 Chapter 1 of Not Cracker and Mouse King. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Aida. Not Cracker and Mouse King by ETA Hoffman. Chapter 1 Christmas Eve During the long, long day of the 24th of December, the children of Dr. Stahalbom were not permitted to enter the pallor, much less the adjoining, drawing room. Friedeering and Maria sat nestled together in a corner of the back chamber. That's quite why light had come on, and they felt quite gloomy and fearful. For, as was commonly the case on this day, no light was brought into them. Friede, in great secrecy and in a whisper, informed his little sister, she was only just seven years old, that ever since morning he had heard a rustling and a rattling, and now and then a gentle knocking in the forbidden chambers. Not long ago or so, he had seen a little dark man with a large chest under his arm, gliding softly through the entry. But he knew very well that it was nobody but Godfather Dr. Selmaier. Upon this, Maria clapped her little hands together for joy, and exclaimed, Ah, what beautiful things has Godfather Dr. Selmaier made for us this time? Cancellor Dr. Selmaier was not a very handsome man. He was small and thin, had many wrinkles in his face. Over his right eye, he had a lush black patch, and he was without hair. For which reason he wore a very nice wide wig. This was made of glass, however, and was a very ingenious piece of work. The Godfather himself was very ingenious also. He understood all about clocks and watches, and could even make them. Accordingly, when any one of the beautiful clocks in Dr. Sahalbaum's house was sick and could not sing, Godfather Dr. Selmaier would have to tend it. He would then take off his glass wig, pull off his brown coat, put on a blue apron, and pierce the clock with sharp pointed instruments, which usually caused little Maria a great deal of anxiety. But it did the clock no harm. On the contrary, it became quite lively again, and began at once right merely to rattle and to strike, and to sing, so that it was a pleasure to all who heard it. Whenever he came, he always brought something pretty in his pocket for the children, sometimes a little man who moved his eyes and made a bow, at others a box from which a little bird hopped out when it was opened. Sometimes one thing, sometimes another. When Christmas Eve came, he had always a beautiful piece of work prepared for them, which had cost him a great deal of trouble. And on this account, it was always carefully preserved by their parents. After he had given it to them, ah, what beautiful present has Godfather Dr. Selmaier made for us this time? exclaimed Maria. It was Fred's opinion that this time it could be nothing else than a castle, in which all kinds of fine soldiers marched up and down, and went through their exercises. Then other soldiers would come and try to break into the castle, but the soldiers within would fire off their cannon, very bravely, until all roared and cracked again. No, no, cried Maria, interrupting him. Godfather Dr. Selmaier has told me of a lovely garden, where there is a great lake, a pan which beautiful swans swim about, with golden colors around their necks, and sing their sweetest songs. Then there comes a little girl out of the garden down along the lake, and cooks the swans to the shore and feeds them with sweet cake. Swans never eat cake, interrupted Fred somewhat roughly, and even Godfather Dr. Selmaier himself can't make a whole garden. After all, we have little good of his playthings. They are all taken right away from us again. I like what Papa and Mama give us much better, for we can't keep their presents for ourselves, and do as we please with them. The children now began once more to guess what it could be this time. Maria thought that Mr. Richard, her great doll, was growing very old, for she felt almost every moment open the floor, and more awkwardly than ever, which could not happen without leaving sad marks open her face, and as to neatness in dress. This was now all together out of the question with her. Scolding did not have the matter in the list. Frederick declared on the other hand that a bay horse was wanting in his table, and his troops were very deficient in cavalry, as his Papa very well knew. By this time, it had become quite dark. Frederick and Maria sat close together and did not venture again to speak a word. It seemed now as if softwings rustled around them, and very distant, but sweet music was heard at intervals. At this moment, a chilly sound broke open their ears. Kling, kling, kling, kling. The doors flew wide open, and such a dazzling light broke out from the great chamber, that with the loud exclamation, ah, ah, the curtains stood fixed at the threshold. But Papa and Mama stepped to the door, took them by the hand and said, Come, come, dear children, and see what Christmas has brought you this year. End of chapter 1. Chapter 2 of Not Cracker and Mouse King by E. T. A. Hoffman. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Aida. The Gifts Kind reader or listener, whatever may be your name, whether Frank, Roberts, Henry, Anna, or Maria. I beg you to call to mind the table covered with your last Christmas gifts. As in their newest gloss, they first appeared to your delighted vision. You will then be able to imagine the astonishment of the children as they stood with sparkling eyes, unable to utter a word for joy at the sight before them. At last, Maria called out with a deep sigh, Ah, how beautiful, ah, how beautiful! And Frederick gave two or three lips in the air, higher than he had ever done before. The children must have been very obedient and good children during the past year, for never on any Christmas Eve before had so many beautiful things been given to them. A tall fortress stood in the middle of the room, covered with gold and silver apples, wild sugar almonds, confets, lemon drops, and every kind of confectionery hung like beds and blossoms open on its branches. But the greatest beauty about this wonderful tree was the many little lights that sparkled amid its dark bows, which like starts illuminated, its treasures or like-friendly eyes seem to invite the children to partake of its blossoms and fruit. The table under the tree shone and flushed with a thousand different colors. Ah, what beautiful things were there! Who can describe them? Maria spied the prettiest dolls, a tea set, all kinds of nice little furniture, and what eclipse all the rest, a silk dress testfully ornamented with gay ribbons which hang open a frame before her eyes, so that she could view it on every side. This she did too and exclaimed over and over again. Ah, the sweet, ah, the dear, dear frog! And may I put it on? Yes, yes, may I really to wear it? And meanwhile, Fred had been galloping around and around the room trying his new bay horse, which true enough he had found fastened by its bridle to the table. Dismounting again, he said it was a wild creature. But that was nothing. He would soon break him. He then reviewed his new regiment of his heirs who were very elegantly rid in red and gold and carried silver weapons and rode open. Such bright shining horses that you would almost believe these were of pure silver also. The children had now become somewhat more composed and turned to the picture books which lay open on the table where all kinds of beautiful flowers and gaily dressed people and boys and girls at play were painted as natural as if they were alive. Yes, the children had just turned to these singular books. When? Kling, ling, ling, ling! The bell was heard again. They knew that Godfather Dorselmeyer was now about to display his Christmas gift and ran towards the table that stood against the wall, covered by a curtain reaching from the ceiling to the floor. The curtain behind which he had remained so long cancelled was quickly drawn aside and what saw the children then? Upon a green meadow, spangled with flowers stood a noble castle with clear glass windows and golden turrets. A musical clock began to play when the doors and windows flew open and little men and women with fitters in their hats and long flowing chains were seen something about in the rooms. And the middle hall, which seemed as if it were all on fire, so many little tapers were burning in silver chandeliers, there were children in white frocks and green jackets, dancing to the sound of the music. A man in an emerald green cloak at intervals put his head out of the window, nodded and then disappeared and Godfather Dorselmeyer himself, only that he was not much bigger than Papa's thumb, came now and then to the door of the castle, looked about him and then went in again, fled with his arms resting upon the table, gazed at the beautiful castle and the little walking and dancing figures and then said, Godfather Dorselmeyer, let me go into your castle. The consular gave him to understand that that could not be done and he was right for it was foolish in Fred to wish to go into the castle, which with all its golden shirts was not as high as his head. Fred served likewise himself after a while as the men and women kept walking back and forth and the children danced and the emerald men looked out at his window and Godfather Dorselmeyer came to the door and all without the least change. Fred called out impatiently, Godfather Dorselmeyer, come out this time at the other door. That can never be their Fred, said the consular. Well then continued Frederick, let the green men who peeps out at the window walk about with the rest and that can never be rejoined the consular. Then the children must come down, cried Fred, I want to see them nearer. All that can never be, I say, replied the consular, a little out of humor. As the mechanism is made, so it must remain. So cried Fred in a growling tone, all that can never be, listen Godfather Dorselmeyer, if your little dressed up figures in the castle there can do nothing else but always the same thing, they are not good for much and they care very little about them. Now give me my hussars who can maneuver backward and forward as I order them and are not shut up in a house. With this, he darted towards a large table drove up his regiment, opened their silver horses and let them throw and gallop and cut and slash to his heart's content. Maria also had softly stolen away for she too was soon tired of the censoring and dancing puppets in the castle. But as she was very amiable and good, she did not wish it to be observed so plainly in her as it was in her brother Fred. Consular Dorselmeyer turned to the parents and said somewhat angrily, an ingenious work like this was not made for stupid children. I will put up my castle again and carry it home. But their mother now stepped forward and desired to see the secret mechanism and curious works by which the little figures were set in motion. The consular took it all apart and then put