Welcome to Season 3 of Classic Christmas Stories. We are diving into the enchanting world of the Nutcracker. Originally penned by ETA Hoffman as the Nutcracker and the Mouse King, this tale has become a beloved holiday classic through its adaptation by Alexander Dumas and most famously through Tchaikovsky's ballet. Here we meet a young girl named Marie on Christmas Eve, who receives a magical nutcracker from her mysterious godfather. As the night unfolds, she embarks on an extraordinary adventure where toys come to life and she battles the Mouse King alongside her brave nutcracker. It's a story of courage, magic and the wonder of Christmas. So gather the family and enjoy this holiday story. The Nutcracker by ETA Hoffman, chapter 1.
Speaker 1:Christmas Eve On the 24th of December, dr Stallam's children were not allowed, on any pretext whatever, at any time that day, to go into the small drawing room, much less into the best drawing room into which it opened. Fritz and Marie were sitting cowering together in a corner of the back parlor when the evening twilight fell and they began to feel terribly eerie Seeing that no candles were brought, as was generally the case on Christmas Eve. Fritz, whispering in a mysterious fashion, confided to his young sister, who was just seven, that he had heard rattlings and rustlings going on all day since early morning inside the forbidden rooms, as well as distant hammering Further that a short time ago a little dark-looking man had gone, slipping and creeping across the floor with a big box under his arm, although he was well aware that this little man was no other than Godpapa Drosselmeyer. At this news, marie clapped her hands with joy and cried oh, I do wonder what pretty things Godpapa Drosselmeyer has been making for us this time.
Speaker 1:Godpapa Drosselmeyer was anything but a nice-looking man. He was small and lean, with a great many wrinkles on his face, a big patch of black plaster where his right eye ought to have been, and not a hair on his head, which was why he wore a fine white wig made of glass and a very beautiful work of art. But he was a very, very clever man who even knew and understood all about clocks and watches and could make them himself, so that when one of the beautiful clocks that were in Dr Stahlbaum's house was out of sorts and couldn't sing, godpapel Trosselmeyer would come, take off his glass periwig and his little yellow coat, gird himself with a blue apron and proceed to stick sharp-pointed instruments into the inside of the clock in a way that made little Marie quite miserable to witness. However, this didn't really hurt the poor clock which, on the contrary, would come to life again and begin to whir and sing and strike as merrily as ever, which caused everyone a great satisfaction. Of course, whenever he came, he always brought something delightful in his pockets for the children, perhaps a little man who would roll his eyes and make bows and scrapes most comic to behold, or a box out of which a little bird would jump, or something else of the kind. But for Christmas he always had some specially charming piece of ingenuity, something which had cost him infinite pains and labor, for which reason it was always taken away and put aside with the greatest care by the children's parents.
Speaker 1:Oh, what can God-Papa Drosselmeyer have been making for us this time, marie cried. As we have said, fritz was of the opinion that this time it could hardly be anything but a great castle, a fortress where all sorts of pretty soldiers would be drilling and marching about, and then that other soldiers would come and try to get into the fortress, upon which the soldiers inside would fire away at them as pluckily as you please with cannon, till everything banged and thundered like anything. No, no, marie, said. Godpapa Drosselmeyer once told me about a beautiful garden with a great lake in it and beautiful swans swimming about with great gold collars singing lovely music. And then a lovely girl comes down through the garden to the lake and calls the swans and feeds them with shortbread and cake. Swans don't eat cake and shortbread. Fritz cried rather rudely with masculine superiority and God, papa Drosselmeyer couldn't make a whole garden. After all, we have got very few of his playthings. Whatever he brings is always taken away from us. So I like the things Papa and Mama give us much better. We keep them all right ourselves and can do what we like with them. The children went on discussing what he might have in store for them.
Speaker 1:This time, marie called Fritz's attention to the fact that Miss Gertrude, her biggest doll, appeared to be failing a great deal as time went on, inasmuch as she was more clumsy and awkward than ever, tumbling on the floor every two or three minutes. This did not occur without leaving a very ugly mark on her face, and of course proper condition of her clothes became out of the question altogether. Scolding was of no use. Mama too had laughed at her for being so delighted with Miss Gertrude's little new parasol. Fritz again remarked that a good fox was needed for his small zoological collection and that his army was quite without cavalry, as his papa was well aware. But the children knew that their elders had got all sorts of charming things ready for them and that the Christ child, at Christmas, christmas time, took special care for their wants. Marie sat in thoughtful silence, but Fritz murmured quietly to himself all the same, I should like a fox and some hussars.
Speaker 1:It was now quite dark. Fritz and Marie, sitting close together, did not dare to utter another syllable. They felt as if there were a fluttering of gentle, invisible wings around them, while a very distant but unutterably beautiful strain of music could dimly be heard. Then a bright gleam of light passed quickly across the wall and the children knew that the Christ child had sped away on shining wings to other happy children. At this moment a silvery bell said Cling, cling, cling, cling. The doors flew open and such a brilliance of light came streaming from the drawing room that the children stood rooted where they were with cries of oh, oh. Papa and Mama came and took their hands, saying Come now, darlings, and see what the blessed Christ child has brought for you.
Speaker 1:Chapter 2. The Christmas Presents. I appeal to you, kind listener, fritz, theodore, ernest or whatsoever your name may be, and I beg you to bring vividly before your mind's eye your last Christmas table, all glorious with its various delightful Christmas presents, and then perhaps you will be able to form some idea of the manner in which the two children stood speechless, with their eyes fixed on all the beautiful things. How, after a little while, marie, with a sigh, cried oh, how lovely, how lovely. And Fritz gave several jumps of delight.
Speaker 1:The children had certainly been very, very good and well behaved all the foregoing year to be thus rewarded for. Never before had so many beautiful and delightful things been provided for them. The great Christmas tree on the table bore many apples of silver and gold, and all its branches were heavy with bud and blossom, consisting of sugar, almonds, many tinted ribbons and all sorts of things to eat. Perhaps the prettiest thing about this wonder tree, however, was the fact that in all the recesses of its spreading branches, hundreds of little tapers glittered like stars, inviting the children to pluck its flowers and fruit. Also, all around the tree, on every side, everything shone and glittered in the loveliest manner. Oh, how many beautiful things there were. Who, oh who, could describe them all? Marie gazed there at the most delicious dolls and all kinds of toys and, what was the prettiest thing of all, a little silk dress with many tinted ribbons was hung on a projecting branch so that she could admire it on all sides, which she accordingly did, crying out several times oh what a lovely, lovely, darling little dress. And I suppose I do believe I shall really be allowed to put it on.
Speaker 1:Fritz, in the meantime, had had two or three trials of how his new fox, which had been found tied to the table, could gallop, and now stated that he seemed a wildest short of brute. But no matter, he felt sure he would soon get him well in order. And he set to work to muster his new squadron of hussars, admirably equipped in red and gold uniforms, with real silver swords and mounted on such shining white horses that you would have thought that they were pure silver too. When the children had sobered down a little and were beginning upon the beautiful picture books which were open, so that you could see all sorts of most beautiful flowers and people of every hue, to say nothing of lovely children playing, all as naturally represented as if they were really alive and could speak, there came another tinkling of a bell to announce the display of Godpapa Drosselmeyer's Christmas present, which was on another table, against the wall, concealed by a curtain. When this curtain was drawn, what did the children behold? On a green lawn, bright with flowers, stood a lordly castle with great many shining windows and golden towers. A chime of bells was going on inside it. Doors and windows opened and you saw very small but beautiful ladies and gentlemen with plumed hats and long robes down to their heels walking up and down in the rooms of it. In the central hall, which seemed all in a blaze, there were quantities of little candles burning in silver chandeliers. Children in little short doublets were dancing to the chimes of the bells. A gentleman in an emerald green mantle came to a window, made signs and then disappeared inside again. Also, even God-Papa Drosselmeyer himself, but scarcely taller than Papa's thumb, came now and then and stood at the castle door and went in again.
Speaker 1:Fritz had been looking on, with the rest, at the beautiful castle and the people walking about and dancing in it with his arms leant on the table. When he said, god Papa Drosselmeyer, let me go into your castle for a little while, drosselmeyer answered that this could not possibly be done, in which he was right, for it was silly of Fritz to want to go into a castle which was not as tall as himself, golden towers and all. And Fritz saw that this was so After a short time, as the ladies and gentlemen kept walking about just in the same fashion, the children dancing and the emerald man looking out the same window and Godpapa Drosselmeyer coming to the door, fritz cried impatiently Godpapa Drosselmeyer, please come out at that other door. That can't be done, dear Fritz, answered Drosselmeyer. Well, resumed Fritz. Make that green man that looks out so often walk about with the others. And that can't be done either, said his godfather once more. Make the children come down. Then, said Fritz, I want to see them nearer. Nonsense, nothing of that sort can be done, cried Drosselmeyer with impatience. The machinery must work as it's doing now. It can't be altered, you know? Oh, said Fritz, can't be done. Eh, very well then, godpapa Drosselmeyer, I'll tell you what it is. If your little creatures in the castle there can only always do the same thing, they're not worth much, and I think precious little of them. Now give me my hussars. They've got to maneuver backwards and forwards just as I want them and are not fastened up in a house With which he made off to the other table and set his squadron of silver horses trotting there and there, wheeling and charging and slashing right and left to his heart's content.
Speaker 1:Marie had slipped away softly too, for she was tired of the promenading and dancing of the puppets in the castle. Though kind and gentle as she was, she did not like to show it as her brother did. Drosselmeyer, somewhat annoyed, said to the parents After all, an ingenious piece of mechanism like this is not a matter for children who don't understand it. I shall put my castle back in its box again. But mother came to the rescue and made him show her the clever machinery which moved the figures, drosselmeyer taking it all to pieces, putting it together again and quite recovering his temper in the process, so that he gave the children all sorts of delightful brown men and women with golden faces, hands and legs, which were made of ginger cake and with which they were greatly content.
Speaker 1:Chapter 3. Marie's Pet and Protégé. But there was a reason why Marie found it against the grain to come away from the table where the Christmas presents were laid out, and this was that she had just noticed something there which she had not observed at first, fritz's hussars, having taken ground to the right, at some distance from the tree in front of which they had previously been paraded there, became visible a most delicious little man who was standing there, quiet and unobtrusive, as if waiting patiently till it should soon be his turn to be noticed. Objection, considerable objection, might perhaps have been taken to him on the score of his figure, for his body was rather too tall and stout for his legs, which were short and slight. Moreover, his head was a good deal too large. But much of this was atoned for by the elegance of his costume, which showed him to be a person of taste and cultivation. He had on a very pretty violet hussar's jacket, knobs and braid, all over pantaloons of the same and the loveliest little boots ever seen, even on a hussar officer, fitting his little legs just as if they had been painted on them. It was funny certainly, that, dressed in this style as he was, he had a little, rather absurd short cloak on his shoulders which looked almost as if it were made of wood, and on his head a cap like a miner's. But Marie remembered that Godpapa Drosselmeyer often appeared in a terribly ugly morning jacket and with a frightful-looking cap on his head and yet was a very, very darling godpapa.
Speaker 1:As Marie kept looking at this little man, whom she had quite fallen in love with at first sight, she saw more and more clearly what a sweet nature and disposition were legible in his countenance. Those green eyes of his, which stuck perhaps a little more prominently out of his head than quite desirable, beamed with kindness and benevolence. It was one of his beauties too that his chin was set off with a well-kept beard of white cotton, as this drew attention to the smile which his bright red lips always expressed. Oh, papa, dear, cried Marie. At last, whose is that most darling little man beside the tree? Well, was the answer. That little fellow is going to do plenty of good service for all of you. He's going to crack nuts for you and he is to belong to Louise just as much as to you and Fritz. With which Papa took him up from the table, and on his lifting the end of the wooden cloak, the little man opened his mouth wider and wider, displaying two rows of very white, sharp teeth. Marie, directed by her father, put a nut into his mouth and knack. He had bitten it in two so that the shells fell down and Marie got the kernel. So then it was explained to all that this charming little man belonged to the Nutcracker family and was practicing the profession of his ancestors and said Papa, as friend Nutcracker seems to have made such an impression on you, marie, he shall be given over to your special care and charge, though, as I said, louise and Fritz are to have the same right to his services as you. Marie took him in her arms at once and made him crack some more nuts, but she picked out all the smallest, so that he might not have to open his mouth so terribly wide, because that was not nice for him. Then Sister Louise came, and he had to crack some nuts for her too, which duty he seemed very glad to perform, as he kept on smiling most courteously.
Speaker 1:Meanwhile Fritz was a little tired. So after much drill and maneuvering, so he joined his sisters and laughed beyond measure at the funny little fellow who, as Fritz, wanted his share of the nuts, was passed from hand to hand and was continually snapping his mouth open and shut. Fritz gave him all the biggest and hardest nuts he could find, but all at once there was a crack, crack and three teeth fell out of Nutcracker's mouth and his lower jaw became loose and wobbly. Ah, my poor darling Nutcracker's mouth and his lower jaw became loose and wobbly. Ah, my poor darling Nutcracker. Marie cried and took him away from Fritz.
