Nutcracker and the mouse king

CHAPTER I
CHRISTMAS EVE
All through the day of Christmas Eve, Dr. Stahlbaum`s children had not been allowed into the dining-room, much less into the drawing-room opening out of it. In a corner of the back-parlour, Fred and Mary sat cuddled up together, shuddering with the excitement of mystery; for, though twilight had come on, nobody brought in any lights this evening. Fred whisperingly told his seven-year-old sister how, since early in the morning, he had listened to the stir and the bustle and the soft hammerings in these forbidden chambers; also how, not long ago, a small, dark man, with a great box under his arm, had come slipping over the floor, but he knew well that this was nobody else than Godfather Drosselmeier. Then Mary clapped her little hands for joy, crying:
“Ah! what fine things will Godfather Drosselmeier have made for us?”
Counsellor Drosselmeier, so people called him, was far from a handsome man, short and thin, with many wrinkles on his face, and a great black patch where his right eye should have been; also he had no hair on his head, so he wore a very fine white wig, which seemed to be all made of glass, so clever a piece of work was it. The godfather himself, indeed, was a very clever workman, who actually knew all about clocks and could even make them with his own hands. When any of the fine clocks in the Stahlbaums` house went out of order and did not strike, Godfather Drosselmeier would come, take off his glass wig and his drab coat, tie on a blue apron, and stick sharp things into the clock`s inside, so that little Mary felt quite sorry for it; but this did the clock no harm, which, on the contrary, got to life again and at once began to tick, strike, and chime, to the delight of all the family.
He never came without bringing something pretty in his pockets for the children – now a puppet that could move its eyes and make bows, most comic to behold; now a box out of which would hop a little bird, or something else of the kind. But for Christmas he always prepared some grand elaborate piece of work that cost him much trouble, on which account, when given to the children, it was carefully taken charge of by their parents.
“Ah! what fine things will Godfather Drosselmeier have made for us?” Mary wondered; but Fred was of opinion it could this time be no other than a castle, in which all kinds of beautiful soldiers marched up and down, and were drilled; and other soldiers were to come, who should try to get into the castle, but then the soldiers inside would fire off cannon, and there would be such a grand booming and banging.
“No, no!” Mary cut him short. “Godfather Drosselmeier has told me of a beautiful garden with a great pond in it, on which splendid swans with gold bands round their necks are to swim about and sing such pretty songs. Then a little girl will run up from the garden, and call the swans to her and feed them with gingerbread.”
“Swans don`t eat gingerbread!” broke in Fred, rather rudely; “and Godfather Drosselmeier could not make a whole garden either. Anyhow, we get few of the toys he makes, they are always taken away from us; so I like much better the things Papa and Mamma give us, which we have for our very own, and can do as we like with them.”
Then the children went on guessing and guessing what it would be this time. Mary remarked how Missy Gertrude, her big doll, was much changed for the worse, since she kept tumbling on the floor more awkwardly than ever, which never happened without leaving dirty marks on her face; and as for keeping her clothes clean, that was out of the question. All the scoldings in the world thrown away on her!
Fred, for his part, dwelt on the fact that a fine wooden horse was much wanted in his stable; also how his toy soldiers were greatly deficient in cavalry, as his Papa must be aware.
These children knew well that their parents had bought for them all sorts of fine presents, yet they were persuaded that Father Christmas looked on them with friendly eyes, and bestowed, from his bounteous hand, the gifts that came more welcome now than at any other time. As they kept on whispering over the expected presents, their older sister Louisa came to remind them that it is Father Christmas who, through the hands of their dear parents, always supplies what will afford them real joy and pleasure, as he knows better how to do than children themselves, who should therefore not be wishing and hoping for all sorts of things, but quietly and dutifully await what is to be given them. Little Mary became thoughtfully silent, but Fred murmured to himself: “I should like a horse and some hussars, though!”
It had grown quite dark. Fred and Mary, sitting closely side by side, did not dare to speak a word; they fancied they could hear a fluttering of soft wings about them, and a strain of beautiful music in the distance. A bright light gleamed upon the wall; then they knew that Father Christmas was flying away on shining clouds to other happy children.