it together again. While he was employed in this manner, he became good-natured, once more and gave the children some nice brown men and women with gilded faces, hands and feet. They were all made of sweet turn and smelled like gingerbread. At which Frederick and Maria were greatly delighted. At her mother's request, the under-sister Louise had put on the new dress which had been given to her and she looked must charmingly in it. But Maria, when it came to her turn, thought she would like to look at hers a while longer as it hang. This was rightly permitted. End of Chapter 2 Chapter 3 of Not Cracker and Most King by E. T. A. Hoffman This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Aida. The favorite. The truth is, Maria was unwilling to leave the table then because she has discovered something open it which no one had yet remarked by the marching out of Fred's hussars who had been drawn up close to the tree. A curious little man came into view. Who stood there silent and retired as if he were waiting quietly for his turn to be noticed. It must be confessed a great deal could not be said in favor of the beauty of his figure for not only was his rattle broad stowed Badi out of all proportion to the little slim legs that carried it but his head was by far too large for either. A gentle dress went a great way to compensate for these defects and led to the belief that he must be a man of taste and good breathing. He wore a hussar's jacket of beautiful bright violet fastened together with white loops and buttons. Pantalons of exactly the same color and the neatest boots that ever graced the foot of a student or an officer. They fitted as tight to his little legs as if they were painted open then. It was laughable to see that in addition to this handsome apparel he had hung open his back a narrow clumsy claw that looked as if it were made of wood and open his head he wore a woodman's cap but Maria remembered that Godfather Drosselmaier wore an old chubby cloak and an ugly cap and still he was a dear, dear Godfather. Maria could not help thinking also that even if Godfather Drosselmaier were in other respects as well dressed as this little fellow yet after all he would not look half so handsome as he. The longer Maria gazed open the little man whom she had taken a liking to at first sight the more she was sensible how much good nature and friendliness was expressed in his features nothing by kindness and benevolence shown in his clear green though somewhat to prominent eyes it was very becoming to the man that he wore about his chin a nicely trimmed beard of white cotton for by this the sweet smile open his deep red lips was rendered much more striking. Ah dear father! exclaimed Maria at last to whom belongs that charming little man by the tree there he shall work industriously for you all dear child said her father he can crack the hardest nuts with his teeth and he belongs as well to Louis as to you and Fred with these words her father took him carefully from the table and raised up his wooden clock where opened the little man's trache his mouth wide open and showed two rows of very wide sharp teeth at her father's bidding Maria put in a nut and crack the man had beaten it into so that the shell fell off and Maria caught the sweet kernel in her hand Maria and the other two children were now informed that this dainty little man came off the family of nutcrackers and practiced the profession of his forefathers Maria was overjoyed at what she heard and her father said Dear Maria, since friend nutcracker is so great a favorite with you I place him under your particular care and keeping all due as I said before Louis and Fred shall have as much right to his services as you Maria took him immediately in her arms and set him to crack in nuts but she picked out the smallest that the little fellow need not stretched his mouth open so wide which in truth was not very becoming to him Louis sat down by her and Fred nutcracker must perform the same service for her too which he seemed to do quite willingly for he kept smiling all the while very pleasantly In the meantime, Fred had become tired of riding and parading his his arse and when he heard the nuts crack so merely he ran to his sister and left very hardly at the droll little man who now since Fred must have a share in the sport passed from hand to hand and thus there was no end to his labor Fred always chose the biggest and hardest nuts when all at once crack crack it went and three teeth fell out of nutcracker's mouth and his whole under jaw became loose and rickety ah my poor dear nutcracker said Maria and snatched him out of Fred's hands that's a stupid fellow said Fred he wants to be a nutcracker and has poor teeth he don't understand his trade give him to me Maria he shall crack nuts for me if he loses all his teeth and his whole chin into the bergen why make such a fuss about such a fellow no no exclaimed Maria with pink you shall not have my dear nutcracker see how sorrowfully he looks at me and shows me his poor mouth but you are a hard-hearted fellow you beat your horses yes and lately you had one of your soldiers shot through the head that's alright said Fred do you don't understand it but nutcracker belongs as much to me as to you so let me have him Maria began to cry bitterly and rolled up the sick nutcracker as quickly as she could in her little pocket handkerchief their parents now came up with godfather Drosselmeyer the latter to Maria's great distress took Fred's part but their father said I have placed nutcracker expressly under Maria's protection as I see that he is now greatly in need of it I give her full authority over him and no one must dispute it besides, I wonder at Fred that he should require further duty from one who has been memed into service as a good soldier he ought to know that the wounded are not expected to take their place in the ranks Fred was much ashamed without troubling himself further about nuts or nutcracker stole around to the opposite end of the table where his hussars after stationing suitable outposts had encamped for the night Maria collected together nutcrackers lost teeth tied up his wanted chin with a nice wide ribbon which she had taken from her dress and then wrapped up the little fellow more carefully than ever in her handkerchief for he looked very pale and frightened then she held him rocking him in her arms like a little child when she looked over the beautiful pictures of the new picture book which she found among her other Christmas gifts contrary to her usual disposition she showed some ill-tempered words father Drosselmeyer who kept continually laughing at her and asked again and again how it was that she liked to caress such an ugly little fellow that singular comparison with Drosselmeyer which she made when her eyes first fell open nutcracker now came again into her mind and she said very seriously who knows dear godfather if you were dressed like my sweet nutcracker and had on such bright little boots who knows but you would then be as handsome as he is Maria could not tell why her parents laughed so loudly at this and why the concealer's face turned so red and he for his part did not laugh half so heartily this time as he had done more than once before it is likely there was some particular reason for it End of chapter 3 Chapter 4 of nutcracker and mousekint by E.T. A. Hoffman this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Aida Wonders upon wonders in the sitting room of the doctor's house just as you enter the room there stands on the left hand close against the wall a high glass case in which the children preserve all the beautiful things which are given to them every year Louise was quite a little girl when her father had the case made by a skillful geoner who set in its such large clear paints of glass and arranged all the parts so well together that everything looked much brighter and handsomer one on its shelves than when it was held in the hands on the upper shelf which Maria and Fred were unable to reach stood all godfather Dosselmaier curious machines immediately below this was a shelf for the picture books the two lower shelves Maria and Fred filled up as they pleased but it always happened that Maria used the lower one as a house for her dolls while Fred on the contrary content his troops in the one above and so it happened today for a while Fred set his hussars in order above Maria having laid Mr. Richard aside and having installed the new and sweetly dressed doll in her best furnished chamber below had invited herself to tea with her I have said that the chamber was well furnished and it is true, here was a nice chins sofa and several tiny chairs there stood a tea table but above all there was a clean white little bed for her doll to repose upon all these things were arranged in one corner of the glass case the sides of which were hung with gay pictures it will hardly be supposed that in such a chamber the new doll Miss Clara must have found herself very comfortable it was now late in the evening and night indeed was close at hand and godfather Dosselmaier had long since gone home yet still the chair down could not leave the glass case although their mother repeatedly told them that it was high time to go to bed it is true cried Fred at last the poor fellows, meaning his hussars would like to get a little rest and as long as I am here not one of them will dare to nod I know that with these words he went up to bed but Maria begged very hard only leave me here a little while dear mother I have two or three things to attend to and when they are done I will go immediately to bed Maria was a very good and sensible child and therefore her mother could leave her alone with her playthings without anxiety but for fear she might become so much interested in her new doll and other presents as to forget the lights which burned around the glass case her mother blew them all out and left only the lamp which hung down from the ceiling in the middle of the chamber and which diffused a soft pleasant light coming soon dear Maria or you will not be up in time tomorrow morning called her mother as she went up to bed there was something Maria had at heart to do which she had not told her mother do she knew not the reason why and as soon as she found herself alone she went quickly about it she still carried in her arms the wounded nutcracker rolled up in her pocket handkerchief now she laid him carefully up on the table and rolled the handkerchief softly and examined his wound nutcracker was very pale but still he smiled so kindly and sorrowfully that it went stride to Maria's heart ah nutcracker nutcracker do not be angry at brother Fred because he hurt you so he did not mean to be so rough it is the wild soldier's life with his hussars that has made him a little heart heart but otherwise he is a good fellow I can assure you