Speaker 1:A nice sort of chap he is, said Fritz Calls himself a Nutcracker and can't give a decent bite. Doesn't seem to know much about his business. Hand him over here, marie. I'll keep him biting nuts. If he drops all the rest of his teeth and his jaw into the bargain, what's the good of a chap like him? No, no, said Marie in tears. You shan't have him. My darling Nutcracker, see how he's looking at me so mournfully and showing me his poor, sore mouth. You're a hard-hearted creature. You beat your horses and you've had one of your soldiers shot'. "'those things must be done', said Fritz, "'and you don't understand anything about such matters. But Nutcracker's as much mine as yours. So hand him over'.
Speaker 1:Marie began to cry bitterly and quickly wrapped the wounded Nutcracker up in her little pocket handkerchief. Papa and Mama came with Drosselmeyer who took Fritz's part, to Marie's regret. But Papa said I have put Nutcracker in Marie's special charge and as he seems to have need just now of her care, she has full power over him and nobody else has anything to say in the matter, and I'm surprised that Fritz should expect further service from a man wounded in the execution of his duty. As a good soldier, he ought to know better than that. Fritz was much ashamed and, troubling himself no further as to nuts or nutcrackers, crept off to the other side of the table where his hussars, having established the necessary outposts, and videttes were bivouacking for the night.
Speaker 1:Marie got Nutcracker's lost teeth together, bound a pretty white ribbon, taken from her dress, about his poor chin and then wrapped the poor little fellow, who was looking very pale and frightened, more tenderly and carefully than before, in her handkerchief. Thus she held him, rocking him like a child in her arms. As she looked at the picture books, she grew quite angry, which was not usual with her, with God-Papa Drosselmeyer, because he laughed so and kept asking how she could make such a fuss about an ugly little fellow like that. That odd and peculiar likeness to Drosselmeyer, which had struck her when she saw Nutcracker at first, occurred to her mind again now and she said with much earnestness who knows, godpapa, if you were to be dressed in the same way as my darling Nutcracker and had on the same shining boots, who knows whether you mightn't look as handsome as he does. Maria didn't understand why Papa and Mama laughed so heartily.
Speaker 2:Maria didn't understand why Papa and Mama laughed so heartily, nor why God-Papa Drosselmeyer's nose got so red, nor why he did not join so much in the laughter as before. Probably there was some special reason for these things.
Speaker 1:Chapter 4, wonderful Events. We must now explain that in the sitting room on the left hand as you go in, there stands against the wall a high glass-fronted cupboard where all the children's Christmas presents are yearly put away to be kept. Louise the elder sister was still quite little when her father had this cupboard, constructed by a very skillful workman who had put in it such transparent panes of glass and altogether made the whole affair so splendid that the things when inside it looked almost more shining and lovely than when one had them actually in one's hands. In the upper shelves, which were beyond the reach of Fritz and Marie, were stowed Godpapa Drosselmeyer's works of art. Immediately under them was the shelf for the picture books. Fritz and Marie were allowed to do what they liked with the lower two shelves, but it always came about that the lowest one of all was where Marie put her dolls as their place of residence, while Fritz utilized the shelf above as cantonments for his troops, so that on the evening about which we are speaking, fritz had quartered his hussars in his the upper shelf of these two, marie had put Miss Gertrude rather in a corner, established her new doll in the well-appointed chamber there with all its appropriate furniture and invited herself to tea and cakes with her. This chamber was splendidly furnished, everything on a first-rate scale and in good and admirable style. As I have already said, I don't know if you, my observant listener, have the satisfaction of possessing an equally well-appointed room for your dolls a little beautifully flowered sofa, a number of the most charming little chairs, a nice little tea table and, above all, a beautiful little white bed where your pretty darlings of dolls go to sleep. All this was in a corner on the shelf, the walls of which, in this part, had beautiful little pictures hanging on them, and you might well imagine that, in such a delightful chamber as this, the new doll, whose name, as Marie had discovered, was Miss Clara, thought herself extremely comfortably settled and remarkably well off.
Speaker 1:Well off, it was getting very late, not so very far from midnight indeed. Before the children could tear themselves away from all these yuletide fascinations and God-Papa Drosselmeyer had been gone a considerable time, they remained riveted beside the glass cupboard, although their mother several times reminded them that it was long after bedtime. Yes, said Fritz, I know well enough that these poor fellows, meaning his hussars, are tired enough and awfully anxious to turn in for the night, though as long as I'm here, not a man-jack of them dares to nod his head, with which he went off. But Marie earnestly begged for just a little while longer, saying she had such a number of things to see to and promising that as soon as she had such a number of things to see to, and promising that as soon as she had them all settled, she would go to bed at once. Maria was a very good and reasonable child, and therefore her mother allowed her to remain a little longer with her toys. But lest she should be too much occupied with her new doll and the other playthings and would forget to put out the candles which were lighted all around on the wall sconces, she herself put all of them out, leaving merely the lamp which hung from the ceiling to give a soft and pleasant light. Come to bed soon, marie, or you'll never be up in time for the morning, cried her mother as she went away into the bedroom.
Speaker 1:As soon as Marie was alone, she set rapidly to work, to do what she most wanted to do, which, though she scarcely knew why, she somehow did not like to set about in her mother's presence. She had been holding Nutcracker, wrapped in the handkerchief carefully in her arms all this time, and now she laid him softly on the table, gently unrolled the handkerchief and examined his wounds. Nutcracker was very pale, but at the same time he was smiling with a melancholy and pathetic kindness that went straight to Marie's heart. Oh, my darling little Nutcracker, said she very softly, don't you be vexed because Brother Fritz has hurt you? He didn't mean it, you know. Vexed because Brother Fritz has hurt you? He didn't mean it. You know. He's only a little bit hardened with his soldiering and that. But he's a good, nice boy. I assure you, I'll take the greatest care of you and nurse you till you're quite, quite better and happy again, and your teeth shall be put in again for you and your shoulders set straight. God Papa Drosselmeyer will see to that. He knows how to do things of that kind.
Speaker 1:Marie could not finish what she was going to say because at the mention of Godpapa Drosselmeyer, friend Nutcracker made a most horrible ugly face. A sort of sharp green sparkle seemed to dart out of his eyes. This was only for an instant, however, and just as Marie was going to be terribly frightened, she found that she was looking at the very same nice, kindly face, with the pathetic smile which she had seen before, and she saw plainly that it was nothing but some draft of air making the lamp flicker that had seemed to produce the change. Well, she said, I certainly am a silly girl to be so easily frightened and think that a wooden doll could make faces at me. But I'm too fond really of nutcracker because he's so funny and so kind and nice With which she took him in her arms again, approached the cupboard and, kneeling down beside it, said to her new doll I'm going to ask a favor of you, miss Clara, that you will give up your bed to this poor, sick, wounded nutcracker and make yourself as comfortable as you can on the sofa here.
Speaker 1:Remember that you're well and strong yourself or you wouldn't have such fat red cheeks and that there are very few dolls who have as comfortable a sofa as this to lie upon. Miss Clara, in her Christmas full dress, looked very grand and disdainful and said not so much as boo Very well said, Marie, why should I make such a fuss and stand on any ceremony? Took the bed and moved it forward, laid Nutcracker carefully and tenderly upon it, wrapped another pretty ribbon taken from her own dress about his hurt shoulder and drew the bedclothes up to his nose. But he shan't stay with that nasty Clara, she said, and moved the bed with Nutcracker in it to the upper shelf shelf so that it was placed near the village in which Fritz's hussars had their cantonments. She closed the cupboard and was moving away to go to bed when listen children.
Speaker 1:There began a low, soft rustling and rattling and a sort of whispering noise all around, in all directions, from all quarters of the room, behind the stove, under the chairs, behind the cupboards. The clock on the wall warned louder and louder but could not strike. Marie looked at it and saw that the big gilt owl which was on the top of it had drooped its wings so that they covered the whole of the clock and had stretched its cat-like head with the crooked beak a long way forward. And the warning kept growing louder and louder with distinct words Clocks, clocks, stop ticking. No sound, but cautious. Warning. Mouse King's ears are fine. Purr, purr, only sing poom poom. Sing the olden song of doom. Sing the olden song of doom. Purr, purr, poom, poom. Bells go chime. Soon rings out the faded time. And then came poom poom, quite harshly and smothered several times.
Speaker 1:Marie grew terribly frightened and was going to rush away as best she could when she noticed that God-Papa Drosselmeyer was up on the top of the clock instead of the owl, with his yellow coattails hanging down on both sides like wings. But she manned herself and called out in a loud voice of anguish God-Papa, god-papa, what are you up there for? Come down to me, but don't frighten me so terribly, you naughty, naughty, godpapa Drosselmeyer. But then there began a sort of wild kicking and squeaking everywhere all around, and presently there was a sound as of running and trotting, as of thousands of little feet behind the walls, and thousands of little lights began to glitter out between the chinks of the woodwork. But they were not lights, no, no, little glittering eyes. And Marie became aware that everywhere mice were peeping and squeezing themselves out through every chink. Presently there were trotting and galloping in all directions over the room, orderly bodies, continually increasing of mice, forming themselves into regular troops and squadrons in good order, just as Fritz's soldiers did when maneuvers were going on.
Speaker 1:As Marie was not afraid of mice, as many children are, she could not help being amused by this, and her first alarm had nearly left her when suddenly there came such a sharp and terrible piping noise that the blood ran cold in her veins. Ah, what did she see then? Well, truly kind reader, I know that your heart is in the right place, just as much as my friend Field Marshal Fritz's is, but if you had seen what now came before Marie's eyes, you would have made a clean pair of heels of it. Nay, I consider that you would have plumped down into your bed and drawn the blankets further over your head than necessity demanded. But poor Marie hadn't in her the power to do any such thing. At her feet, as if impelled by some subterranean power, sand and lime and broken stone came bursting up, and then seven mouse heads with seven shining crowns upon them rose through the floor, hissing and piping in the most horrible way. Quickly, the body of the mouse, which had these seven crowned heads, forced its way up through the floor. This enormous creature shouted with its seven heads aloud to the assembled multitude, squeaking to them with all the seven mouths, in full chorus. Then the entire army set itself in motion and went trot, trot, trot, right up to the cupboard and in fact to Marie who is standing beside it.
Speaker 1:Marie's heart had been beating so with terror that she had thought it must jump out of her breast or she must die. But now it seemed to her as if the blood in her veins stood still, half fainting. She leaned backwards and then there was a clur-clur-purr and a pain of the cupboard broken by. Her elbow fell in shivers to the floor. She felt for a moment a sharp, stinging pain in her arm, but this seemed to make her heart lighter. She heard no more of the queeking and piping. Everything was quiet, and though she didn't dare to look, she thought the noise of the breaking glass had frightened the mice back to their holes.
Speaker 1:But what came to pass then? Right behind Marie, a movement seemed to commence in the cupboard and small, faint voices began to be heard saying "'Come awake, measures, take Out to the fight, out to the fight. Shield, the right Shield, the right Arm. In a way, this is the night'. And harmonica bells began ringing as prettily as you please. Oh there's my little peal of bells, cried Marie and went nearer and looked in. Then she saw that there was bright light in the cupboard and everything was busily in motion there dolls and little figures of various kinds all running about together and struggling with their little arms.
Speaker 1:At this point Nutcracker rose from his bed, cast off the bedclothes and sprang with both feet onto the floor of the shelf, crying out at the top of his voice knack, knack, knack, stupid mousy pack, all their skulls will crack, mousy pack, knack, knack, mousy pack, crick and crack. Cowardly lot of schnack. And with this he drew his little sword, waved it in the air and cried Ye, my trusty vassals, brethren and friends, are ye ready to stand by me in this great battle? Immediately, three scaramouches, one pantaloon, four chimney sweeps, two zither players and a drummer cried in eager accents yes, your highness, we will stand by you in loyal duty. We will follow you to death. Victory and the fray.
Speaker 1:And they precipitated themselves after Nutcracker who, in the excitement of the moment, had dared that perilous leap to the bottom shelf. Now, they might well dare this perilous leap, for not only had they got plenty of clothes on, of cloth and silk, but besides there was not much in their insides except cotton and sawdust, so that they plumped down like little wool sacks. But as for poor Nutcracker, he would certainly have broken his arms and legs, for, bethink you, it was nearly two feet from where he had stood on the shelf below, and his body was as fragile as if he had been made of elm wood. Yes, nutcracker would have broken his arms and legs, had not Miss Clara started up at the moment of his spring and received the hero drawn sword and all in her tender arms. Oh you, good, dear Clara, cried. Marie, how I did misunderstand you. I believe you were quite willing to let dear Nutcracker have your bed.
