not eaten up; for the gluttonous
king of the mice, not finding the sweet cakes as good as he
had expected, messed them about so that they were forced
to be thrown away.”

But as it was not sugar-plums that Mary liked’ best, she
did not feel much regret at the sacrifice which theking of
the mice had extorted from her; and, thinking that he
would be contented with the first contribution with which
he had taxed her, she was much pleased at the idea of having
saved Nut-cracker upon such good terms.

Unfortunately her satisfaction was not of long duration ;
for the followmg night she was again awoke by hearing
equeecng and whining close by her ears.

Alas! it was the king of the mice again, his eyes
shining more horribly than on the preceding night ; and, in
a voice interrupted by frequent whines and squeaks, he said,
“You must give me your little sugar dolls and figures made
of biscuit, little girl ; if not, I will eat up your friend the
Nut-cracker.”

Thereupon the king of the mice went skipping away,
and disappeared by the hole in the wall.

Next morning, Mary, now deeply afflicted, went straight
to the glass cupboard, and threw a mournful look upon her
figures of sugar and biscuit; and her grief was very natural,
for never were such nice-looking sweet things seen before.

Alas!” she said, as she turned towards the Nut-cracker,
‘‘ what would I not do for you, my dear Mr. Drosselmayer?
But you must admit all the same that what I am required to
do 1s very hard.”

At these words the Nut-cracker assumed so piteous an
air, that Mary, who fancied that she was for ever beholding
the jaws of the king of the mice opening to devour him,
resolved to make this second sacrifice to save the unfor-