now I will tend you very carefully until you are well and merry again as to fastening in your teeth and sitting your shoulders that good father Russell Meyer must do he understands such things but Maria was hardly able to finish the sentence for as she mentioned the name of the Russell Meyer friend nutcracker made a terrible right face and there darted something out of his eyes like a green sparkling flashes Maria was just going to fall into dreadful fright when behold it was the sad smiling face of the honest nutcracker again which she saw before her and she knew now that it must be the glare of the lamp which stored by the draft had flared up and distorted nutcracker's features so strangely am I not a foolish girl she said to be so easily frightened and to think that a wooden puppet could make faces at me but I love nutcracker too well because he is so droll and so good tempered therefore he shall be taken good care of as he deserves with this Maria took friend nutcracker in her arms walked to the glass case stooped down and said to her new doll pray Miss Clara be so good as to give up your bed to the sick and wounded nutcracker and make up as well as you can with the sofa remember that you are well and hearty or you would not have such fat red cheeks and very few little dolls have such nice sofas Miss Clara in her gay Christmas attire looked very grand and hearty and would not even say much but why should I stand open ceremony said Maria and she took out the bed laid the nutcracker down open it softly and gently rolled a nice ribbon which she wore around her waist about his poor shoulders and then drew the bed clouds over him snugly so that there was nothing to be seen of him below the nose he shan't stay with the naughty Clara she said and raised the bed with nutcracker in its to the shelf above and plastered close by the pretty village where Fred's hussars were courted she locked the case and was about to go up to bed when listen children when softly softly it began to rustle and to whisper and to rattle round and round under the heart behind the chairs behind the cupboards and glass case the great clock wore louder and louder but it could not strike Maria turned towards it and there the large gilded owl that sat on the top had dropped down its wings so that they covered the whole face and it stretched out its ugly head with the short crocked beak and looked just like a cat and the clock wore louder in plain words dickery dickery dog war softly clock mouse king has a fine ear po po po po po the owl song let him hear po po po po po or he might run away in a fright now clock strikes softly and light and po po it went with a doll that didn't sound twelve times Maria began now to tremble with fear and she was upon the point of running out of the room in terror when she beheld godfather drosselmeyer who sat in the owl's place on the top of the clock and had hanged down the skirts of his brown coat just like wings but she took courage and cried out loudly with sobs goodfather drosselmeyer goodfather drosselmeyer what are you doing up there calm down and do not frighten me so you're not a goodfather drosselmeyer just then a wife squeaking and weeping broke out on all sides and then there was a running trotting and galloping behind the walls as if a thousand little feet were in motion and a thousand little lights flashed out of the graphases in the floor but they were not lights no, they were sparkling little eyes and Maria perceived that mice were all around peeping out and working their way into the room presently it went trot trot hop hop about the chamber and more and more mice in gritter aura smaller parties galloped across and at last placed themselves in line and colon just as Fred was accustomed to place his soldiers when they went to batter this Maria thought was very droll and as she had noted that a version to mice which most children have her terror was gradually leaving her when all at once there arose a squeaking so terribly and passing that it seemed as if ice cold water was poured down her back ah, what now did she see I know my worthy reader Friedrich that they heart like that of the wise and brave soldier Friedrich Stahalbaum sits in the right place but if they had seen what Maria now beheld that would certainly have ran away yes, I believe that the woods have jumped as quickly as possible into bed and then have drowned covering over tiny ears much farther than was necessary to keep the warm alas poor Maria could not do that now for, listen children close before her feet there burst out sand and lame and crumbled wall stones as if thrown up by some subterranean force and seven mice heads with seven sparkling crowns rose out of the floor squeaking and squealing terribly presently the most body to which the seven heads be launched worked its way out and the great mouse crowned with the seven diadems squeaking loudly his head in full caress as he advanced to meet his army which at once set itself in motion and hot hot trot trot it went alas straight towards the glass case straight towards poor Maria who stood close before it her heart had before bit so terribly from anxiety and fear that she thought it would leap out of her bosom and then she knew she must die but now it seemed as if the blood stood still in her veins half fighting she tottered backward when clutter clutter it went and the glass pain which she had struck with her elbow fell in pieces at her feet she felt at the moment a sharp pain in her left arm but her heart all at once become much later she heard no more squeaking and squealing all had become still and although she did not dare to look yet she believed that the mice frightened by the clutter of the broken glass had retreated into their holes but what was that again? close behind her in the glass case a strange bustling and rustling began and little fine voices were heard up up awake arms take awake to the fight this night up up to the fight and all the while something rang out clear and sweet like little bells ah that is my dear musical clock exclaimed Maria joyfully and turned quickly to look she then saw how it flashed and lightened strangely in the glass case and there was a great storm and bustle opened the shelves many little figures crossed up and down by each other and worked and stretched out their arms as if they were making ready and now not cracker raised himself all of a sudden threw the bedclubs clear off and leaped with both feet at once out of bed crying aloud crack crack stupid pack drive mouse back stupid pack crack crack mouse back creek crack stupid pack with this words he drew his little sword flourished it in the air and exclaimed my loving facels, friends and brothers will you stand by me in the heart fight? straight way three skaramushes, a hardlock ween four shimney sweepers, two guitar players and a drummer cried out yes my lord, we will follow you with fidelity and courage we will march with you to battle and then rushed after the fiery not cracker who ventured the dangerous leap down from the upper shelf ah it was easy enough for them to perform this feat for beside the fine garments of thick cloth and silk which they wore the inside of their bodies were made of cotton and tau so that they came down plumb like bags of wool but poor not cracker had certainly broken his arms or his legs for remember it was almost two feet from the shelf where he stood to the floor and his body was a brittle as if it had been cut out of leaden wood yes not cracker would certainly have broken his arms or his legs if at the moment when he leapt miss clara had not sprung quickly from the sofa and cut the hero with his drowns word in her soft arms ah thou dear good clara soft maria how I have wronged thee thou did certainly resign thy bed and not cracker but miss clara now spoke as she softly pressed the young hero to her silken bosom you will not oh my lord sick and wounded as you are share the dangers of the fight see how your brave faciles assemble themselves eager for the effray and certain of conquest scaramoosh, harlow queen, shimney sweepers guitar players, drama are already drawn up below and the china figures on the shelf stir and move strangely oh not oh my lord repose open the sofa or from my arms look down open your victory? that's how clara but not cracker demeaned himself very ungraciously for he kicked and struggled so violently with his legs that clara was obliged to set him quickly down open the floor he then however dropped graspfully open one knee and said fair lady the recollection of the fever and condescission battle and strife clara dance took so love that she could take him by the arm raised him gently from his knees took off her besbangled girdle and was about to throw it across his neck but little not cracker steps two paces backward laid his hand open his breast and said very earnestly not so fair lady lavish not day favors thus open me for he stopped sight heavily tour of the ribbon which maria had bound about his shoulders pressed it to his lips hung it across him like a scarf and then boldly flourishing his bright little blade leaped like a bird over the edge of the glass case open the floor you understand my kind and good readers and listeners that not cracker even before he had thus come to life had felt very sensible the kindness and love which maria had shown towards him and it was because he had become so partial to her that he would not receive and wear the girdle of miss clara although it shone and sparkled so brightly the true and faithful not cracker preferred to wear maria's symbol ribbon but what will now happen as soon as not cracker had leaped out the squeaking and whistling was hurt again it is under the large table that the hideful mice have consilled their countless bands and high above them all towers the charitable most with seven heads what will now happen end of chapter 4 chapter 5 of not cracker and masking by E.T. A. Hoffman this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Aida the battle beat the march through facile drama scream not cracker very loudly and immediately the drama began to rattle and to roll open his drum so skillfully that the windows of the glass case trembled and home to again now it rustled and cluttered terrain and maria perceived that the covers of the little boxes in which Fred's army were courted were bursting open and now the soldiers leaped out and then down again opened the lowest shelf where they threw up in fine array not cracker ran up and down speaking in spying words to the tropes let now dog off a trumpeter blue or store he cried for he was afraid he should not be heard and then turned quickly to Harlequin who had grown a little pale and shattered with his long chin general he said honestly I know your courage and your experience there is need now for a quick eye and skill to seize the proper moment I interest