THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER. 59

“‘T really found it all very delightful,” said Mary, ac-
cepting the invitation of the Nut-cracker ; ‘‘ and it seems to
me, my dear Mr. Drosselmayer, that you are harsh towards
the little dancers.”

The Nut-cracker made a face, as much as to say, “* We
shall see ; but your plea in their favour shall be considered.”
They then continued their journey, and reached a river
which seemed to send forth all the sweet scents that per-
fumed the air.

‘« This,” said the Nut-cracker, without even waiting to be
questioned by Mary, “is the River of Orange Juice. It is one
of the smallest in the kingdom ; for, save in respect to its
sweet odour, it cannot be compared to the River of Lemonade,
which falls into the southern sea, or the Sea of Punch. The
Lake of Sweet Whey is also finer : it joins the northern sea,
which is called the Sea of Milk of Almonds.”

At a short distance was a little villaze, in which the
houses, the church, and the parsonage were all brown; the
roofs however were gilt, and the walls were resplendent with
incrustations of red, blue, and white sugar-plums.

‘This is the Village of Sweet Cake,” said the Nut-cracker;
‘tit 1s a pretty little place, as you perceive, and is situate on
the Streamlet of Honey. The inhabitants are very agreeable
to look upon ; but they are always in a bad humour, because
they are constantly troubled with the tooth-ache. But, my
dear Miss Silberhaus,” continued the Nut-cracker, ‘do not
let us stop at all the villages and little towns of the kingdom.
To the capital ! to the capital!”

The Nut-cracker advanced, still holding Mary’s hand, but
walking more confidently than he had hitherto done; for
Mary, who was full of curiosity, kept by his side, light as a
bird. At length, after the expiration of some minutes, the
odour of roses was spread through the air, and everything
around them now seemed to be of a rose-tint. Mary re-
marked that this was the perfume and the reflection of a
River of Essence of Roses, which flowed along, its waves rip-