THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER. 77

king took his bride to the Palace of Sweet Cake, where they
were married by the chaplain. Twenty-two thousand little

 

people, all covered with pearls, diamonds, and brilliant
stones, danced at the bridal.

Even at the present day, Mary is still queen of that
beautiful country, where may be seen brilliant forests of
Christmas ; rivers of orangade, sweet milk, and essence of
roses ; transparent palaces of sugar whiter than snow and
clearer than ice ;—in a word, all kinds of wonderful and
extraordinary things may there be seen by those who have
eyes sharp enough to discover them.