to your command all the cavalry and artillery you do not need a horse for you have very long legs and can gallop yourself deliberately well I look to see you do your duty the ribbon Harlequin put his long thin fingers to his mouth and crowed so piercingly that it sounded as if a hundred shrill trumpets were blown merely then it stood again in the glass case a name and a weenian and the stamping were heard and see Fred cuirassiers and dragons but above all his new splendid users marched out and halted close by the case after regiments now defiled before not cracker with flying colors and warlike music arranged themselves in long rows across the floor of the chamber before them went Fred's cannon rattling along surrounded by the canon is and soon boom boom it went and Maria could see how the mice suffered by the fire how the sugar plums plunged into their dark heavy mass covering them with white powder and throwing them more than once into the cold deserter but the greatest dammer was done them by a heavy battery that was mounted upon mama's foodstool which pum pum kept up a steady fire of caraway seats against the enemy by which a great many of them fell the mice notwithstanding came nearer and nearer and at last mastered some of the cannon but then it went pop pop and Maria could scarcely see what now happened for the smoke and dust this however was certain that each curl fought with the greatest animosity and the victory was for a long time doubtful the mice kept deploying more and more forces and the little silver shot which they fired very skillfully struck now even into the glass case Clara and Trochan ran around in despair must I die in the blossom of youth said Clara have I so well preserved myself for this to perish here in this was quite rich and then they fell about each other's necks and screams so terribly that they could be heard above the matrimonial of the battle of the scene that now present itself you can have no idea good reader it went pop pop with glitter clatter boom boom boom boom boom in the wildest confusion while the mosquing and mice quicked and screamed and now and then the mighty boss of Nutcracker was heard as he gave the necessary orders and he was seen striding along through the battalions in the hottest of the fire hallow queen had made some splendid charges with his cavalry and covered himself with honor but threat users were battered by the inmates artillery with odd use offensive balls which made dreadful spots in the red jackets for which reason they would not move forward hallow queen ordered them to draw off to the left and in the enthusiasm of command had the movement himself and the quiraciers and dragoons fell out that is they all drove off to the left and galloped home by this step the battery open the footstool was exposed to great danger and it was not long before a strong body of a very ugly mice pushed on with such determinate the bravery that the footstool cannons canis and all were overthrown by their headlong charge the quiracor seemed a little disturbed at this and gave orders that the right wing should make a retreating movement you know very well or my military reader Friedrich that to make such a movement is almost the same thing as to run away and you are now grieving with me at the disaster which impendence over the army of maria's darling quiracor but turn your eyes from this scene and view the left wing where or is still in good order and where there is great hope both for their general and the army during the hottest of the fight large masses of mice cavalry had debauched softly from under the city and amid loud and hideous squeaking had thrown themselves with fury open the left wing but what an obstinate irresistently they meet with there slowly as the difficult nature of the ground required for the edge of the glass case had to be traversed the china figures had advanced headed by two chinese emperors and formed themselves into hollow square this brave motley but noble troops which were composed of gardeners, tyrolis, benzes, frizzos, mary angeles, cupids, lions, tigers, peacocks and apes fought with coolness, courage and determination by their spartan bravery this battalion of picked men would have worsted the victory from the folk had not a bold margin rushed madly from the enemy's ranks and beaten off the head of one of the chinese emperors who in falling dashed to the ground two benzes and a cupid through this gap the enemy penetrated into the square and in a few moments the whole battalion was turned to pieces their brave resistance therefore was of no avail to nutcracker's army which once having began to retreat retired farther and farther and at every step with diminished emperors until the unfortunate nutcracker halted with a little band close before the glass case let the reserve advance Harlequin, skaramush, drama, where are you? thus cried nutcracker in hopes of new troops which should deploy out of the glass case and there actually came fourth of you brown men and women made of sweet torn with golden faces and calfed and helmets but they fought around so awkwardly that they did not hit one of the enemy and at last knocked the cap of their own general's head the enemy's chasers two bit of their legs before long so that they tumbled over and carried with them to the ground some of nutcracker's best officers nutcracker now completely surrounded by the foes in the greatest peril he tried to leap over the edge into the glass case but found his legs too short Clara and Trichelle each in a deep swoon they could not help him Huizar's dragoons sprung merely by him into safe quarters and in wild despair he cried a horse, a horse, a king donfer, a horse at this moment two of the enemies terrarious seized him by his wooden mantle and the most king squeaking from his seven throats lived in triumph towards him Maria could not longer control herself oh my poor nutcracker she cried sobbing and without being exactly conscious of what she did grasped her left shoe and threw it with all her strength into the thickest of the mice straight at their king in an instant all seemed scattered and dispersed but Maria felt in her left arm a still sharper pain than before and sank in a swoon to the floor End of chapter 5 Chapter 6 of nutcracker and mouse king by E.T. A. Hoffman this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Aida the sickness when Maria walked out of her deep and dead-like slumber she found herself laying in her own bed with the sun shining bright and sparkling through the ice-covered windows into the chamber close beside her sat a stranger whom she soon organized however as the surgeon Wanderlustern he said softly she is awake her mother then came to the bedside and gazed upon her with anxious and inquiring looks ah dear mother, lisped little Maria are all the hideful mice gone and is the good nutcracker safe? do not talk such foolish stuff replied her mother what have the mice to do with nutcracker you naughty child you have cost us a great deal of anxiety but so it always is when children are disobedient and do not mind their parents you played last night with your dolls until it was very late you became sleepy probably and stray mice may have jumped out and frightened you at all events you broke a pane of glass with your old bow and cut your arm so severely that neighbor Wanderlustern who has just taken the piece of glass out of the wound declared that it came very near cutting a vein in which case you might have had a stiff arm all your life or perhaps have bled to death it was fortunate that I walk about midnight and no fighting you in your bed got up and went into the sitting room there you lay in a swoon upon the floor close by the glass case the blood flowing in a stream I almost fainted away myself at the sight there you lay and scattered around were many of rediric's leaden soldiers broken china figures gingerbread men and women and other playthings of your left shoe ah dear mother, dear mother exclaimed Maria interrupting her those were the terraces of that dreadful battle between the puppets and the mice and what frightened me so was the danger of poor nutcracker when the mice were going to take him prisoner then I threw my shoe at the mice and after that I don't know what happened surgeon Wanderlustern her made a sign to the mother and she said very softly to Maria well never mind about it my dear child the mice are all gone and let a nutcracker stand safe and sound in the glass case doctor Stahalbaum now enters the chamber and spoke for a while with surgeon Wanderlustern then he felt Maria's pulse and she could hear very plainly that he said something about a fever she was obliged to remain in bed and take physique and so it continued for some days although except a slight pain in her arm she felt quite well and comfortable she knew little nutcracker hide escape safe from the battle and it seemed to her that she sometimes heard his voice quite plainly as if in a dream saying moronfully Maria dearest lady what thanks do I not owe you but you can do still more for me Maria tried to think what it could be but in vain nothing occurred to her she could not play very well on account of the wound in her arm and when she tried to read or look at her picture books the strange glare came across her eyes so that she was obliged to desist the time during the day always seemed very long to her and she waited impatiently for evening as her mother then usually sedated herself by her bedside and there at all related some pretty story to her one evening she had just finished the wonderful history of Prince Picardine when the door opened Russell Meyer entered, saying I must see now for myself how it goes with the sick and wounded Maria as soon as Maria saw Godfather Russell Meyer in his brown coat the image of that night in which nutcracker lost the battle against the mice returned vividly to her mind and she cried out involuntarily oh Godfather Russell Meyer you have been very naughty I saw you as you sat open the clock and covered it with your wings so that it should not strike loud to scare away the mice I heard how you called out to the mouse king why did you not come to help us me and the poor nutcracker it is all your fault, naughty Godfather Russell Meyer, that I must lie here sick in bed her mother was quite frightened at this and said what is the matter with you dear Maria, but Godfather Russell Meyer made very strange faces and said in a grating monotones benjalom must war war war this way that way clock will strike tired of thinking all the day softly war war war strike cling cling strike cling cling bing and bing and bing and bing twill scar away the mouse king then oil in swift flight comes at dead of night benjalom must war war clock will strike cling cling this way that way tired of thinking all the day bing bing and mouse king scar away war war pa pa