Speaker 1:But Miss Clara now cried as she pressed the young hero gently to her silken breast. Oh my lord, go not into this battle in danger, sick and wounded as you are. See how your trusty vassals, clowns and pantaloon chimney sweeps, zither men and drummer are already arrayed below and the puzzle figures in my shelf are in motion and preparing for the fray Dane, oh my lord, to rest in these arms of mine and contemplate your victory from a safe coin of vantage. Thus spoke Clara. But Nutcracker behaved so impatiently and kicked so with his legs that Clara was obliged to put him down on the shelf in a hurry. However, he at once sank gracefully on one knee and expressed himself as follows O lady, the kind protection and aid which you have afforded me will ever be present to my heart in battle and in victory. On this, clara bowed herself so as to be able to take hold of him by his arms, raised him gently up, quickly loosed her girdle, which was ornamented with many spangles, and would have placed it about his shoulders. But the little man swiftly drew himself two steps back, laid his hand upon his heart and said with much solemnity O lady, do not bestow this mark of your favor upon me. For he hesitated, gave a deep sigh, took the ribbon with which Marie had bound him from his shoulders, pressed it to his lips, put it on as a token and, waving his glittering sword, sprang like a bird over the ledge of the cupboard down to the floor. You will observe, kind listener, that Nutcracker, even before he really came to life, had felt and understood all Marie's goodness and regard, and that it was because of his gratitude and devotion to her that he would not take or even wear Miss Clara's ribbon, although it was exceedingly pretty and charming. This good, true-hearted Nutcracker preferred Marie's much commoner and less pretentious token. But what is going to happen now? At the moment when Nutcracker sprang down, the squeaking and piping began again, worse than ever. Alas, under the big table, the hordes of the mouse army had taken up a position densely massed under the command of the terrible mouse with the seven heads. So what is to be the result?
Speaker 1:Chapter 5. The Battle, the most splendid style, so that the windows of the glass cupboard rattled and resounded. Then there began a cracking and clattering inside and Marie saw all the lids of the boxes in which Fritz's army was quartered bursting open. The soldiers all came out and jumped down to the bottom shelf where they formed up in good order. Nutcracker hurried up and down the ranks, speaking words of encouragement.
Speaker 1:There's not a dog of a trumpeter taking the trouble to sound a call, he cried in a fury. Then he turned to the pantaloon, who was looking decidedly pale and wobbling his long chin. A good deal, he said in a solemn tone. I know how brave and experienced you are, general. What is essential here is a rapid comprehension of the situation and immediate utilization of the passing moment. I entrust you with the command of the cavalry and artillery. You can do without a horse. Your own legs are long and you can gallop on them as fast as necessary. Do your duty Immediately. Panteloon put his long, lean fingers to his mouth and gave such a piercing crow that it rang as if a hundred little trumpets had been sounding lustily.
Speaker 1:Then there began a tramping and a neighing in the cupboard, and Fritz's dragoons, and above all the new glittering hussars, marched out and they came to a halt, drawn up on the floor. They then marched past Nutcracker, by regiments, with guidons flying and bands playing. After this they wheeled into line and formed up at the right angles to the line of the march. Upon this, fritz's artillery came rattling up and formed action front in advance of the halted cavalry. Then it went, boom, boom, and Marie saw the sugarplums doing terrible execution among the thickly-masked mouse battalions, plums doing terrible execution among the thickly massed mouse battalions, which were powdered quite white by them and greatly put to shame. But a battery of heavy guns which had taken up a strong position on Mama's footstool was what did the greatest execution? And boom, boom, boom kept up the murderous fire of gingerbread nuts into the enemy's ranks with most destructive effect, mowing the mice down in great numbers. The enemy, however, was not materially checked in his advance and had even possessed himself of one or two of the heavy guns when there came a purr, purr, purr, and Marie could scarcely see what was happening for smoke and dust. But this much is certain that every corps engaged fought with the most bravery and determination possible, and it was for a long time doubtful which side would gain the day.
Speaker 1:The mice kept on developing fresh bodies of their forces as they were more advanced to the scene of action. Their little silver balls, like pills in size, which they delivered with great precision. Their musketry practice being especially fine, took effect even inside the glass cupboard. Clara and Gertrude ran up and down in utter despair, wringing their hands and loudly lamenting. Must I, the very loveliest doll in all the world, perish miserably in the very flower of my youth, cried Miss Clara. Oh, was it for this, wept Gertrude, that I have taken such pains to conserve myself all these years? Must I be shot here in my own drawing-room after all? On this, they fell into each other's arms and howled so terribly that you could hear them above all the din of the battle, for you would have no idea of the hurly-burly that went on.
Speaker 1:Now, dear listener. It went purr, purr, poof, piff, shudder-dang, shudder-dang, boom, baroom, boom, baroom, boom, all confusedly and higgledy-piggledy, and the mouse king and the mice squeaked and screamed, and then again Nutcracker's powerful voice was heard, shouting words of command and issuing important orders, and he was seen striding amongst his battalions in the thick of the fire. Panteloon had made several most brilliant cavalry charges and covered himself with glory, but Fritz's hussars were subjected by the mice to a heavy fire of very evil-smelling shot which made horrid spots on their red tunics. This caused them to hesitate and hang rather back for a time. Pantelune made them take ground to the left in echelon, and in the excitement of the moment, he with his dragoons, executed a somewhat analogous movement, that is to say they brought up the right shoulder, wheeled to the left and marched home to their quarters. This had the effect of bringing the battery of artillery on the footstool into imminent danger, and it was not long before a large body of exceedingly ugly mice delivered such a vigorous assault on this position that the whole of the footstool with the guns and gunners fell into the enemy's hands. Nutcracker seemed much disconcerted and ordered his right wing to commence a retrograde movement. A soldier of your experience, my dear Fritz, knows well that such a movement is almost tantamount to a regular retreat, and you grieve with me in anticipation for the disaster which threatens the armies of Marie's beloved little nutcracker. But turn your glance in the other direction and look at this left wing of nutcrackers, where all is still going well, and you will see that there is still much hope for the commander-in-chief and his cause. During the hottest part of the engagement, masses of mouse cavalry have been quietly debauching from under the chest of drawers and have subsequently made a most determined advance upon the left wing of Nutcracker's force, uttering loud and horrible squeakings.
Speaker 1:Slowly, as the nature of the terrain necessitated, for the ledge at the bottom of the cupboard had to be passed, the regiment of motto figures, commanded by two Chinese emperors, advanced and formed a square. These fine, brilliantly uniformed troops, consisting of gardeners, tyrolines, tunguses, hairdressers, harlequins, cupids, lions, tigers, unicorns and monkeys. Hairdressers, harlequins, cupids, lions, tigers, unicorns and monkeys fought with the utmost courage, coolness and steady endurance. This battle would have wrestled the victory from the enemy had not one of the mouse cavalry captains, pushing forward in a rash and foolhardy manner, made a charge upon one of the Chinese emperors and bitten off his head. This Chinese emperor, in his fall, knocked over and smothered a couple of tongue-gooses and a unicorn, and this created a gap through which the enemy affected a rush which resulted in the whole battalion being bitten to death. But the enemy gained little advantage by this, for as soon as one of the mouse cavalry soldiers bit one of these brave adversaries to death, he found that there was a small piece of printed paper sticking in his throat, of which he died in a moment. Still, this was of small advantage to Nutcracker's army which, having once commenced a retrograde movement, went on retreating further and further, suffering greater and greater loss.
Speaker 1:The unfortunate Nutcracker soon found himself driven back close to the front of the cupboard with a very small remnant of his army. Bring up the reserves, pantaloons, scaramooch, drummer, where the devil have you got to? Shouted the Nutcracker, who was still reckoning on reinforcements. From the cupboard in fact advanced a small contingent of brown gingerbread men and women with gilt faces, hats and helmets, but they laid about them so clumsily that they never hit any of the enemy and soon knocked off the cap of their commander-in-chief. Nutcracker himself and the enemy's chasers soon bit their legs off, so that they tumbled topsy-turvy and killed several of Nutcracker's companions-in-arms into the bargain.
Speaker 1:Nutcracker was now hard-pressed and closely hemmed in by the enemy and in a position of extreme peril he tried to jump the bottom ledge of the cupboard, but his legs were not long enough. Clara and Gertrude had fainted so they could give him no assistance. Hussars and heavy dragoons came charging up at him and he shouted in wild despair A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse. At this moment, two of the enemy's riflemen seized him by his wooden cloak and the king of the mice went rushing up to him, squeaking in triumph out of all his severed throats. Marie could contain herself no longer. Oh, my poor nutcracker, she sobbed, taking her left shoe off without very distinctly knowing what she was about. And poor nutcracker, she sobbed, taking her left shoe off without very distinctly knowing what she was about, and threw it as hard as she could into the thick of the enemy, straight at their king. Instantly, everything vanished and disappeared. All was silence, nothing was to be seen. But Marie felt a more stinging pain than before in her left arm and fell on the floor, insensible.
Speaker 1:Chapter Six, the Invalid. When Maria woke from a death-like sleep, she was lying in her little bed and the sun was shining brightly in. At the window, which was all covered with frost flowers, there was a strange gentleman sitting next to her, whom she recognized as Dr Wendelstern. She's awake, he said softly, and her mother came and looked at her very scrutinizingly and anxiously. Oh, mother, whispered Marie, are all those horrid mice gone away? And is Nutcracker quite safe? Don't talk such nonsense. Marie answered her mother.
Speaker 1:What have mice to do with Nutcracker? You're a very naughty girl and have caused us a great deal of anxiety. See what comes to children not doing as they're told. You were playing with your toys so late last night that you fell asleep. I don't know whether or not some mouse jumped out and frightened you though there are no mice here generally but you broke a pane of the glass cupboard with your elbow and cut your arm so badly that Dr Wendelstern, who has just taken a number of pieces of the glass out of your arm, thinks that if it had been a little higher up you might have had a stiff arm for life or even have bled to death. Thank heaven, I woke about twelve o'clock and missed you, and I found you lying insensible in front of the glass cupboard, bleeding frightfully, with a number of Fritz's lead soldiers scattered round you and other toys, broken motto figures and gingerbread men, and Nutcracker was lying on your bleeding arm with your left shoe not far off. Oh, mother, mother, said Marie. These were the remains of the tremendous battle between the toys and the mice, and what frightened me so terribly was that the mice were going to take Nutcracker, who was the commander-in-chief of the Tory army. They were going to take him prisoner. Then I threw my shoe in among the mice and after that I know nothing more that happened. Dr Wendelstern gave a significant look at the mother who said very gently to Marie Never mind, dear, keep yourself quiet. The mice are all gone away and Nutcracker's in the cupboard quite safe and sound here.
Speaker 1:Marie's father came in and had a long consultation with Dr Wendelstern. Then he felt Marie's pulse and she heard them talking about wound fever. She had to stay in bed and take medicine for some days, although she didn't feel at all ill, except that her arm was rather stiff and painful. She knew Nutcracker had got safe out of the battle and she seemed to remember, as if in a dream, that he had said quite distinctly in a very melancholy tone Marie, dearest lady, I am most deeply indebted to you, but it is in your power to do even more for me. She thought and thought what this could possibly be, but in vain and she couldn't make it out. She wasn't able to play on account of her arm, and when she tried to read or look through her picture books, everything wavered before her eyes so strangely that she was obliged to stop.
Speaker 1:The days seemed very long to her and she could scarcely pass the time till evening when her mother came and sat at her bedside telling and reading her all sorts of nice stories. She had just finished telling her the story of Prince Farkadin when the door opened and in came Godpapa Drosselmeyer, saying I've come to see with my own eyes how Marie's getting on. When Marie saw Godpapa Drosselmeyer in his little yellow coat, the scene of the night when the Nutcracker lost the battle with the mice came so vividly back to her that she couldn't help crying out oh God, papa Drosselmeyer, how nasty you were. I saw you quite well when you were sitting on the clock, covering it all over with your wings to prevent it from striking and frightening the mice. I heard you quite well when you called the Mouse King. Why didn't you help Nutcracker? Why didn't you help me, you nasty godpapa? It's nobody's fault but yours that I'm laying here with a bad arm. Her mother, in much alarm, asked what she meant. But Drosselmeyer began making extraordinary faces and said in a snarling voice, like a sort of chant in monotone Pendulums could only rattle, couldn't tick, never a click.
Speaker 1:All the clocks stopped their ticking, no more clicking. Then they all struck loud clang, clang. Dolls, don't hang your head down, clink and hank and honk and hank dolls. Girls, don't hang your heads, clink and ring. The battle's over. Nutcrack all safe and clover Comes. The owl on downy wing scares away the mouse's king. Pack and pick and pick and pook clocks, bim, boop, grr, grr. Pendulums must click again. Tick and tack, grr and brr, purr and purr.
Speaker 1:Marie fixed wide eyes of terror upon God-Papa Drosselmeyer because he was looking quite different and far more horrid than usual and was jerking his right arm backwards and forwards as if he were some puppet moved by a handle. She was beginning to grow terribly frightened at him when her mother came in and Fritz, who had arrived in the meantime, laughed heartily, saying why, god Papa, you are going on funnily, you're just like my old jumping jack that I threw away last month. But the mother looked very grave and said this is a most extraordinary way of going on, mr Drosselmeyer. What can you mean by it? My goodness, said Drosselmeyer laughing. Did you ever hear my nice watchmaker's song? I always sing it to little invalids like Marie.
Speaker 1:Then he hastened to sit down beside Marie's bed and said to her don't be vexed with me, because I didn't gouge out all the Mouse King's fourteen eyes. That couldn't be managed exactly. But to make up for it, here's something which I know will please you greatly. He dived into one of his pockets and what he slowly, slowly, brought out of it was Nutcracker, whose teeth he had put in again quite firmly and set his broken draw completely to right. Marie shouted for joy and her mother laughed and said Now you see for yourself how nice Godpapa Drosselmeyer is to Nutcracker.
