THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER. 53

words:— Ah, dear Miss Silberhaus—excellent friend —
what do I not owe you? and how much gratitude have I to
express.to you? Do not sacrifice for me your picture-books
and your silk frock; but get me a sword—a good sword—
and I will take care of the rest!”

The Nut-cracker would have said more; but his words
became unintelligible—his voice sank altogether—and his
eyes, for a moment animated by an expression of the softest
melancholy, grew motionless and. vacant.. Mary felt no
alarm: on the contrary, she leapt for joy,.for she was very
happy at.the idea of being able to save the Nut-cracker,
without being compelled to give up her picture-books or her
silk frock. One thing. alone vexed her—and that was,.
where could she find the good sword that. the little man
man required ? Mary resolved to explain. her difficulty to
Fritz, who, in spite of his blustering manners, she knew to
be a good-natured boy. She accordingly took him close up
to the glass cupboard, told him all that had happened between
Nut-cracker and the king of the mice, and ended by ex-
plaining the nature of the service she required of him. The
only thing which made a great. impression upon Fritz. was
the idea that his hussars had really. acted in a cowardly
manner in the thickest of the battle: he therefore asked
Mary if: the accusation were really true;
and as he knew that she never told a
story, he believed her words. Then,
rushing up to the cupboard, he. made a
speech to his soldiers, who seemed. quite
ashamed of themselves. But.this was
44, not all: in order to punish the whole
“, Yegiment in the person of its officers, he
\ji\| degraded them one after the other, and

- expressly ordered the band not to play
— the Hussar’s March during parade.

‘Then, turning to Mary, he said,‘ As for the Nut-cracker,

who seems to me to be a brave little fellow, [ think I can
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