Maria stared at Godfather Russell Meyer for he did not look at all as he usually did but appeared much earlier and he moved his right arm backward and forward like a puppet pulled by wires she would have been afraid of him if her mother had not been present and if red had not slipped in the meanwhile and interrupted him with loud laughter ha ha Godfather Russell Meyer cried Fred you are today too drool again you act just like my hallow queen that I threw into the lumber room long ago but their mother was very serious and said dear counselor this is very strange sport what do you really mean by it gracious me replied Russell Meyer loving have you forgotten then my pretty watchmaker song as Maria with this he drew his chair close to her bed and said do not be angry that I did not pick out the mouse king's 14 eyes that could not be but instead I have in store for you a very agreeable surprise the concealer with this words put his hand in his pocket drew something out slowly and behold it was not cracker with his lost feet nicely fastened in and his lame chin well set and sound Maria cried loud with joy while her mother smiled and said you see now Maria that Godfather Russell Meyer meant well by your little not cracker but still you must confess Maria said the counselor that not cracker's figure is none of the finest neither can his face be called exactly handsome how this eagerness came to be hereditary in the family I will now relate to you if you will listen or perhaps you know already the story of the princess pearly pattern and the lady muslims and the skillful watchmaker look here Godfather Russell Meyer not cracker's teeth you have fastened in very well and his chin is no longer lame and rickety but why has he no sword why have you not put on his sword I replied the counselor angrily you must always meddle and make you a rug what is not cracker's sword to me I have cured his wounds and he I find a sword for himself as he can that's true said fred he is a brave fellow and will know how to get one tell me then Maria continued the counselor have you heard the story of the princess pearly pattern I hope the counselor said the mother that your story will not be frightful as those that you narrate usually are by no means dearest madam replied Russell Meyer on the contrary what I have this time the honor to relate is Joel and Mary begin begin then dear good father cried to the children and the counselor began as fellows end of chapter 6 chapter 7 of not cracker and mouse king by E.T.A. Hoffman this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Aida the story of the hard nut pearly pattern mother was the wife of a king and therefore a queen and pearly pattern straight way at the moment of her birth a true princess the king was beside himself with joy when he saw his beautiful daughter as she lay in the cradle he shouted aloud dance to jump about upon one leg and cried again and again haha was there ever anything seen more beautiful than my little pearly pattern the repan all the ministers generals presidents and staff jump about upon one leg like the king and cried aloud now never and it was so in truth for as long as the world has been standing a lovely child was never born than this very princess pearly pattern her little face seemed made of lilies and roses delicate white and red her eyes were of living sparkling azure and it was charming to see how her little locks curled in bright golden ringlets besides this belly pat had brought into the world two rows of little pearly teeth with which two hours after her birth she beat the high chancellors finger as he was examining her features too closely so that he screamed out oh Jimmy Nye others assert that he screamed out oh crikey but on this point authorities are at the present day divided well little pearly pat beat the high chancellors finger and the interrupted land knew now that some sense dwelt in pearly pat's beautiful body as has been said all were delighted the queen alone was very anxious and uneasy and no one knew where for but everybody remarked with surprise the care with which she watched pearly pat cradle besides that the doors were guarded by soldiers and not counting the two nurses who always remind close by the cradle six mates night after night set in the room to watch but what seemed very foolish and now one could understand the meaning of it was this each of these six mates must have a cat open her lap and stroke it the whole night through and thus kept it continually peering it is impossible that you their children can guess why pearly pat's mother made all this arrangement but I know and we straightway tell you it happened that once upon a time many great kings and fine princess were assembled at the court of pearly pat's father on which occasion much splendor was displayed the theathers were crowded balls were given and tournaments held almost every day the king in order to show play that he was in no want of gold and silver was resolved to take a good handful out of his royal territory and expand it in a sweatable manner therefore as soon as he had been bravely informed by the overseer of the kitchen that the court astronomer had predicted the right time for killing he ordered a great feast of sausages leaped into his carriage and went himself to invite the assembled kings and princess to take a little soup with him in order to enjoy the agreeable surprise which he had prepared for them upon his return he said very affectionately to the queen you know my dear how extremely fond I am of sausages the queen knew at once what he meant by that and it was this that she should take open herself as she had often done before the useful occupation of making sausages the lord treasurer must straightway bring to the kitchen the great golden sausage cattle and the silver shopping knives and soup pans a lush fire of sundalwood was made the queen put on her damask apron and soon the sweet smell of the sausage meat began to steam up out of the cattle the agreeable odor penetrated even to the royal cancelled chamber and the king sees with a sudden transport could no longer restrain himself with your permission my lord he cried and leaped up ran as fast as he could into the kitchen embraced the queen stored a little with his golden scepter in the cattle and then his emotion being quiet returned calmly to the council the important moment had now arrived when the fat was to be chopped into little pieces and browned gently in the silver soup pans the maids of honor now retired for the queen out of true devotion and reverence for her royal spouse wished to perform this duty alone but just as the fat began to fry a small weeping whispering voice was heard give me a little of the fat sister I'd like my part of the feast I too am a queen give me a little of the fat the queen knew very well that it was Lady Mauslinx who said this Lady Mauslinx had lived this many years in the king's palace she maintained that she was related to the royal family and that she was herself a queen and the kingdom of mausalia for which reason she had a great court under the heart the queen was a kind and benevolent lady and although she was not exactly willing to acknowledge Lady Mauslinx as a true queen and sister yet she was very ready to allow her a little banquet on this great holiday she answered therefore come out then Lady Mauslinx you are welcome to a little of the fat open this Lady Mauslinx leaped out very quickly and merely jumped open the heart and seized with her dainty little paws one piece of fat after the other as the queen reached it to her but now on the cousins and aunts of the Lady Mauslinx came running out besides her seven sons wrote and forward the rugs who all fell at once upon the fat and the terrified queen could not drive them away but as good fortune would have it the chief maid of honor came in at this moment and chased away the intruding guests so that a little of the fat was left the king's mathematician being summoned demonstrated very clearly that there was enough reminding to season all the sausages if distributed with the nicest judgment and skill drums and trumpets were now heard without and all the invited potentates and princes some on white pelveries some in crystal carriages came in splendid apparel sausage fist the king received them kindly and graciously and then adorned with crown and scepter as became the monarch of the land seated himself at the head of the table already in the first course that of the sausage balls it was observed that the he grow pale and paler raised his eyes to heaven gentle sighs escaped from his bosom and he seemed to undergo great in orde suffering as he insisted of the long sausages he sank back upon his throne sobbing and moaning held both hands to his face and at last wept and ground loud all sprang up from the table the rural physician tried in vain to fill the pulse of the unhappy monarch a deep seated and noun torture appeared to agitate him at last after much anxiety and after the application of some very strong ramities the king seemed to come a little to himself and stammered out scars or deplete the words too little fat then the queen threw herself in despair at his feet and sobbed out oh my poor unhappy royal husband alas how great must be the suffering which you endure but see the guilty one at your feet punish punish her without mercy alas lady moslings with her seven sons and aunts and cousins have eaten up the fat and with these words she fell right over backwards in a swoon then the king full of rage leaped up and cried out chief maid of honor how happened that the chief maid of honor told the story as much as she knew of it and the king resolved to take vengeance upon lady moslings and her family for having eaten up the fat of his sausages the prairie council was called and it was resolved to summon lady moslings to trial and confiscate all her estates but as the king was of opinion that in the meanwhile she might eat up more of his sausage fat the effort was placed at last in the hands of the royal watchmaker and mechanist this man whose name was the same as mine to with christian alias drosselmeyer engaged by means of a very singular and deep political scheme to drive lady moslings and her family from the palace forever he invented therefore several curious little machines in which a piece of toasted fat was fastened to a charade and this drosselmeyer placed around lady moslings dwelling lady moslings was much twice not to see through drosselmeyer's craft but all her warnings all her entreaties were of no veil every one of her seven sons and many of her cousins and aunts went into drosselmeyer's machines and as they tried to snap away the fat were caught by an iron grating which fell suddenly down behind them and were afterwards miserably slaughtered in the kitchen lady moslings with the little remnants of her family forsook