Speaker 1:But you must admit, marie, said her Godpapa, that Nutcracker is far from being what you might call a handsome fellow, and you can't say he has a pretty face. If you like, I'll tell you how it was that the ugliness came to his family and has been handed down in one generation to another. Did you ever hear about the Princess Purpleette, the Witch Mouse Rink and the Clever Clockmaker? I say, godpapa Drosselmeyer, interrupted Fritz at this juncture You've put Nutcracker's teeth in again, all right, and his jaw isn't wobbly as it was. But what's become of his sword? Why haven't you given him a sword? Oh, said Drosselmeyer annoyed. You must always be bothering and finding fault with something or another boy. What have I to do with Nutcracker's sword. I've put his mouth to rights for him. He must look out for a sword himself. Yes, yes, said Fritz, he must, of course, if he's a right sort of fellow.
Speaker 1:So tell me, marie, continued Drosselmeyer, if you know the story of Princess Perlipat. Oh no, said Marie, tell it to me. Please, do tell it to me. I hope it won't be as strange and terrible as your stories generally are, said her mother. Oh, nothing of the kind, said Drosselmeyer. On the contrary, it's quite a funny story which I'm going to have the honor of telling this time. Go on, then, do tell it to us, cried the children, and Drosselmeyer, convinced, as follows the Story of the Hard Nut.
Speaker 1:Perlipat's mother was a king's wife, so that of course she was a queen, and Perlipat herself was born a princess by birth as soon as she ever was born. The king was quite beside himself with joy over his little beautiful daughter as she lay in her cradle, and he danced round, round upon one leg, crying again and again Hurrah, hurrah, hip, hip, hurrah. Did anybody see something so lovely as my little Perlipat? And all the ministers of state and the generals and presidents and the officers of the staff danced about on one leg as the king did, and cried as loud as they could no, no, never. Indeed, there was no denying that a lovelier baby than Princess Perlipat was never born since the world began.
Speaker 1:Her little face looked as if it were woven of the most delicate white and rose-colored silk. Her eyes were sparkling azure and her hair in all little curls like threads of gold. Moreover, she came into the world with two rows of little pearly teeth, with which, two hours after her birth, she bit the Lord, high Chancellor, in the fingers when he was making a careful examination of her features, so that he cried, oh Gemini. Quite loudly. There are persons who assert that oh Lord was the expression he employed, and opinions are still considerably divided on this point. At all events, she bit him in the fingers and the realm learned with much gratification that both intelligence and discrimination dwelt within her angelical little frame. All was joy and gladness, as I have said, save that the queen was very anxious and uneasy. Nobody could tell why. One remarkable circumstance was that she had Perlipat's cradle most scrupulously guarded. Not only were there always guards at the doors of the nursery, but over and above the two head nurses close to the cradle, there always had to be six other nurses all around the room at night, and what seemed rather a funny thing, which nobody could understand, was that each of these six nurses always had to have a cat in her lap and to keep on stroking it all night long, so that it would never stop purring. It is impossible to tell you, my dear listener, should you know, the reason of all these precautions, but I do and shall proceed to tell you at once.
Speaker 1:Once upon a time, many great kings and very great princes were assembled at Perlipat's father's court and very great things were afoot. Tournaments, theatricals and state balls were going on at the grandest scale, and the king, to show that he had no lack of gold and silver, made up his mind to make a good hole in the crown revenues for once and launch out regardless of expense. Wherefore, having previously ascertained privately from the state head, master Cook, that the court astronomer had indicated a propitious hour for pork butchering, he resolved to give a grand pudding and sausage banquet. He jumped into a state carriage and personally invited all the kings and the princes to a basin of soup, merely that he might enjoy their astonishment at the magnificence of the entertainment. Then he said to the queen very graciously my darling, you know exactly how I like my puddings and sausages. The queen quite understood what this meant. It meant that she should undertake the important duty of making the puddings and the sausages herself, which was a thing she had done on one or two previous occasions. So one of the chancellors was ordered to issue out of store the great golden sausage kettle and the silver casseroles. A great fire of sandalwood was kindled. The queen put on her damask kitchen apron and soon the most delicious aroma of pudding broth rose streaming out of the kettle. This sweet smell penetrated into the very council chamber. The king could not control himself. Excuse me for a few minutes, my lords and gentlemen. He cried, rushed into the kitchen, embraced the queen, stirred in the kettle a little with his golden scepter and then went back, easier in his mind, to the council chamber.
Speaker 1:The important moment had now arrived, when the fat had to be cut up into little square pieces and browned on silver spits. The ladies-in-waiting retired because the queen, from motives of love and duty to her royal consort, thought it proper to perform this important task in solitude. But when the fat began to brown, a delicate little whispering voice made itself audible, saying Give me some of that sister. I want some of it too. I am a queen as well as yourself. Give me some.
Speaker 1:The queen knew well who was speaking. It was Dame Mausrink, who had been established in the palace for many years. She claimed relationship to the royal family and she was queen of the realm of Mausolia herself and lived with a considerable retinue of her own under the kitchen hearth. The queen was a kind-hearted, benevolent woman and although she didn't exactly care to recognize Dame Mausrinck as a sister and a queen, she was willing at this festive season to spare her the tidbits she had a mind to. So she said come out, dame Mouserink, of course you shall taste my brown fat. So Dame Mouserink came running out as fast as she could, held up her pretty little paws and took morsel after morsel of the brown fat as the queen held them out to her. But then all Dame Mouserink's uncles and her cousins and her aunts came jumping out too, and her seven sons, who were terrible never-do-wells into the bargain, and they all set to at the brown fat and the queen was too frightened to keep them at bay. Most fortunately, the mistress of the robes came in and drove these impertinent visitors away, so that a little of the brown fat was left. And then, when the court mathematician, an excensior wrangler of his university, was called, in which he had to be on purpose, it was found possible, by means of skillfully designed apparatus provided with special micrometer screws and so forth, to apportion and distribute the fat among the whole of the sausages, etc.
Speaker 1:Under construction, the kettle, drums and the trumpets summoned all the great princes and potentates to the feast. They assembled in their robes of state, some of them on white palfreys, some in crystal coaches. The king received them with such gracious ceremony and took his seat at the head of the table with his crown on and his scepter in his hand. Even during the serving of the white pudding course, it was observed that he turned pale and raised his eyes to heaven. Sighs heaved his bosom. Some inward terrible pain was clearly raging within him. But when the black puddings were handed round he fell back in his seat, loudly sobbing and groaning. Everyone rose from the table and the court physician tried in vain to feel his pulse.
Speaker 1:Ultimately, after the administration of most powerful remedies, burnt feathers and the like, his Majesty seemed to recover his senses to some extent and stammered scarce audibly the words Too little fat. The queen cast herself down at his feet in despair and cried in a voice broken by sobs oh, my poor, unfortunate royal consort, Ah, what tortures you are doomed to endure. But see the culprit here at your feet. Punish her severely. Alas, dame Mouse Rank, her uncles, her seven sons, her cousins and her aunts came up and ate nearly all the fat, and here the queen fell back insensible. But the king jumped up all anger and cried in a terrible voice Mistress of the Robes, what is the meaning of this? The Mistress of the Robes told all she knew and the king resolved to take revenge on Dame Mouserink and her family for eating up the fat which ought to have been in the sausages. The council was summoned and it was resolved that Dame Mausrinck should be tried for her life and all her property confiscated. But as His Majesty was of the opinion that she might go on consuming the fat which was his, the whole matter was referred to the court clockmaker and arcanist whose name was the same as mine, christian Elias Drosselmeyer, and he undertook to expel Dame Mausrinck and all her relations from the palace precincts forever. By means of a certain politico-diplomatic procedure, he invented certain ingenious little machines into which brown pieces of fat were inserted and he placed these machines down.
Speaker 1:All about the dwelling of Dame Mouserink. Enticed by the fragrant odor of the brown fat, all her seven sons and a great many of her uncles, cousins and aunts walked into Drosselmeyer's little machines and were immediately taken prisoners by the fall of a small grating, after which they met with a shameful death in the kitchen. Dame Mouserink left this scene of horror with her small following. Rage and despair filled her breast of horror. With her small following, rage and despair filled her breast. The court rejoiced greatly.
Speaker 1:The queen was very anxious because she knew Dame Mouserink's character and knew well that she would never allow the death of her sons and other relatives to go unavenged. And in fact, one day, when the queen was cooking a fricassee of the sheep's lights for the king, a dish to which he was exceedingly partial, dame Mouserink suddenly made her appearance and said my sons and my uncles, my cousins and my aunts are now no more. Have a care, lady, lest the queen of the mice bites your little princess in two. Have a care. With which she vanished and was no more seen. But the queen was so frightened that she dropped the fricassee into the fire. No more seen, but the queen was so frightened that she dropped the fricassee into the fire. So this was the second time Dane Mouserank spoiled one of the king's favorite dishes, at which he was very irate.
Speaker 1:But this is enough for tonight, we'll go on with the rest of it another time, said Drosselmeyer Sorely, as Marie, who had ideas of her own about this story, begged Godpapa Drosselmeyer to go on with it. He would not be persuaded but jumped up. Saying Too much at a time wouldn't be good for you. The rest tomorrow. Just as Drosselmeyer was going out of the door, fritz said I say, Godpapa Drosselmeyer, was it really you who invented mousetraps? How can you ask such silly questions, cried his mother. But Drosselmeyer laughed oddly and said Well, you know, I'm a clever clockmaker. Mousetraps had to be invented sometime or other. And now you know children, said Godpapa Drosselmeyer the next evening why it was.
Speaker 1:The queen took such precautions about her little perlipat. Had she not always the fear before her eyes of Dame Mouserink coming back and carrying out her threat of biting the princess to death? Drosselmeyer's ingenious machines were of no avail against the clever crafty Dame Mouserink. And nobody save the court astronomer, who was also state astrologer and reader of the stars, knew that the family of the cat Purr had the power to keep her at bay. This was the reason why each of the lady nurses was obliged to keep one of the sons of that family, each of whom was given the honorary rank and title of Privy Counselor of Legation, in her lap and render his honoris studi less irksome by gently scratching his back.
Speaker 1:One night, just after midnight, one of the chief nurses stationed close to the cradle woke suddenly from a profound sleep. Everything lay buried in slumber, not a purr to be heard, deep, death-like silence, so that the death-watch tickling in the wainscot sounded quite loud. So that the death-watch tickling in the wainscot sounded quite loud. What were the feelings of this principal nurse when she saw close beside her a great, hideous mouse standing on its hind legs, with its horrid head laid on the princess's face? She sprang up with a scream of terror.
Speaker 1:Everybody awoke, but then Dame Mouserink for she was the great big mouse in Perlipat's cradle ran quickly away into the corner of the room. The privy counselors of legation dashed after her, but too late. She was off and away through a chink in the floor. The noise awoke Perlipat, who cried terribly. Heaven be thanked she's still alive, cried all the nurses. But what was their horror when they looked at Perla Pat and saw what the beautiful, delicate little thing had turned into An enormous, bloated head instead of the pretty little golden haired one at the top of a diminutive, crumpled up body and green, wooden looking eyes staring where the lovely azure-blue pair had been whilst her mouth had stretched across from one ear to the other.
Speaker 1:Of course, the queen nearly died of weeping and loud lamentation, and the walls of the king's study had to be hung with padded arras because he kept on banging his head against them, crying oh what a wretched king I am. Oh wretched king that I am. Of course he might have seen then that it would have been much better to eat his puddings with no fat in them at all and let Dame Mouserink and her family stay on the hearthstone. But Perlipat's royal father did not think of that. What he did was to lay all the blame on the court clockmaker and arcanist Christian Elias Drosselmeyer of Nuremberg, wherefore he promulgated a sapient edict to the effect that said Drosselmeyer should, within the space of four weeks, restore Princess Perlipat to her pristine condition, or at least indicate an unmistakable and reliable process whereby that might be accomplished, or else suffer a shameful death by the acts of the common headsman. Drosselmeyer was not a little alarmed, but he soon began to place confidence in his art and in his luck. So he proceeded to execute the first operation which seemed to him to be expedient. He took Princess Perlipat very carefully to pieces, screwed off her hands and feet and examined her interior structure. Unfortunately, he found that the bigger she got, the more deformed she would be, so that he didn't see what was to be done at all. He put her carefully together again and sank down beside her cradle, which he wasn't allowed to go away from, in the deepest dejection.
Speaker 1:The fourth week had come, and Wednesday of the fourth week, when the king came in with eyes gleaming with anger, made threatening gestures with his scepter and cried Christian Elias Drosselmeyer, restore the princess or prepare for death. Drosselmeyer began to weep bitterly. The little princess kept on cracking nuts, an occupation which seemed to afford her much quiet satisfaction. For the first time, the arcanist was struck by Perlipat's remarkable appetite for nuts and the circumstance that she had been born with teeth and the fact had been that immediately after her transformation she had begun to cry and had gone on crying till, by chance, she got hold of a nut. She at once cracked it and ate the kernel, after which she was quite quiet.
Speaker 1:From that time, her nurses found that nothing would do but to go on giving her nuts. Oh, holy instinct of nature eternal, go on giving her nuts. O holy instinct of nature eternal. Mysterious, inscrutable interdependence of things, cried Drosselmeyer. Thou pointest out to me the door of the secret. I will knock and it shall be opened unto me. He at once begged for an interview with the court astronomer and was conducted to him closely guarded. They embraced with many tears, for they were great friends, and then retired into a private closet where they referred to many books, treating of sympathies, antipathies and other mysterious subjects.
