66 THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER.

While they were thus talking, they reached the entrance
of the palace, which shed around a rosy lustre, and was sur-
mounted by a hundred light and elegant towers. The walls
were strewed with nosegays, of violets, narcissi, tulips, and
jasmine, which set off with their various hues the rose-
coloured ground from which they stood forth. The great
dome in the centre was covered with thousands of gold and
silver stars.

‘QO, heavens!” exclaimed Mary, “ what is that won-
derful building ?”

“ The Paes of Sweet
Cake,” answered the Nut-
cracker; “and it is one of
the most famous monuments
in the capital of the Kingdom
of Toys.”

Nevertheless, lost:in won-
der as she was, Mary could
not help observing that the
roof of one of the great
towers was totally wanting,
and that little gingerbread &
men, mounted on a scaffold
of cinnamon, were occupied
in repairing it. She was about to question the Nut-cracker
relative 'to ‘this accident, when he said, “ Alas! it is only a
a short time ago that this palace was threatened by a great
disgrace, if not with absolute ruin. The giant Glutton ate
up the top of that tower; and he was already on the point
of biting the dome, when the people hastened to give him as
a tribute the quarter of the city called Almond and Honey-
cake District, together with a large portion of the Forest of
Angelica, in consideration of which he agreed to take him-
self off without making any worse ravages than those which
you see.”

At that moment a soft and delicious music was heard.