the dreadful place grief despair revenge filled her bosom the court reveled in joy at this event but the queen was very anxious for she knew the disposition of lady moslings and was very sure that she would not suffer the death of her sons to go avenged in fact, lady moslings appeared one day when the queen was in the kitchen preparing a harlest hash for her royal husband a dish of which he was very fond and said my sons, my cousins and aunts are destroyed take care queen that mouse queen does not beat their little princess in two take good care and walk not seen again but the queen was so frightened that she let the hash fall into the fire and thus a second time lady moslings spoiled a favorite dish for the king at which he was very angry but this their children said the rosselmeyer is enough for tonight the rest at another time Maria who had her aunts thoughts about this story begged godfather the rosselmeyer very hard to go on but she could not prevail upon him hero saying too much at once is bad for the health the rest tomorrow as the consular was just stepping out of the room fret called out tell me godfather rosselmeyer is it then really true that you invent mouse traps how can you ask such a silly question said his mother but the consular smiled mysteriously and said in an undertone am I a skilful watchmaker and yet not able to invent a mouse trap and of chapter 7 chapter 8 of nutcracker and mouse king by E.T. A. Hoffman this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Aida the story of the hard nut continued you know now children commonset consular the rosselmeyer on the following evening why the queen took such care in guarding the beautiful princess Pellipatt was it not to be feared that lady moslings would execute her thread that she would come again and bait the little princess to that rosselmeyer's machines were not the least protection against the wise and prudent lady moslings but the court astronomer who was at the same time private stargazer and fortune teller to his majesty declared it to be his opinion that the family of Baron Pell would be able to keep lady moslings from the cradle most of that name were secretaries of legation at court with little to do do always at hand for an embassy to authorize power but they must now render themselves useful at home and thus it came that each of the waiting women must hold a son of that family open her lap and by continual and attentive fondling lighten the severe public duties which fell to their lot late one night the two chief nurses who sat by the cradle started up out of a deep sleep all around lay in quite slumber now purring the stillness of the grave even the dead watch could be heard thinking and what was the terror of the two chief waiting women as they just saw before them a large ratful mouse which stood erect open its hand feet and had laid its ugly head close against the face of the princess with a cry of terror they jumped up all awoke but in a moment Lady Mosulings for the great mouse by Perlipat's cradle was no one but she ran as fast as she could to the corner of the chamber the secretaries of legation leaped after her but too late she had disappeared through a hole in the chamber floor little Perlipat awoke at the noise and wept bitterly thank heaven cried the nurse she lives she lives but how great was their terror when they looked at Perlipat and saw what a change had taken place in the sweet beautiful child instead of the white and red face with golden locks a large ill shaped head set open her thin shriveled body her azure blue eyes were changed into green starring ones and her little mouth had stretched itself from ear to ear the queen was brought to that door by grieve and sorrow and it was found necessary to hang the king's library with thick wooded tapestry for again and again he ran his head against the wall crying out at every time in lamentable tones ah me unhappy monarch he might now have seen how much better it would have been to eat his sausages without fat and to leave Lady Mosulings and her family at peace under the heart but Perlipat's royal father did not think about this he laid all the blame upon the court watchmaker and mechanist Christian Elias Drusselmaier of Nuremberg he therefore wisely decreed that Drusselmaier should restore the prince's Perlipat to her former condition within four weeks or at least find out some certain and infiable method of effecting this otherwise he should suffer a shameful death under the marks of the executioner Drusselmaier was not a little terrified but he had great confidence in his skill and good fortune and began immediately the first operation which he thought useful he took little princess Perlipat apart with great dexterity and screwed her little hands and feet and carefully examined her inward structure but he found alas that the princess would grow uglier as she grow bigger and knew not what to do or what to advise he put the princess carefully together again and sank down by her cradle in despair for he was not allowed to leave it the fourth week had commenced yes Thursday had come when the king looked in with flashing eyes and shaking his scepter at him cried Christian Elias Drusselmaier cured the princess or da must die Drusselmaier began to whip betterly but the princess Perlipat lay as happy as today and cracked nuts Perlipat's uncommon appetite for nuts now occurred for the first time to the mecanist and the fact likewise that she had come into the world with teeth in truth immediately after her transformation she had screamed continually until a nut accidentally came in her way which she immediately put into her mouth cracked it ate the canner and then became quite composed since that time her nurses found that nothing pleased her so well as to be supplied with nuts or sacred instinct of nature a turner inexplicable sympathy of existence cried Christian Elias Drusselmaier the point asked me to the gates of this mystery I will knock and they will open he begged straight way for permission to speak with the royal astronomer and was led to his apartment under a strong guard they embraced with many tears for they had been warm friends then retired into a private cabinet and examined a great many books which treated of instinct of sympathies and antipathies and other mysterious things night came on the astronomer looked at the staffs and with the aid of Drusselmaier who had a great skill in such matters set up the horoscope of princess Perlipat it was a great deal of trouble for the lines grow all the while more and more intricate but at last what joy at last it become clear that the princess Perlipat in order to be freed from the magic which had deformed her and to regain her beauty had nothing to do but to eat the corner of the nutcrack attack now the nutcrack attack had such a hard shell that an 8 and 40 pounder might be killed over it without breaking it this hard nut must be cracked with the teeth before the princess by a man who had never been shaved and had never won boots the young man must then hand her the corner with closed eyes and must not open them again until he had marched seven steps backward without sampling Drusselmaier and the astronomer had labored together without cessation for three days and nights and the king was seated at dinner on Sunday afternoon when the mechanist who was to have been beheaded early Monday morning rushed in with joy and transport and proclaimed that he had found out a method of restoring to the princess Perlipat her lost beauty the king embraced him with great kindness and promised him a diamond sword for orders of honour and two new Sunday suits immediately after dinner we will go to work he added and see to it their mechanist that the unsure young man in shoes is already at hand with the nut crack attack and take care that he drinks no wine beforehand for fear he should stumble as he goes the seven steps backward like a crab after word he may drink like a fish Drusselmaier was very much discompused at this words and after much stuttering and stammering said that the method was discovered indeed but that the nut crack attack and the young men to crack it were yet to be sought after and that it was quite doubtful whether nut or nut cracker would ever be found the king in great anger swung his scepter about his crowned head and roared with the voice of a lion then off goes they had it was very fortunate for the unhappy Drusselmaier that the king's dinner had been cooked better than usual this day so that he was in pleasant humor and disposed to listen to reason while the good queen who was moved by the heart fate of the mechanist used her influence to suit him Drusselmaier then after a while took courage and represented to the monarch that he had performed his task in discovering the means to restore the princess to her beauty and thus by the hands of the royal decree had secured his safety the king said that was all trash stupid stuff and no sense but resolved at last that the watchmaker should leave the court instantly accompanied by the royal astronomer and never return without the nut crack attack in his pocket by the anticipation of the queen he consented that the nut cracker might be cemented by a notice in all the home and foreign newspapers and journals here the consular broke off again and promised to narrate the rest on the following evening end of chapter 8 chapter 9 of nut cracker and mouse king by E.T. A. Hoffman this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Aida conclusion of the story of the hard nut the next evening as soon as the candles were laid good father Drusselmaier appeared and continued his story as fellows Drusselmaier and the astronomer had been 15 years on their journey without seeing the least signs of the nut crack attack it would take me a month children to tell where they went and what strange things happened to them I must pass them over and commence where Drusselmaier sank at last into this pendency and felt a great desire to see his dear native city Nuremberg his desire came upon him all at once as he was smoking a pipe of tobacco with his friend in the middle of a great wood in Asia oh sweet city he cried sweet native city sweet Nuremberg he who has never seen D though he may have traveled to London, Paris, Rome if his heart is not that to emotion must continually desire to visit D, D, or Nuremberg sweet city there are so many beautiful houses with windows as Drusselmaier grieved in such a sorrowful manner the astronomer was moved with sympathy and began to cry and howl so pitifully that it was heard far and wide through Asia he soon composed himself again wiped the tears out of his eyes and said but why my respected colleague why sit here and howl why should we not go to Nuremberg is it not all the same wherever we seek this miserable nut crack attack that is true replied Drusselmaier greatly