THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER. 67

The gates of the palace opened by themselves, and twelve
little pages came forth, carrying in their hands branches of
aromatic herbs, lighted like torches. Their heads were
made of pearl, six, of them had bodies made of rubies, and
the six others of emeralds, wherewith they trotted joyously
along upon two little feet of gold, sculptured with all the
taste and care of Benvenuto Cellini.

They were followed. by, four ladies, about the same size as
‘Miss Clara, Mary’s new doll; but all,so splendidly dressed
and so richly adorned, that Mary was not at a loss to per-
ceive in them the royal princesses of the City of Preserved
Fruits. They all four, upon perceiving the Nut-cracker,
hastened to embrace him with the utmost tenderness, ex-
claiming at. the same time, and as it were with one voice,
‘Oh ! prince—dear prince! _Dear—dear brother |”

The Nut-cracker seemed
much moved; he wiped away
the tears which flowed from his |
eyes, and, taking Mary by the @&
hand, said, in a feeling tone,
to the four princesses, ‘‘My
dear sisters, this is Miss Silber-
haus whom I now introduce
to you. She is the daughter =
of Chief-Justice Silberhaus, of Nuremberg, a gentleman of
the highest respectability. It is this young lady who saved
my life; for, if at the moment when I lost the battle she had
not thrown her shoe at the king of the mice—and, again, if
she had not afterwards lent me the sword of a major whom
her brother had placed on the half-pay list—I should even
now be sleeping in my tomb, or what is worse, be de-
voured by the "ing of the mice. ‘Ah! my dear Miss
Silberhaus,” cried the Nut-cracker, with an enthusiasm which
he could not controul, ‘ Pirlipata, although the daughter of
a king, was not worthy to unloose the latchet of your pretty
little shoes.”

 

B