Speaker 1:Night came on. The court astronomer consulted the stars and, with the assistance of Drosselmeyer himself an adept in astrology, drew the princess's horoscope. This was an exceedingly difficult operation, for the lines kept getting more and more entangled and confused for ever so long. But at last oh, what a joy. It lay plain before them that all the princess had to do to be delivered from the enchantment which made her so hideous and get back her former beauty, was to eat the sweet kernel of the nut crackatook. Now, this nut crackatook had a shell so hard that you might have fired a 48-pounder at it without producing the slightest effect on it. Moreover, it was essential that this nut should be cracked in the princess's presence by the teeth of a man whose beard had never known a razor and who had never had on boots. This man had to hand the kernel to her with his eyes closed, and he might not open them till he had made seven steps backwards without a stumble.
Speaker 1:Drosselmeyer and the astronomer had been at work at this problem uninterruptedly for three days and three nights, and on the Saturday the king was sitting at dinner when Drosselmeyer, who was to have been beheaded on the Sunday morning, burst in joyfully to announce that he had found out what he had to be done to restore Princess Perlipat to her pristine beauty. The king embraced him in a burst of rapture and promised him a diamond sword, four decorations and two holiday suits, set to work immediately after dinner. The monarch cried four decorations and two holiday suits, set to work immediately after dinner. The monarch cried, adding kindly take care, dear arcanist, that the young, unshaven gentleman in shoes with the nut crackatook already in his hand is on the spot, and be sure that he touches no liquor beforehand so that he mayn't trip up when he makes his seven backward steps like a crab. Mayn't trip up. When he makes his seven backward steps like a crab. He can get as drunk as a lord afterwards if he likes.
Speaker 1:Drosselmeyer was dismayed at this utterance of the king's and stammered out, not without trembling and hesitation, that though the remedy was discovered, both the nut crackatook and the young gentleman who was to crack it had still to be searched for, and that it was a matter of doubt whether they would ever be found at all. The king, greatly incensed, whirled his scepter round his crowned head and shouted in the voice of a lion Very well then, you must be beheaded. It was exceedingly fortunate for the wretched Drosselmeyer that the king had thoroughly enjoyed his dinner that day and was consequently in an admirable temper and disposed to listen to the sensible advice which the queen, who was very sorry for Drosselmeyer, did not hesitate to give him. Drosselmeyer took heart and represented that he really had fulfilled the conditions, discovered the necessary measures and gained his life. Consequently, the king said this was all bosh and nonsense, but at length, after two or three glasses of liquors, decreed Drosselmeyer and the astronomer should start off immediately and not come back without the nut crackatook in their pockets. The man who was to crack it by the queen's suggestion might be heard of by means of advertisements in the local and foreign newspapers and gazettes. Godpapa Drosselmeyer interrupted his story at this point and promised to finish it on the following evening.
Speaker 1:Next evening, as soon as the lights were brought, Godpapa Drosselmeyer duly arrived and went on with his story as follows. Drosselmeyer and the court astronomer had been journeying for 15 long years without finding the slightest trace of the nut crackatook. Drosselmeyer and the court astronomer had been journeying for fifteen long years without finding the slightest trace of the nut-krakatoog. I might go on for more than four weeks telling you where all they had been and what extraordinary things they had seen. I shall not do so, however, but merely mention that Drosselmeyer, in his profound discouragement, at last began to feel a most powerful longing to see his dear native town of Nuremberg once again.
Speaker 1:And he was more powerfully moved by this longing than usual one day when he happened to be smoking a pipe of canister with his friend in the middle of a great forest in Asia and cried O Nuremberg, nuremberg, dear native town. He who still knows thee not. Nuremberg, dear native town, he who still knows thee not place of renown, though far he has traveled in great cities seen as London and Paris, and Peterwardine knoweth not what it is happy to be, still must his longing heart languish for thee, for thee O Nuremberg, exquisite town where houses have windows both upstairs and down. As Drosselmeyer lamented dolefully, the astronomer seized with compassionate sympathy, began to weep and howl so terribly that he was heard throughout the length and breadth of Asia. But he collected himself again, wiped his tears from his eyes and said After all, dearest colleague, why should we sit and weep and howl here? Why not go to Nuremberg? Does it matter a brass farthing after all, where and how we search for this horrible nut Krakatoog? That's true too, answered Drosselmeyer consoled. They both got up immediately, knocked the ashes out of their pipes, started off and traveled straight on, without stopping from that forest right in the center of Asia, till they came to Nuremberg.
Speaker 1:As soon as they got there, drosselmeyer went straight to his cousin, the toy maker and doll carver and gilder and varnisher, whom he had not seen for a great many long years, had not seen for a great many long years. To him he told all the tale of Princess Perlipat, dame Mouserink and the Nut-Krakatoog, so that he clapped his hands repeatedly and cried in amazement "'Dear me, cousin, these things are really wonderful, very wonderful indeed'. Drosselmeyer told him further some of the adventures he had met with on his long journey how he had spent two years at the court of the King of Dates, how the Prince of Almonds had expelled him from his territory, how he had applied in vain to the Natural History Society at Squirreltown, in short, how he had been everywhere utterly unsuccessful in discovering the faintest trace of the nut Krakatoog. During this narrative, christoph Zacharias had kept himself frequently tapping his fingers, twisting himself round on one foot, smacking with his tongue, etc. Then he cried I, I, oh, that really would be the very deuce and all. At last he threw his hat and wig in the air, warmly embraced his cousin and cried At last he threw his hat and wig in the air, warmly embraced his cousin and cried Cousin, cousin, you're a made man. A made man you are, for either I am much deceived or I have the nut crackatook myself. He immediately produced a little cardboard box out of which he took a gilded nut of medium size. Look here, he said, showing this nut to his cousin. The state of matters as regards this nut is this Several years ago at Christmas time, a stranger came here with a sack of nuts which he offered for sale.
Speaker 1:Just in front of my shop. He got into a quarrel and put the sack down the better to defend himself from the nut sellers of the place who attacked him. Just then a heavily loaded wagon drove over the sack and all the nuts were smashed but one. The stranger, with an odd smile, offered to sell me this nut for a 20-crowser piece of the year 1796. This struck me as strange. I found such a coin in my pocket, so I bought the nut and I gilt it, though I didn't know why I took the trouble or should have given so much for it. All question as to it really being the long-sought nut. Krakatuk was dispelled when the court astronomer carefully scraped away the gilding and found the word Krakatuk graven on the shell in Chinese characters. Duke, graven on the shell in Chinese characters.
Speaker 1:The joy of the exiles was great, as you may imagine, and the cousin was even happier, for Drosselmeyer assured him that he was a made man too, as he was sure of a good pension and all the gold leaf he would want for the rest of his life. For his gilding free, gratis for nothing. The arcanist and the astronomer both had on their nightcaps and were going to turn into bed when the astronomer said I tell you what it is, my good colleague, one piece of good fortune never comes alone. I feel convinced that we've not only found the nut, but the young gentleman who is to crack it and hand the beauty-restoring colonel to the princess into the bargain. I mean none other than your cousin's son here, and I don't intend to close an eye this night till I've drawn that youngster's horoscope With which he threw away his nightcap and at once set to work to consult the stars.
Speaker 1:The cousin's son was a nice looking, well-grown young fellow, had never been shaved and had never worn boots. True, he had been a jumping jack for a Christmas or two in his earlier days, but there was scarcely any trace of this discoverable about him. His appearance had been so altered by his father's care. He had appeared last Christmas in a beautiful red coat with gold trimmings, a sword by his side, his hat under his arm and a fine wig with a pigtail. Thus appareled, he stood in his father's shop, exceedingly lovely to behold, and from his native gallantry he occupied himself in cracking nuts for the young ladies who called him the handsome Nutcracker.
Speaker 1:Next morning, the astronomer fell with much emotion into the arcanist's arms, crying this is the very man. We have him, he is found Only, dearest colleague, two things we must carefully keep in view. In the first place, we must construct a most substantial pigtail for this precious nephew of yours, which shall be connected with his lower jaw in such sort that it shall be capable of communicating a very powerful pull to it. And next, when we get back to the residence, we must carefully conceal the fact that we have brought the young gentleman who is to shiver the nut back with us. He must not make his appearance for a considerable time after us. I read in the horoscope that if two or three others bite at the nut unsuccessfully to begin with, the king will promise the man who breaks it and, as a consequence, restores her good looks to the princess, the princess will promise the man who breaks it and, as a consequence, restores her good looks to the princess, the princess's hand and the succession of the crown. The dollmaker cousin was immensely delighted with the idea of his sons marrying Princess Perlipat and being a prince and king, so he gave him wholly over to the envoys to do what they liked with him. The pigtail which Drosselmeyer attached to him proved to be a very powerful and efficient instrument, as he exemplified by cracking the hardest of peach stones with utmost ease.
Speaker 1:Drosselmeyer and the astronomer having at once sent news to the residents of the discovery of the nut-crackatook, the necessary advertisements were at once put in the newspapers, and by the time that our travelers got there, several nice young gentlemen had arrived, among whom there were even princes who had sufficient confidence in their teeth to try to disenchant the princess. Body with tiny hands and feet was not big enough to support the great, shapeless head. The hideousness of the face was enhanced by a beard like white cotton which had grown about the mouth and chin. Everything had turned out as the court astronomer had read it in the horoscope One milk sop and shoes after another bit his teeth and his jaws into agonies over the nut, without doing the princess the slightest good in the world. And then, when he was carried out on the verge of insensibility by the dentists who were in attendance on purpose, he would sigh Ah dear, that was a hard nut.
Speaker 1:Now, when the king, in the anguish of his soul, had promised to him who should disenchant the princess, his daughter and the kingdom. The charming young Drosselmeyer made his appearance and begged to be allowed to make an attempt. None of the previous ones had pleased the princess so much. She pressed her little hands to her heart and sighed Ah, I hope it will be he who crack the nut and be my husband. When he had politely saluted the king, the queen and the princess Perlipat, he received the nut crackatook from the hands of the clerk of the closet, put it between his teeth, made a strong effort with his head and crack, crack. The shell was shattered into a number of pieces. He neatly cleared the kernel from the pieces of husk which were sticking to it and making a leg, presented it courteously to the princess, after which he closed his eyes and began his backward steps.
Speaker 1:The princess swallowed the kernel and, oh marvel, the monstrosity vanished and in its place there stood a wonderfully beautiful lady with a face which seemed woven of delicate lily white and rose-red silk, eyes of sparkling azure and hair in all little curls like threads of gold Trumpets and kettle drums. Mingled in the loud rejoicings of the populace, the king and all his court danced about on one leg, as they had done at Perlipat's birth, and the queen had to be treated with au-de-cologne, having fallen into a fainting fit with joy and delight, alone having fallen into a fainting fit with joy and delight. All this tremendous tumult interfered not a little with young Drosselmeyer's self-possession, for he still had to make his seven backward steps. But he collected himself as best he could and was just stretching out with his right foot to make his seventh step when up came Dame Mouserink, through the floor, making a horrible weaking and squeaking so that Drosselmeyer, as he was putting his foot down, trod upon her and stumbled so that he almost fell. Oh misery. All.
Speaker 1:In an instant he was transmogrified, just as the princess had been before. His body all shriveled up and could scarcely support the great, shapeless head with enormous projecting eyes and the wide, gaping mouth. In the place where his pigtail used to be, a scanty wooden cloak hung down, controlling the movements of his nether jaw. The clockmaker and the astronomer were wild with terror and consternation. But they saw that Dame Mouserink was wallowing in her gore on the floor. Her wickedness had not escaped punishment, for young Drosselmeyer had squashed her so in the throat with the sharp point of his shoe that she was mortally hurt.
Speaker 1:But as Dame Mouserink lay in her death agony. She squeaked and cheeped lamentably and cried O Krakatuk, thou nut so hard. O fate which none may disregard, hee-hee-pee-pee, woes me. I cry, since I, through that hard nut, must die. But brave, young Nutcracker, I see you soon must follow after me. My sweet young son with sevenfold crown will soon bring Master Cracker down His mother's death. He will repay. So, nutcracker, beware that day. O life must sweet. I feebly cry. I leave you now, for I must die Queek. With this cry died Dame Mouserink, and her body was carried out by the court stove lighter Meantime nobody had been troubling himself about young Drosselmeyer, but the princess reminded the king of his promise and he at once directed that the young hero should be conducted to his presence.
Speaker 1:But when the poor wretch came forward in his transmogrified condition, the princess put both her hands to her face and cried oh please, take away that horrid nutcracker. The Lord Chamberlain seized him immediately by his little shoulders and shied him out of the door. The king, furious at the idea of a nutcracker being brought before him as a son-in-law, laid all the blame upon the clockmaker and the astronomer and ordered them both to be banished forever. The horoscope which the astronomer had drawn in Nuremberg had said nothing about this, but that didn't hinder him from taking some fresh observations, as the stars told him that young Drosselmeyer would conduct himself so admirably in his new condition that he would still be a prince and a king in spite of his transmogrification, but also that his deformity would only disappear after the son of Dame Mouserink, the seven-headed king of the mice whom she had born after the death of her original seven sons, should perish by his hand and a lady shall fall in love with him, notwithstanding his deformity. This is the story of the hard nut children, and now you know why people so often use the expression that was a hard nut to crack and why nutcrackers are so ugly. Thus did Godpapa Drosselmeyer finish his tale. Marie thought the princess Perlipat was a nasty, ungrateful thing. Fritz, on the other hand, was of the opinion that if Nutcracker had been a proper sort of fellow, he would have soon settled the Mouse King's hash and got his good looks back again.