consoled but Rouse knocked out their pipes and went straight forward out of the wood in the middle of Asia right to Nuremberg they had scarcely arrived there when Drusselmaier ran to his brother Christopher Zacharias Drusselmaier puppet maker, varnisher and gulder whom he had not seen for this many years the watchmaker told him the whole story of the princess Pellipatt Lady Moslynx and the nut crack attack so that his track his hands together over and over again with astonishment and exclaimed hey hey brother brother what strange things are these Drusselmaier then relighted the history of his travels how he had passed two years with king data how coldly he had been received by Prince Almond and how he sought information to no purpose of the nature society in Squirelburg in short how his search everywhere had been in vain to find even the least signs of the nut crack attack during this account Christopher Zacharias had often snapped his fingers turned about on one foot winked, laughed, clacked with his tongue and then called out hey hey oh if a child at last he lost his hat and wig up in the air clasped his brother around the neck and cried brother brother you are safe safe I say for I must be wonderfully mistaken if I have not that nut crack attack at this very moment in my possession he then drew a little box from his pocket and took out of it a gilded nut of moderate size see he said this nut fell into my hands in this way many years ago a stranger came here at Christmas time with a sack full of nuts which he offered for sale cheap just as he passed my shop he got into a quarrel with a nut seller of this city who did not like to see a stranger come hater to undersell him and for this reason attacked him the man put down his sack up on the ground do better to defend himself and at the same moment a heavily laden wagon passed directly over it all the nuts were cracked in pieces except this one which the stranger with a singular smile offered me for a bright dollar of the year 1720 I thought that strange but as I found in my pocket just such a dollar as the man wanted I bought the nut and gilded it over without exactly knowing why I bought the nut so there or why I said so much stored by it all doubt whether this nut was actually the long-sought nut crack attack was instantly removed when the astronomer was called who carefully scraped off the gold and found opened the rind the word crack attack engraved in Chinese characters the joy of the travels was beyond bounds and the brother the happiest man under the sun for the smile assured him that his fortune was made since he would have a favorable pension for the rest of his days and then there was the gold which had been scraped off he might keep that for guilting the mechanist and the astronomer had both put on their night caps and were getting into bed as the later commands my worthy colleague good fortune never comes single take my word for it we have found not only the nut crack attack but also the young man who is to crack it and hand the candle to the princess I mean nobody else than your brother's son I cannot sleep not this very night I must cast the youth's horoscope with these words he threw the nightcap of his head and began straight way to take an observation the brother's son was in truth a handsome well-grown young man who had never been shaved and who had never worn boots in his early youth he had on Christmas nights gone around as a merry angel but this could not be seen in his in the list so well had his manners been formed by his father's care on Christmas days he wore a handsome red coat trimmed with gold a sword a hat under his arm and a curling wig in this fine dress he would stand in his father's shop and out of gallantry crack nuts for the young girls for which reason he was called the handsome cracker on the following morning the astronomer was in raptures he fell open the mechanist crack and cried it is he we have him he is found but there are two things worthy colleague which we must see too in the first place we must break for your excellent nephew a stout wooden cue which shall be joined in such a way to his lower jaw that it can move it with great force in the next place when we arrive at the king's palace we must let no one know that we have brought the young man with us is to crack the nut crack attack it is best that he should not be found for a long time I read in her horoscope that after many young men have broken their teeth to no purpose the king will promise to him who cracks the nut and restores to the princess her lost beauty the princess herself and the succession to the throne as a reward his brother the puppet maker was highly delighted to think that his son might marry the princess pelipat and become a prince and king and he gave him up entirely into the hands of the two travers the cue which drosselmeyer fastened open his young and hopeful nephew answered admirably so that he made a series of the most successful experiments even opened the hardest pitch stones as drosselmeyer and the astronomer had sent immediate information to the palace of the discovery of the nut crack attack suitable notices had been published and when the travelers arrived many handsome young men and among them some handsome princess had appeared who trusting to their sound teeth were ready to undertake the disenchantment of the princess the travelers were not a little terrified when they beheld the princess again her little body with its tiny hands and feet was hardly able to carry her great miss shape and head and the ugliness of her face was increased by a white cotton beard which had spread itself around her mouth and over her chin all happened as the astronomer had read in the horoscope one would in shoes after another beat open the nut crack attack until his teeth and jaws were sore and as he was led away half swimming by the physician in attendance sighed out that was a hard nut when the king in the anguish of his heart had promised his daughter and his kingdom to him who should effect the disenchantment the handsome young drosselmaier stepped forward and begged for permission to begin the experiment and no one had pleased the fancy of princess perlipat as well as young drosselmaier she laid her little hand upon her heart and sighed deeply ah, if this might be the one who is to crack the nut crack attack and become my husband after young drosselmaier had gracefully saluted the king and queen and then the princess perlipat he received the nut crack attack from the hands of the master of ceremony put it without hesitation between his teeth pulled his cue very hard and crack, crack the shell broke into many pieces he then nicely removed the little truts and broken bits of shell that hanged to the kernel and risted it with a low bow to the princess after which he shut his eyes and began to walk backwards the princess straight way swallowed the kernel and behold her ugly shape was gone and in its place appeared a most beautiful figure with a face of roses and lilies delicate white and red eyes of living sparkling azure and locks curling in bright golden ringlets drums and trumpets mingled their sounds with the lovely dressings of the people the king and his whole court dancing as at perlipat's bird upon one leg and the queen had to be carefully tended with cologne water because she had fallen into a swoon from the late end rapture young drosselmaier who had still his seven steps to perform was a good deal, discomposed by the tumult but he kept firm and was just stretching back for the seventh step when lady mosling rose squeaking and squealing out of the floor down came his foot upon her head and his thumb built so that he hardly kept himself from falling alas, what a hard fate as quick as thought the youth was changed to the former figure of the princess his body became shriveled up and was hardly able to support his great misshapen head his eyes turned green and staring and his mouth was stretched from ear to ear instead of his cue a narrow wooden clock hanged down upon his back with which he moved his lower jaw the watchmaker and astronomer were benambed with terror and afraid while lady mosling rolled the bleeding and kicking upon the floor her malice did not go unpunished for young drosselmaier had thrown upon her neck so heavily that she could not survive while lady mosling lay in her last agonist she squeaked and weepered in a piteous tone oh crack attack, hard nut hey, hey of the I know must die k, k, son with seven crowns will bite not cracker at night hey, hey, k, k and the revenge his mother's that short brat must I, hi, hi die so young k, k, oh agony quick with this cry lady mosling's died and the royal oven heater carried out her body as for young drosselmaier no one troubled himself any further about him but the prince had put to king in mind of his promise and he commanded that they should bring the young hero before him but when the unfortunate youth approached the princess held both hands before her face and cried away, away with the agly nutcracker the court marching immediately took him by the shoulders and pushed him out of doors the king was full of anger because they had wished to give him a nutcracker for a son in law and he put all the blame open the mechanist and astronomer and banished them forever from the kingdom this did not stand in the horoscope which the astronomer had set up at Nuremberg but he did not allow himself to be discouraged his straight way took another observation and declared that he could read in the stars that young drosselmaier would conduct himself so well in his new station that in spite of his deformity he would yet become a prince and a king and that his former beauty would return as soon as the son of lady mosling's who had been born with seven heads after the death of her seven sons had fallen by his hand and a maiden had loved him not withstanding his ugly shape and they say that young drosselmaier has actually been seen about Christmas time in his father's shop at Nuremberg as a nutcracker it is true but at the same time as a prince these children is the story of the hard nut and you know now why people say so often that was a hard nut and once it comes that nutcracker was so ugly the concealer that concluded his narration maria thought that the prince's bellybutt was an in-natured and grateful thing and Fred declared that if nutcracker were anything of a man he would not belong in settling matters with the mouse king and would get his old shape again very soon End of chapter 9 Chapter 10 of nutcracker and mouse king by E.T. A. Hoffman this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Aida the uncle and nephew if any one of my good readers has ever had the misfortune to cut himself with the glass he knows how it hurts and how long a time it takes to heal whenever maria tried to get up she felt very dizzy and