All at once a silvery bell went kling, kling, the doors flew open, and such a brilliance streamed out of the great room that the children stood as if enchanted on the threshold, with loud exclamations of wonder. But Papa and Mamma came forward and took Fred and Mary by the hand, saying:
“Come along, come along, dear children, and see what Father Christmas has given you!”
CHAPTER II
THE PRESENTS
I put it to yourself, my friendly reader or listener – Fred, Fanny, Eddy, or whatever be your name – and beg you to bring clearly before your eyes your own last Christmas tree or table adorned with pretty, gay presents, then you can very well understand how these children stopped, dumfounded, with sparkling eyes, how only after a little Mary cried with a deep sigh of delight: “Oh, how beautiful! Oh, how beautiful!” and how Fred jumped for joy to relieve his feelings. All the past year, indeed, they must have been particularly good and well-behaved, for never had they had such a number of delightful presents as this time.
The great fir-tree in the middle bore ever so many gold and silver apples, and for buds and blossoms, every branch hung thick with almonds and brightly-coloured sugar-plums and other best kinds of goodies. But the finest thing about the marvellous tree must not be forgotten, that a hundred small lights twinkled like stars among its foliage, so that, illuminated as it was inside and outside, it seemed to invite the children to pluck its fruits and flowers. And round about the tree everything shone gay and splendid; all the fine presents there – who could ever describe them?
Mary caught sight of the most elegant dolls, all sorts of neat little dolls` furniture, and, what seemed finest of all, a silk frock prettily decked with coloured ribbons stood spread out on a dress-stand before her eyes, so that she could admire it from every side, as she did, crying out again and again, “Oh, the pretty! oh, the dear dress! And can I – may I really put it on?”
Meanwhile, Fred, galloping and trotting round three or four times, tried his new cock-horse, which he indeed found bridled and saddled on the table. Dismounting, he reported that it was a wild creature, but no matter! he would soon break it in; and proceeded to muster his new squadron of hussars, who were gorgeously equipped in red and gold, with silver swords, and rode such shiny white horses that these also might almost be believed of pure silver.
The children had got over their excitement a little, and were able to take a look at the picture-books which lay open so as to display pretty flowers and brightly-coloured figures of people, even of dear little children at play, painted as naturally as if they really lived and spoke. Yes, Fred and Mary were settling down upon these wonderful picture-books, when – kling, ling, kling, ling – the bell rang again. They knew that now it was Godfather Drosselmeier`s turn, and ran to the table standing by the wall.
The screen that had so long concealed it was quickly drawn away, and what did the young folks see?
On a green lawn, bespangled with gay flowers, stood a most noble castle, all plate-glass windows and gilded towers. A chime of bells was heard, doors and windows flew open, and you saw how very tiny but most elegant ladies and gentlemen, with feathers in their hats and trailing skirts, moved inside the rooms. In the central hall, that seemed to be on fire, so many lights burned there in silver chandeliers, children wearing short coats and vests were dancing to the music of the chimes. A gentleman in an emerald-green cloak kept looking out through a window, nodding and disappearing by turns; while a figure, just like Godfather Drosselmeier himself, but scarcely higher than Papa`s thumb, would, from time to time, come and stand at the castle door and then go in again.
With his arms leaning on the table, Fred had examined the dancing and walking figures; and now he said:
“Godfather Drosselmeier, will you let me go into your castle?”
The Counsellor replied to him that this would never do. Indeed, he spoke truly, for it was foolish of Fred to want to go into a castle which, gilded towers and all, was not so high as himself. Fred had to admit that. After a time, as the ladies and gentlemen went on walking up and down in the same way, the children dancing, the green man looking out at the window, Godfather Drosselmeier`s likeness coming to the door, he cried impatiently:
“Godfather Drosselmeier, now will you come out for once at the other door?”
“That won`t do, dear Fred,” answered the Counsellor.
“Well,” said Fred again, “just make the green man, who looks out so often, walk about with the others.”
“That won`t do either,” repeated the Counsellor.
“Couldn`t the children come down stairs?” persisted Fred. “I should like to see them nearer.”
“Oh, all that won`t do!” said the Counsellor, not in very good humour. “The machinery has to work as it is made.”
“Is that the way of it?” ex…