Speaker 1:Chapter 7. Uncle and Nephew, should any of my respected listeners ever have happened to be cut by glass, they will know what an exceedingly nasty thing it is and how long it takes to heal. Marie was obliged to stay in bed a whole week because she felt so terribly giddy whenever she tried to stand up, but at last she was quite well again and able to jump about. As of old Things in the glass cupboard looked very fine indeed, everything new and shiny trees and flowers and houses, toys of every kind. Above all, marie found her dear Nutcracker again smiling at her on the second shelf with his teeth all sound and right.
Speaker 1:As she looked at this pet of hers with much fondness, it suddenly struck her that all Godpapa Drosselmeyer's story had been about Nutcracker and his family feud with Dame Mouserink and her people. And now she knew that her Nutcrack was none other than the young Mr Drosselmeyer of Nuremberg, godpapa Drosselmeyer's delightful nephew, unfortunately under the spells of Dame Mouserink. For while the story was being told, marie couldn't doubt for a moment that the clever clockmaker at Perlipat's father's court was Godpapa Drosselmeyer himself. But why didn't your uncle help you? Why didn't he help you? Marie cried sorrowfully as she felt more and more clearly every moment that in the battle which she had witnessed, the question and dispute had been no less a matter than Nutcracker's crown and kingdom. Weren't all the other toys his subjects? And wasn't it clear that the astronomer's prophecy that he was to be rightful king of Toyland had come true.
Speaker 1:While the clever Marie was weighing all these things in her mind, she kept expecting that Nutcracker and his vassals would give some indications of being alive and make some movement. As she looked at them, this, however, was by no means the case. As she looked at them, this, however, was by no means the case. Everything in the cupboard kept quite motionless, and still. Marie thought this was the effect of Dame Mouserink's enchantments and those of her seven-headed son, which still were keeping up their power. But she said, though you're not able to move or, to say the least, little word to me. Dear Mr Drosselmeyer, I know you understand me and see how very well I wish you. Always. Reckon on my assistance when you require it. At all events, I will ask your uncle to aid you with all his great skill and talents whenever there may be an opportunity. Nutcracker still kept quiet and motionless, but Marie fancied that a gentle sigh came breathing through the glass cupboard, which made its pains ring in a wonderful, though all but imperceptible manner, while something like a little bell-toned voice seemed to sing Marie, fine angel, mine, I will be thine if thou wilt be mine, although a sort of cold shiver ran through her at this. Still it caused her the keenest pleasure.
Speaker 1:Twilight came on. Marie's father came in with Godpapa Drosselmeyer and presently Louise set out the tea table and the family took their places around it, talking in the pleasantest and merriest manner about all sorts of things. Marie had taken her little stool and sat down at her godpapa's feet in silence when everybody happened to cease talking. At the same time, marie looked at her godpapa full in the face with her great blue eyes and said I know now, godpapa, that my nutcracker is your nephew, young Mr Drosselmeyer from Nuremberg. The prophecy has come true. He is a king and a prince, just as your friend the astronomer said he would be. But you know as well as I do that he is at war with Dame Mouserink's son, that horrid king of the mice. Why don't you help him?
Speaker 1:Marie told the whole story of the battle as she had witnessed it and was frequently interrupted by the loud laughter of her mother and sister. But Fritz and Drosselmeyer listened quite gravely. Where in the name of goodness has the child got her head filled with all that nonsense, cried her father. She has such a lively imagination. You see, said her mother. She'll dreamt it all when she was feverish with her arm. It is all nonsense, cried Fritz. And it isn't true. My red hustlers are not such cowards as that. If they were, do you suppose I would command them? But Godpapa smiled strangely and took little Marie on his knee, speaking more gently to her than ever he had been known to do before. More is given to you, marie, dear, he said, than to me or the others. You are a born princess like Perlipat and reign in a bright, beautiful country, but you still have much to suffer if you mean to befriend poor transformed Nutcracker, for the king of the mice lies in wait for him at every turn. But I cannot help him. You and you alone can do that. So be faithful and true. Neither Marie nor any of the others knew what God-Papa Drosselmeyer meant by these words, but they struck Dr Stahlbaum, marie's father, as being so strange that he felt Drosselmeyer's pulse and said there seems to be a good deal of congestion about the head. My dear sir, I'll write you a little prescription. But Marie's mother shook her head meditatively and said I have a strong idea what Mr Drosselmeyer means, though I can't exactly put it in words.
Speaker 1:Chapter 8. Victory. It was not very long before Marie was awakened one bright moonlight night by a curious noise which came from one of the corners of her room. There was a sound as of small stones being thrown and rolled here and there, and intermittently there came a horrid cheeping and squeaking. Oh dear me, here are those abominable mice again, cried Marie in terror, and she wanted to awaken her mother. But the noise suddenly ceased and she could not move a muscle, for she saw the king of the mice working himself out through a hole in the wall. At last he came into the room, ran about in it and got onto the little table at the head of the bed with a great jump. He, he, he, he cried give me your candy. Out with your cakes, marzipan and sugar stick, gingerbread cakes. Don't argue, don't pause. If yield them you won't, I'll chew up nutcracker, see if I don't. As he cried out these terrible words, he gnashed and chattered his teeth most frightfully and then made off again through the hole in the wall.
Speaker 1:This frightened Marie so that she was quite pale in the morning and so upset that she scarcely could utter a word. A hundred times she felt impelled to tell her mother or her sister, or at all events her brother what had happened. But she thought of course none of them would believe me, they would only laugh at me. But she saw well enough that to save the nutcracker she would have to sacrifice all her sweet things. So she laid out all she had of them at the bottom of the cupboard.
Speaker 1:Next evening I can't make out how the mice have got into the sitting room said her mother. This is something quite new. There never were any there before. See, marie, they've eaten up all your candy. And so it was the epicure Mouse King hadn't found the marzipan altogether in his taste, but had gnawed all around the edges of it, so that what he had left of it had to be thrown into the ash pit. Marie did not mind about her candy, being delighted to think that she had saved Nutcracker by means of it. But what were her feelings when next night there came again a squeaking close to her ear? Alas, the king of the mice was there again with his eyes glaring worse than the night before. Give me your sugar toys, he cried. Give them, you must, or else I'll chew Nutcracker up into dust. Then he was gone again. Marie was very sorry.
Speaker 1:She had as beautiful a collection of sugar toys, as ever a little girl could boast of. Not only had she a charming little shepherd with his shepherdess looking after a flock of milk-white sheep, with a nice dog jumping about them, but two postmen with letters in their hands and four couples of prettily dressed young gentlemen and most beautifully dressed young ladies swinging in a Russian swing. Then there were two or three dancers and behind them Farmer Feldkummer and the maid of Orleans. Marie didn't care much about them, but back in the corner there was a little baby with red cheeks, and this was Marie's darling. The tears came to her eyes. Ah, she cried. Turning to Nutcracker, I really will do all I can to help you, but it's very hard. Nutcracker looked at her so piteously that she determined to sacrifice everything, for she remembered the Mouse King with all his seven mouths wide open to swallow the young poor fellow. So that night she set down all her sugar figures in front of the cupboard, as she had the candy the night before, as she had the candy the night before. She kissed the shepherd, the shepherdess and the lambs and at last she brought her best-loved of all, the little red-cheeked baby, from its corner, but did put a little further back than the rest. The farmer and the maid had to stand in the front rank. This is really getting too bad, said Marie's mother. The next morning. Some nasty mouse or other must have made a hole in the glass cupboard, for poor Marie's sugar figures are all eaten and gnawed. Marie really could not restrain her tears, but she was soon able to smile again, for she thought what does it matter? Nutcracker is safe.
Speaker 1:In the evening Marie's mother was telling her father and Godpapa Drosselmeyer about the mischief which some mouse was doing in the children's cupboard, and her father said it's Fritz, intervened and remarked I'll go get hold of him and he'll put soon a stop to it and bite the mouse's head off, even if it's Dame Mouserink herself or her son, the King of the Mice. Oh yes, said the mother laughing, and jump up on the chairs and tables, knock down the cups and glasses and do ever so much mischief besides. No, no, answered Fritz, the baker's counselor of legations, a very clever fellow. I wish I could walk about on the edge of a roof as he does. Don't let us have a nasty cat in the house that night time, said Louise, who hated cats. Fritz is quite right, though, said their mother, unless we set a trap? Haven't we got such a thing in the house? God, papa Drosselmeyer's the man to get us one, said Fritz. It was he who invented them, you know. Everybody laughed. And when their mother said they did not possess such a thing, drosselmeyer said he had plenty. And he actually sent a very fine one round.
Speaker 1:That day, when the cook was browning the fat, marie, with her head full of the marvels of her godpapa's tale, called out to her Ah, take care, queen, remember Dame Mous Rink and her people. But Fritz drew his sword and said let them come if they dare, I'll give an account of them. But everything about the hearth remained quiet and undisturbed as Drosselmeyer was fixing the brown fat on the fine thread and setting the trap gently down in the glass cupboard. Fritz cried Now, god-papa Clockmaker, mind that the Mouse King doesn't play you some trick.
Speaker 1:Ah, how did it fare with Marie that night? Something as cold as ice went tripping about on her arm and something rough and nasty laid itself on her cheek and cheeped and squeaked in her ear. The horrible Mouse King came and sat on her shoulder, foamed a blood-red foam out of all his seven mouths and, chattering and grinding his teeth, he hissed into Marie's ear, hiss, hiss, keep away, don't go in there. Beware of that house, don't you be caught. Death to the mouse. Hand out your picture books, none of your scornful looks. Give me your dresses, also your laces, or if you don't leave you, I won't Nutcracker, I'll bite. Drag him out of your sight. His last hour is near, so tremble for fear. Fee, fa, fo fum, his last hour has come. Hee, hee, pee, pee, squeak, squeak.
Speaker 1:Marie was overwhelmed with anguish and sorrow and was looking quite pale and upset when her mother said to her next morning this horrid mouse hasn't been caught. But never mind, dear, we'll catch the nasty thing yet, never fear. If the traps don't work, fritz shall fetch the grey counsellor of legation. As soon as Marie was alone, she went up to the glass cupboard and said to Nutcracker in a voice broken by sobs Ah, my dear good Mr Drosselmeyer, what can I do for you, poor, unfortunate girl that I am? Even if I give that horrid king of the mice all my picture books and my new dress, which the Christ child gave me at Christmas as well, he's sure to go on asking for more Soon. I shan't have anything more left and he'll want to eat me. Oh, poor thing that I am. What shall I do? What shall I do?
Speaker 1:As she was thus crying and lamenting, she noticed a great spot of blood had been left since the eventful night of the battle, upon Nutcracker's neck. Since she had known that he was really young, mr Drosselmeyer, her godpapa's nephew, she had given up carrying him in her arms and petting and kissing him. Indeed, she felt a delicacy about touching him at all. But now she took him carefully out of his shelf and began to wipe off this blood spot with her handkerchief. What were her feelings when she found that Nutcracker was growing warmer and warmer in her hand and beginning to move?
Speaker 1:She put him back in the cupboard as fast as she could. Her mouth began to wobble backwards and forwards and he began to whisper with much difficulty Ah, dearest Miss Stahlbaum, most precious of friends, how deeply I am indebted to you for everything, for everything. But don't, don't sacrifice any of your picture books or pretty dresses for me. Get me a sword. A sword is what I want. If you get me that, I'll manage. The rest, though he may.
Speaker 1:There, nutcracker's speech died away and his eyes, which had been expressing the most sympathetic grief, grew staring and lifeless again. Marie felt no fear. She jumped for joy, rather, now that she knew how to help Nutcracker without further painful sacrifices. But where on earth was she to get a sword for him? She resolved to take counsel with Fritz, and that evening, when their father and mother had gone out and they too were sitting beside the class cupboard, she told him what had passed between her and Nutcracker with the King of Mice, and what it was that it was required to rescue Nutcracker.
Speaker 1:The thing which chiefly exercised Fritz's mind was Marie's statement as to the unexemplary conduct of his red hussars in the great battle. He asked her once more, more seriously, to assure him that it really was the truth, and when she had repeated her statement on her word of honor, he advanced to the cupboard and made his hussars a most affecting address. As a punishment for their behavior, he solemnly took their plumes, one by one, out of their busbies and prohibited them from sounding the march of the hussars of the guard for the space of a twelve-month. When he had performed this duty, he turned to Marie and said as far as the sword is concerned, I have it in my power to assist Nutcracker. I placed an old colonel of Cussars on retirement, on a pension yesterday so that he has no further occasion for his saber, which is sharp. This colonel was settled on his pension in the back corner of the third shelf. He was fetched out and his saber still a bright and handsome silver weapon taken off and girt about Nutcracker.
Speaker 1:Next night Marie could not close an eye for anxiety. About midnight she fancied she heard a strange stirring and noise in the sitting room, a rustling and a clanging, and suddenly there came a shrill Queek. The king of the mice, the king of the mice. She cried and jumped out of bed all terror. Everything was silent. But soon there came a gentle tapping at the door of her room and a soft voice made itself heard saying Please open your door. Dearest Miss Stahlbaum, don't be in the least degree alarmed. Good, happy news. It was Drosselmeyer's voice Young Drosselmeyer's, I mean.
