THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER. 65

That instant did the tu-
mult subside and the com-
batants separate. The Grand
Sultan was brushed, for he
was covered with dust; the
Brahmin’s head was fixed
on, with the injunction that
he must not sneeze for three
days, for fear it should fall
off again; and order was re-
stored. The pleasant sports
began again, and every one hastened to quench his thirst with
the lemonade, the orangade, the 7
sweet milk, or the gooseberry
syrup, and to regale himself with
the whip-syllabub.

“ My. dear Mr. Drosselmayer,”
said Mary, ‘“ what is the cause of
the influence exercised upon those
little folks by the word confec-_

tioner repeated thrice ?”

  
  
  
  
  
 

   

“‘T must tell you, Miss,” said o=

the Nut-cracker, ‘that the people of the City of Candied
Fruits believe, by experience, in the transmigration of souls,
and are in the power of a superior principle, called confec-
tioner, which principle can bestow on each individual what
form he likes by merely baking him, for a shorter or longer
period, as the case may be. ee as every one believes his
own existing shape to be the best, he does not like to change
it. Hence the magic influence of the word confectioner
upon the people of the City of Candied Fruits, when pro-
nounced by the chief magistrate. It is sufficient, as you |

erceive, to appease all that tumult; every one, in an
instant, forgets earthly things, broken ribs, and bumps upon
the head; and, restored to himself, says, ‘ What is man?
and what may he not become?’”