Speaker 1:She threw on her dressing gown and opened the door as quickly as possible. There stood Nutcracker with his sword all covered with blood in his right hand and a little wax taper on his left. When he saw Marie, he knelt down on one knee and said it was you, and only you, dearest lady, who inspired me with knightly valor and steeled me with strength to do battle with the insolent caitiff who dared to insult you. The treacherous king of the mice lies vanquished and writhing in his gore. Dane lady, to accept these tokens of victory from the hand of him who is, till death, your true and faithful knight. With this, nutcracker took from his left arm the seven crowns of the mouse king which he had ranged upon it, and handed them to Marie, who received them with the keenest pleasure.
Speaker 1:Nutcracker rose and continued as follows oh, my best beloved Miss Stahlbaum, if you would only take the trouble to follow me for a few steps, what glorious and beautiful things I could show you at this supreme moment when I have overcome my hereditary foe. Do do come with me, dearest lady. Chapter 9. Toyland I feel quite convinced, children, that none of you would have hesitated for a moment to go with good kind Nutcracker, who had always shown himself to be such a charming person. And Marie was all the more disposed to do as he asked her because she knew what her just claims on his gratitude were and was sure that he would keep his word and show her all sorts of beautiful things. So she said I will go with you, dear Mr Drosselmeyer, but it mustn't be very far and it won't do to be very long, because you know I haven't had any sleep yet Then we will go by the shortest route, said Nutcracker, although it is perhaps rather the most difficult.
Speaker 1:He went on in front, followed by Marie, till he stopped before the big old wardrobe. Marie was surprised to see that, though it was generally shut, the doors of it were now wide open so that she could see her father's traveling cloak, a fox fur, hanging in the front. Nutcracker clambered deftly into this cloak by the edgings and trimmings of it, so as to get a hold of the big tassel which was fastened at the back of it by a thick cord. He gave this tassel a tug and a pretty little ladder of cedar wood led itself quickly down through one of the armholes of the cloak. Now, miss Stalbom, step up that ladder if you will be so kind, said Nutcracker. Marie did so, but as soon as she got up through the armhole and began to look out at the neck, a dazzling light came streaming on her and she found herself standing on a lovely, sweet-scented meadow from which millions of sparks were streaming upward like the glitter of beautiful gems. This is Candy Mead where we are now, said Nutcracker, but we'll get in at the gate there.
Speaker 1:Marie looked up and saw a beautiful gateway on the meadow only a few steps off. It seemed to be made of white, brown and raisin-colored marble, but when she came close to it she saw it was all of baked sugar, almonds and raisins which, as Nutcracker said when they were going through it was the reason it was called Almond and Raisin Gate. There was a gallery running round the upper part of it, apparently made of barley sugar, and in this gallery six monkeys dressed in red were playing on brass instruments in the most delightful manner ever heard. It was all that Marie could do to notice that she was walking upon a beautiful variegated marble pavement which, however, was really a mosaic of lozenges of all colors.
Speaker 1:Presently, the sweetest of odors came breathing round her, streaming from a beautiful little wood. On both sides of the way. There was such a glittering and sparkling among the dark foliage that one could see all the gold and silver fruits hanging on the many tinted stems. And these stems and branches were all ornamented and dressed up in ribbons and bunches of flowers, like brides and bridegrooms and festive wedding guests. And as the orange perfume wafted, as if on the wings of gentle zephyrs, there was a sighing among the leaves and branches and all the gold leaf and tinsel rustled and tinkled like beautiful music to which the sparkling lights could not help dancing. Oh how charming this is, cried Marie enraptured. This is Christmas wood, dearest Miss Stalbaum, said Nutcracker. Ah, said Marie, if only I could stay here for a little, it is so lovely.
Speaker 1:Nutcracker clapped his little hands and immediately there appeared a number of little shepherds and shepherdesses and hunters and huntresses so white and delicate that you would have thought they were made of pure sugar whom Marie had not noticed before, although they had been walking about in the wood. They brought a beautiful gold reclining chair, laid a white satin cushion in it, and politely invited Marie to take the seat. As soon as she did so, the shepherds and shepherdesses danced a pretty ballet, to which the hunters and huntresses played music on their horns, to which the hunters and huntresses played music on their horns, and then they all disappeared among the thickets. I must really apologize for the poor style in which this dance was executed. Dearest Miss Stahlbaum, said Nutcracker, these people all belong to our wire ballet troupe and can only do the same thing over and over again. Had we not better go on a little further over and over again. Had we not better go on a little further? Oh, I'm sure it was all most delightful and I enjoyed it immensely, said Marie, as she stood up and followed Nutcracker who was leading the way.
Speaker 1:They went by the side of a gently rippling brook, which seemed to be what was giving out all the perfume that filled the wood. This is Orange Brook, said Nutcracker, but except for its sweet scent, it is nowhere near as fine a water as the River Lemonade, a beautiful broad stream which falls, as this one also does, into the Almond Milk Sea. And indeed Marie soon heard a louder plashing and rushing and came in sight of the River Lemonade, which went rolling along in swelling waves of yellowish color between banks covered with an herbage and underbrush which shone like green carbuncles. A remarkable freshness and coolness, strengthening heart and breast, exhaled from this fine river. Not far from it, a dark yellow stream crept sluggishly along, giving out a most delicious odor, and on its banks sat numbers of pretty children angling for little fat fishes which they ate as soon as they caught them. These fish were very much like filberts, marie saw when she came closer.
Speaker 1:A short distance further, on the banks of this stream, stood a nice little village. The houses of this village and the church, the parsonage, the barns and so forth were all dark brown, with gilt roofs, and many of the walls looked as if they were plastered over with lemon peel and shelled almonds. That is Gingerthorpe on the Honey River, said Nutcracker. It is famed for the good looks of its inhabitants, but they are very short-tempered people because they suffer so much from toothache, so we won't go there at present. At this moment, marie caught sight of a little town where the houses were all sorts of colors and quite transparent, exceedingly pretty to look at.
Speaker 1:Nutcracker went on towards this town and Marie heard a noise of bustle and merriment and saw some thousands of nice little folks unloading a number of wagons which were drawn up in the marketplace. What they were unloading from the wagons looked like packages of colored paper and tables of chocolate. This is Bon Bonville. Nutcracker said. An embassy has just arrived from Paperland and the King of Chocolate. These poor Bon Bonville people have been vexatiously threatened lately by the fly admiral's forces. So they are covering their houses over with their presents from paperland and constructing fortifications with the fine pieces of workmanship which the chocolate king has sent them. But oh, dearest Miss Stahlbaum, we are not going to restrict ourselves to seeing the small towns and villages of this country, let us be off to the metropolis. He stepped quickly onwards and Marie followed him, all expectation.
Speaker 1:Soon, a beautiful rosy vapor began to rise, suffusing everything with a soft splendor. She saw that this was reflected from rose-red shining water which went splashing and running away in front of them in wavelets of roseate silver. On this delightful water, which kept broadening and broadening out wider and wider, like a great lake, the loveliest swans were floating, white as silver, with collars of gold and as if vying for each other. They were singing the most beautiful songs, at which little fish glittering like diamonds danced up and down in the rosy ripples. Oh, cried Marie in the greatest delight. This must be the lake which God Papa Drosselmeyer was once going to make for me, and I am the girl who is to play with the swans.
Speaker 1:Nutcracker gave a sneering sort of laugh such as she had never seen in him before, and said my uncle could never make a thing of this kind. You would be much more likely to do it yourself. But don't let us bother about that. Rather, let us go sailing over the water, lake Rosa, here to the metropolis, chapter 10, the Metropolis. Nutcracker clapped his little hands again and the waves of Lake Rosa began to sound louder and to splash higher. And Marie became aware of a sort of car approaching from the distance, made wholly of glittering precious stones of every color and drawn by two dolphins with scales of gold. Twelve of the dearest little boys, with headdresses and doublets made of hummingbird's feathers woven together, jumped to land and carried first Marie and then Nutcracker, gently gliding above the water, into the car, which immediately began to move along over the lake of its own accord.
Speaker 1:Immediately began to move along over the lake of its own accord. Ah, how beautiful it was when Marie went over the waters in the shell-shaped car, with the rose perfume breathing around her and the rosy waves splashing. The two golden-scaled dolphins lifted their nostrils and sent streams of crystal high in the air and as these fell down in glittering, sparkling rainbows, there was a sound as of two delicate silvery voices singing. Who comes over the rosy sea Fairy? Is she Bim, bim, fishes, sim, sim, swans, sva, sva, golden birds, tra, tra, rosy waves. Wake you and sing, sparkle and ring, sprinkle and cling. Wake you and sing, sparkle and ring, sprinkle and cling. This is the fairy we languish to see coming at last to us over the sea. Rosy waves dash, bright dolphins play merrily, merrily on.
Speaker 1:But the twelve little boys at the back of the car seemed to take some umbrage to this song of the water jets, for they shook the sunshades they were holding so that the palm leaves they were made of clattered and rattled together. And as they shook them they stamped an odd sort of rhythm with their feet and sang clap and clip, clip and clap, and up and down. These are merry, amusing fellows, said the Nutcracker. A little put out, but they'll set the whole lake into a state of regular mutiny.
Speaker 1:On my hands, and in fact there did begin a confused and confusing noise of strange voices which seemed to be floating both in the water and in the air. However, marie paid no attention to it but went on looking into the perfumed rosy waves, from each of which a pretty girl's face smiled back at her. Oh, look at Princess Perlipat, she cried, clapping her hands with gladness, smiling at me so charmingly down there. Do look at her, mr Drosselmeyer. But Nutcracker sighed almost sorrowfully and said that is not Princess Perlipat, dearest Miss Stahlbaum. It is only yourself, always your own lovely face smiling up from the rosy waves.
Speaker 1:At this, marie drew her head quickly back, closed her eyes as tightly as she could and was terribly ashamed. But just then the twelve boys lifted her out of the car and set her on shore. She found herself in a small thicket or grove, almost more beautiful even than Christmas wood. Everything glittered and sparkled so, and the fruit on the trees was extraordinarily wonderful and beautiful, and not only of very curious colors, but with the most delicious perfume. Ah, said Nutcracker, here we are in Comfit Grove, and yonder lies the metropolis. How shall I set about describing all the wonderful and beautiful sights which Marie now saw, or give any idea of the splendor and magnificence of the city which stretched out before her on a flowery plain. Not only did the walls and towers of it shine in the brightest and most gorgeous colors, but the shapes and appearance of the buildings were like nothing to be seen on earth. Instead of roofs, the houses had on beautiful twining crowns, and the towers were garlanded with beautiful leafwork, sculptured and carved into exquisite, intricate designs.
Speaker 1:As they passed in, at the gateway, which looked as if it were made entirely of macaroons and sugared fruits, silver soldiers presented arms and a little man in a brocade dressing-ground, threw himself upon Nutcracker's neck crying Welcome, dearest Prince, welcome to Sweetmeatburg. Bruny wondered not a little to see such a very grand personage, recognize young Mr Drosselmeyer as a prince. But she heard such a number of small, delicate voices making such a loud clamoring and talking and such a laughing and chattering going on and such a singing and playing that she couldn't give her attention to anything else but asked Drosselmeyer what was the meaning of it all. Oh, it is nothing out of the common, dearest Miss Stalbaum, he answered. Sweetmeatburg is a large, populous city full of mirth and entertainment. This is the only usual thing that is always going on here every day. Please come on a little further.
Speaker 1:After a few paces more, they were in the great marketplace which presented the most magnificent appearance. All the houses which were around it were of filigreed sugar-work and galleries towering above galleries, and in the center stood a lofty cake covered with sugar by way of obelisk, with fountains round it spouting orgeat, lemonade and other delicious beverages into the air. The runnels at the sides of the footways were full of creams and you might have ladled them up with a spoon if you had chosen. But prettier than all this were the delightful little people who were crowding about everywhere by the thousands, shouting, laughing, playing and singing, in short, producing all that jubilant uproar which Marie had heard from the distance. They were beautifully dressed, ladies and gentlemen, greeks and Armenians, tyrolese and Jews, officers and soldiers, clergymen, shepherds, jack-puddings, in short, people of every conceivable kind to be found in the world.
Speaker 1:The tumult grew greater. Towards one of the corners, the people streamed asunder, for the great mogul happened to be passing along there in his palanquin, attended by three and ninety grandees of the realm and seven hundred slaves. But it chanced that the fisherman's guild, about five hundred strong, were keeping a festival at the opposite corner of the place. And it was rather an unfortunate coincidence that the Grand Turk took it in his head, just at this particular moment, to go out for a ride and crossed the square with 3,000 Janissaries. And as if this weren't enough, the grand procession of the interrupted sacrifice came along at the same time, marching up toward the obelisk with a full orchestra playing and the chorus singing. Hail, all hail to the glorious sun.
Speaker 1:So there was a thronging and a shoving and a squeaking and a driving, and soon lamentations arose and cries of pain, for one of the fishermen had knocked a Brahmin's head off in the throng and the great mogul had very nearly run down by a jack pudding, the din grew wilder and wilder. The people were beginning to shove one another and even had come to fisticuffs. When the man in the brocade dressing-ground who had welcomed Nutcracker as prince at the gate, clambered up to the top of the obelisk and, after a very clear tinkling bell had rung thrice, shouted very loudly three times "'Pastry cook, pastry cook, pastry cook'. Instantly the tumult subsided. Everybody tried to save himself as quickly as he could, and after the entangled processions had been disentangled, the dirt properly brushed off, the great mogul and the brahmin's head stuck on. All right, the merry noise went on just the same as before. Pastrycook, mr Drosselmeyer, please, said Marie. Ah, dearest Miss Stahlbaum said Nutcracker.
Speaker 1:In this place, pastrycook means a certain unknown and very terrible power which is believed can do with people just what it chooses. It represents the fate or destiny which rules these happy little people, and they stand in such awe and terror of it that the mere mention of its name quells the wildest tumult. In a moment, as the burgomaster has just shown, nobody thinks further of earthly matters, cuffs in the ribs, broken heads or the like. Everyone retires within himself and says what is man and what is his ultimate destiny. Marie could not forbear a cry of admiration and utmost astonishment as she now found herself suddenly before a castle shining in roseate radiance, with a hundred beautiful towers here and there. At intervals upon its wall were rich bouquets of violets, tulips, carnations whose dark glowing colors heightened the dazzling whiteness, inclining to rose color, of the walls. The great dome of the central building, as well as the pyramidal roofs of the towers were set all over with thousands of sparkling gold and silver stars. Aha, said Nutcracker, here we are at Marzipan Castle at last.
Speaker 1:Marie was sunk and absorbed in contemplation of this magic palace. Marie was sunk and absorbed in contemplation of this magic palace. But the fact did not escape her that the roof was wanting to one of the principal towers and that little men were upon a scaffold made of sticks of cinnamon and busily putting it up again. But before she had time to ask Nutcracker about this, he said this beautiful castle, a short time ago, was threatened with tremendous havoc, if not with total destruction. Sweet Tooth the Giant happened to be passing by and he bit off the top of that tower there and was beginning to gnaw at the great dome but the Sweetmeat borough. People brought him a whole quarter of the town by way of tribute and a considerable slice of Comfort Grove into the bargain. This stopped his mouth and he went on his way.
Speaker 1:At this moment, soft, beautiful music was heard and out came twelve little pages with lighted clove-sticks which they held in their little hands by way of torches. Each of their heads was a pearl, their bodies were emeralds and rubies and their feet were beautifully worked pure gold. After them came four ladies about the size of Marie's, miss Clara, but so gloriously and brilliantly attired that Marie saw in a moment that they could be nothing but princesses of the blood royal. They embraced Nutcracker most tenderly and shed tears of gladness, saying O, dearest prince, beloved brother. Nutcracker seemed deeply affected. He wiped away his tears, which flowed thick and fast, and then he took Marie by the hand and said with much pathos and solemnity this is Miss Marie Stahlbaum, the daughter of the most worthy medical man and the preserver of my life. Had she not thrown her slipper just in the nick of time, had she not procured me the pensioned colonel's sword, I should have been lying in my cold grave at this moment, bitten to death by the accursed king of the mice. I ask you to tell me candidly can Princess Perlipat, princess though she is, compare for a moment with Miss Stahlbaum here in beauty and goodness and virtues of every kind? My answer is and virtues of every kind? My answer is emphatically no. All the ladies cried no and they fell upon Marie's neck with sobs and tears and cried Ah, noble preserver of our beloved royal brother, excellent Miss Stahlbaum.
Speaker 1:They now conducted Marie and Nutcracker into the castle to a hall whose walls were composed of sparkling crystal. But what delighted Marie most of all was the furniture. There were the most darling little chairs, bureaus, writing tables and so forth standing about everywhere, all made of cedar or Brazil wood covered with golden flowers. The princesses made Marie and Nutcracker sit down and said that they would themselves prepare a banquet. So they went and brought quantities of little cups and dishes of the finest Japanese porcelain, and spoons and knives and forks, graters and stew pans and other kitchen utilities of gold and silver. Then they fetched the most delightful fruits and sugar, things such as Marie had never seen the like of, and began to squeeze the fruit in the daintiest way with their little hands and to grate the spices and rub down the sugar almonds. In short, they set to work so skillfully that Marie could see very well how accomplished they were in kitchen matters and what a magnificent banquet there was going to be. Knowing her own skill in this line, she wished in her secret heart that she might be allowed to go and help the princesses and have a finger in all these pies herself. And the prettiest of Nutcracker's sisters, just as if she had read the wishes of Marie's heart, handed her a little gold mortar saying Sweet friend, dear preserver of my brother, would you mind pounding a little of this sugar candy?
Speaker 1:Now, as Marie went on pounding in the mortar with goodwill and the utmost enjoyment and the sound of it was like a lovely song Nutcracker began to relate with much minuteness all that had happened on the occasion of the terrible engagement between his forces and the army of the King of the Mice, how he had had the worst of it on account of the bad behavior of his troops. How the horrible mouse king had all but bitten him to death so that Marie had had to sacrifice a number of his subjects who were in her service, etc. Etc. During all this it seemed to Marie as if what Nutcracker was saying, and even the sound of his own mortar kept growing more and more indistinct and going farther and farther away. Presently, she saw a silver mistiness rising up, all about like clouds, in which the princesses, the pages, nutcracker and she herself were floating, and a curious singing and a buzzing and humming began which seemed to die away in the distance. And then she seemed to be going up, up, up, as if on waves constantly rising and swelling, higher and higher, higher and higher, higher and higher. Chapter 11. Conclusion.
Speaker 1:And then came a purr-poof and Marie fell down from some inconceivable height. That was a crash and a tumble. However, she opened her eyes and, lo and behold, there she was in her own bed. It was broad daylight and her mother was standing at her bedside saying Well, what a sleep you have had. Breakfast has been ready for ever so long. Of course, dear audience, you see how it was.
Speaker 1:Marie, confounded and amazed by all the wonderful things she had seen, had at last fallen asleep in Marzipan Castle, and the little boys, or the pages, or perhaps the princesses themselves, had carried her home and put her to bed. Oh, mother darling, said Marie, what a number of places young Mr Drosselmeyer has taken me in the night and what beautiful things I have seen. And she gave very much the same faithful account of it as I have given to you. Her mother listened, looking at her with astonishment and when she had finished, said you have had a long, beautiful dream, marie, but now you must put it all out of your head. Marie firmly maintained that she had not been dreaming at all. So her mother took her to the glass cupboard, lifted out Nutcracker from his usual position on the third shelf and said you silly girl, how can you believe that this wooden figure can have life in motion? Ah, mother, answered Marie. I know perfectly well that Nutcracker is young Mr Drosselmeyer from Nuremberg, godpapa Drosselmeyer's nephew. Her mother and father both burst out into laughter. It's all very well, you're laughing at poor Nutcracker. Father, cried Marie, almost weeping, but he spoke very highly of you, for when we arrived at Marzipan Castle and he was introducing me to his sisters, the princesses, he said you were a most worthy medical man. The laughter grew louder and Louise and even Fritz joined in it.
Speaker 1:Marie ran into the next room, took the Mouse King's seven crowns from her little box and handed themitz joined in it. Marie ran into the next room, took the Mouse King's seven crowns from her little box and handed them to her mother, saying Look here then, dear mother, those are the Mouse King's seven crowns which young Mr Drosselmeyer gave me last night as proof that he had got the victory. Her mother gazed in amazement at the little crowns, which were made of some very brilliant, holy unknown metal and worked more beautifully than any human hands could have worked them. Dr Stahlbaum could not cease looking at them with admiration and astonishment either, and both the father and the mother enjoyed Marie most earnestly to tell them where she really had got them from. But she could only repeat what she had said before, and when her father scolded her and accused her of untruthfulness, she began to cry bitterly and said oh dear me, what can I tell you except the truth?
Speaker 1:At this moment, the door opened and Godpapa Drosselmeyer came in crying Hello, hello, what's all this? My little Marie crying, what's all this, what's all this? Mr Stahlbaum told him all about it and showed him the crowns. As soon as he had looked at them, however, he cried out stuff and nonsense, stuff and nonsense. These are the crowns I used to wear on my watch chain. I gave them as a present to Marie on her second birthday. Do you mean to tell me you don't remember? None of them did remember anything of the kind.
Speaker 1:But Marie, seeing that her father and mother's faces were clear of clouds, again ran up to her, godpapa crying. You know all about the affair, godpapa Drosselmeyer. Tell it to them. Let them know from your own lips that my nutcracker is your nephew, young Mr Drosselmeyer from Nuremberg, and that it was he who gave me the crowns. But Drosselmeyer made a very angry face and muttered stupid stuff and nonsense, upon which Marie's father took her in front of him and said with much earnestness now look here, marie. Let there be an end of all this foolish trash and absurd nonsense once and for all. I'm not going to allow any more of it, and if I ever hear you again say that that idiotic, misshapen nutcracker is your godpapa's nephew, I shall throw not only nutcracker but all your other playthings Miss Clara, not accepted out of the window. Of course.
Speaker 1:Poor Marie dared not utter another word concerning that which her whole mind was full of, for you may well suppose that it was impossible for anyone who had seen all that she had seen to forget it, and I regret to say that even Fritz himself at once turned his back on his sister whenever she wanted to talk to him about the wondrous realm in which she had been so happy. Indeed, he is said to have frequently murmured stupid goose between his teeth, though I can scarcely think this compatible with his proved kindness of heart. This much, however, is matter of certainty that as he no longer believed what his sister said, he now, at a public parade, formally recanted what he had said to his red hussars and, in the place of the plumes he had deprived them of, gave them much taller and finer ones of goose quills and allowed them to sound the march of the hussars of the guard. As before, marie did not dare say anything more of her adventures, but the memories of that fairy realm haunted her with a sweet intoxication, and the music of that delightful, happy country still rang sweetly in her ears Whenever she allowed her thoughts to dwell in all those glories, she saw them again. And so it came about that, instead of playing as she used to, she sat quiet and meditative, absorbed within herself.
Speaker 1:Everybody found fault with her for being such a little dreamer. It chanced one day that God-Papa Drosselmeyer was repairing one of the clocks in the house and Marie was sitting beside the glass cupboard, sunk in her dreams and gazing at Nutcracker, all at once she said, as if involuntarily Ah, mr Drosselmeyer, if you really were alive I shouldn't be like Princess Perlipat and despise you because you had had to give up for being a nice, handsome gentleman. For my sake. Stupid stuff and nonsense, cried Godpapa Drosselmeyer. But as he spoke there came such a tremendous bang and shock that Marie fell from her chair, insensible. When she came back to her senses, her mother was busied about her and said how could you go and tumble off your chair in that way, a big girl like you? Here is Godpapa Drosselmeyer's nephew, come from Nuremberg. See how good you can be.
Speaker 1:Marie looked up. Her Godpapa had on his yellow coat and his glass wig and was smiling in the highest good humor. By the hand he was holding a very small but a very handsome young gentleman. His little face was red and white. He had on a beautiful red coat trimmed with gold, lace, white silk stockings and shoes, with a lovely bouquet of followers in his shirt frill. He was beautifully frizzled and powdered and had a magnificent queue hanging down his back. The little sword at his side seemed to be made entirely of jewels. It sparkled and shone so, and the little hat under his arm was woven of flocks of silk. He gave proof of the fineness of his manners in that he had brought for Marie a quantity of the most delightful toys, above all the very same figures as those which the Mouse King had eaten up, as well as a beautiful saber for Fritz.
Speaker 1:He cracked nuts at table for the whole party. The very hardest did not withstand him. He placed them in his mouth with his left hand, tugged at his pigtail with the right, and crack they fell in pieces. Marie grew red as a rose at the sight of this charming young gentleman, and she grew redder still when, after dinner, young Drosselmeyer asked her to go with him to the glass cupboard in the sitting room. Play nicely together, children, said Godpapa Drosselmeyer, now that my clocks are all nicely in order, I can have no possible objection.
Speaker 1:But as soon as young Drosselmeyer was alone with Marie, he went down on one knee and spoke as follows Ah, my most dearly beloved Miss Stahlbaum, see here at your feet the fortunate Drosselmeyer whose life you have saved, here on this very spot. You were kind enough to say plainly and unmistakably in so many words that you would not have despised me, as Prince Perlipat did, if I had turned ugly for your sake. Immediately I ceased to be a contemptible nutcracker and resumed my former, not altogether ill-looking person and form. Ah, most exquisite lady, bless me with your precious hand, share with me my crown and kingdom and reign with me in Marzipan Castle. For there, I am now king. Marie raised him and said gently for there, I am now king. Marie raised him and said gently Dear Mr Drosselmeyer, you are a kind, nice gentleman and as you reign over a delightful country of charming, funny, pretty people, I accept your hand.
Speaker 1:So then they were formally betrothed and when a year and a day had come and gone, they say, he came and fetched her away in a golden coach drawn by silver horses. At the marriage there danced two and twenty thousand of the most beautiful dolls and other figures, all glittering in pearls and diamonds. And Marie is to this day the queen of a realm where all kinds of sparkling Christmas woods and transparent marzipan castles in short, the most wonderful and beautiful things of every kind, are to be seen by those who have the eyes to see them. So this is the end of the tale of Nutcracker and the King of the Mice. The end, Thank you.