so it continued for a whole week during which time she was obliged to remain in bed but at last she became entirely well and could play about the chamber as merely as ever everything in the glass case looked prettily for the trees flowers and houses and the beautiful puppets stood there as new and bright as ever but best of all maria found her dear nutcracker again he stood on the second shelf and smiled upon her with a good sound set of teeth in the midst of all the pleasure and gazing at her favorite a pang went through her heart when she thought that godfather drosselmyre's story had been nothing else but the history of the nutcracker and of his quarrel with lady mouserings and her son she knew well enough that her nutcracker could be none other than the young drosselmyre of newrenberg godfather drosselmyre's agreeable but now alas enchanted nephew for that the skillful watchmaker at the court of pellipad's father was the consular drosselmyre himself she did not that for an instant even while he was telling the story but why was it that your uncle did not help you why did he not help you complained maria as it became clearer and clearer to her mind that in that battle which she saw nutcracker's crown and kingdom were at stake were not all the other puppets subject to him and is it not plain that the prophecy of the astronomer has been fulfilled and that young drosselmyre is prince and king of the puppets while the shroud maria explained and arranged all this so well in her mind she believed since she had seen nutcracker and his fossils in life and motion that they actually did live and move but that was not so everything in the glass case remind steve and lifeless yet maria far from giving up her conviction cast all the blame upon the magic of lady mousings and her seven headed son but if you are not able to move or to talk to me their master drosselmyre she said allowed to the nutcracker yet i know well enough that you understand me and know what a good friend i am to you you may depend upon my help and i will beg of your uncle to bring his skill to your assistance whenever you have need of it nutcracker remind steve and motion else but it seemed to maria as if a gentle sigh was breathed in the glass case so that the pain scrambled scarce audibly indeed but with a strange sweet tone and a voice rang out like a little bell maria mine i will be dying and da mine maria mine maria felt in the cold shattering that crept over her a singular pleasure. twilight had come on the doctor with godfather drosselmyre entered the sitting room and it was not long before louise had arranged the tea table and all sat around talking chuffly of various things maria had very quietly taken her little arm chair and seated herself close at godfather drosselmyre's feet during a moment when they were all silent she looked up with her large blue eyes in the singular space and said i know dear godfather drosselmyre that mine nutcracker is your nephew the young drosselmyre of neuronberg and he has become a prince or king writer as your companion the astronomer fold told all had turned out exactly so you know now that he is at war with the son of lady mouse rings with the hateful mouse king why do you not help him maria then i tried the whole course of the battle just as she had seen it and was often interrupted by the loved laughter of her mother and louise fred and drosselmyre only remind serious where does the child get all the strange stuff in her head said the doctor she has a lively imagination replied the mother in fact they are nothing but dreams caused by her violent fever that story is not true and fred my red his art are not such cohorts as that if i thought so swords and daggers i would make a steer among them but godfather drosselmyre with a strange smile took little maria upon his lap and said in a softer tone then he was ever had to speak in before ah dear maria more power is given to d than to me or to the rest of us that like pelipat art a princess born for that that's trying in a bright and beautiful kingdom but there has to much to suffer if the woods take the part of the poor misshapen not cracker for the mouse king watches for him at every hole and corner i cannot doubt though alone can rescue him be firm and true neither maria nor anyone else knew what drosselmyre meant by these words and they appeared so singular to dr. stahalbaum that he felt the consular spells and said worthy friend you have some violent congestion about the head i will prescribe something for you but the mother took her head doubtfully and spoke i feel what it is that the consular means but i cannot express it in words end of chapter 10 chapter 11 of not cracker and mouse king by it a hofman this librae vox recording is in the public domain recording by aida the victory not long after maria was awakened one moonlight night by a stranger at link that seemed to come out of a corner of the chamber it sounded as if little stones were thrown and rolled about and every now and then there was a terrible squeaking and squealing ah the mice the mice are coming again exclaimed maria in afraid and she was about to wake her mother but her voice failed her and she could neither hand nor foot for she saw the mouse king work his way out of a hole in the wall then ran with sparkling eyes and crowns around and around the chamber when at last with a desperate leap he sprang up on the little table that stood close by her bed hi, hi, hi, must give me the sugar plums, the gingerbread little thing or I will bite da not cracker, da not cracker so squeaked the mouse king and snapped and grated hideously with his teeth then sprang down again and away through the hole in the wall maria was so distressed by this occurrence that she looked very pale in the morning and was scarcely able to say a word a hundred times she was going to inform her mother or Louise of what had happened or at least to tell Fred but she thought no one will believe me and I shall only be left out this at least was very clear that if she wished to save little not cracker she must give up her sugar plums and her gingerbread so in the evening she laid all that she had and she had a great deal down before the foot of the glass the next morning her mother said it is strange what brings the mice all at once into the sitting room see poor maria they have eaten up all your gingerbread and so it was the revenge mouse king had not found the sugar plums exactly to his taste but he had nod them with his sharp teeth so that they had to be thrown away maria did not grieve about her cake and sugar plums for she was greatly delighted to think that she had saved little not cracker but what was her terror when the very next night she heard a squeaking and squealing close to her ear ah the mouse king was there again and his eyes sparkled more dreadfully and he whistled and squeaked much louder than before must give me the sugar puppets chocolate figures little think or I will bite the not cracker the not cracker and with this the terrible mouse king sprang down and ran away again maria was very sad she went the next morning to the glass case and gazed with the most sorrowful looks at her sugar and chocolate figures and her grief was reasonable for the can't not imagine my attentive reader what beautiful figures of sugar and chocolate little maria's taha album possessed a pretty shefferd and shefferdas watched a whole flock of milk white while a little dog freezed about them next came two letter carriers with letters in their hands and then four neat pairs of nicely dressed boys and girls with gay ribbons rocked at sea so open as many boards wide and smooth as marble behind some dancer stood farmer caraway and the maid of Orleans this maria did not care so much about but close in a corner stood her darling a little red cheeked baby and now the tears came into her eyes ah dear master drossel maier she said turning to not cracker there is nothing that I will not to do save you but this is very hard not cracker looked all the while so sorrowfully that maria who felt as if she saw the mouse king open his seven mouths to devour the unhappy youth resolved to sacrifice them all so at evening she placed all her sugar figures down at the foot of the glass case just as she had done before with her sugar plums and cake she kissed the shepherd and the shepherds and the lamps and at last took her darling the little red cheeked baby out of the corner and placed it down behind all the rest farmer caraway and the maid of Orleans must stand in the first row well that is too bad said her mother the next morning a mouse must have got into the glass case for all poor maria sugar figures are not and bitten in pieces maria could not keep from shedding tears but she soon smiled again and said to herself that is nothing if not cracker is only saved in the evening her mother told the consular of the mischief which the mouse had been doing in the glass case and said it is provoking that we cannot destroy this fellow that makes such havoc with maria sugar toys how cried Fred merely the baker opposite has a fine gray secretary of litigation suppose I'll bring him over he will soon make an end of the thing he will have the most said offer very quickly even if it be lady most drinks herself or her son the most King and jump about the tables and chairs said his mother laughing and threw down cups and scissors and do all kinds of mischief I know indeed said Fred the baker secretary of litigation is a light careful fellow I wish I could walk on the roof of a house as well as he let us have no cats in the night said Louise who could not bear them Fred's plan is the best said the doctor but we will try a trap first have we got one good father dross and maria can make them best said Fred for he invented them all left and when the mother said that there was no more strap in the house the counselor assured her that he had a number in his possession and immediately sent for one in a short time it was brought and a very excellent most sure it seemed to be the story of the hard nut now came vividly to the minds of the children as the cook toasted the fat maria shook and troubled her head was full of the story and its wonders and she said to her old friend Dora our great queen take care of lady mouse links and her family but Fred had drawn his sword and cried let them come on let them come on I will scatter them but other minds still and quiet under the heart as the counselor tied the fat to a fine piece of charade and set the trap softly softly down by the glass case Fred cried out take care good father mechanist our mouse king will play you a trick ah but what a knight did maria pass something called as I stopped her and there against her arm and crept her off and hideous open her cheek and squeaked and squealed in her ear the hideful mouse king set open her shoulder he opened his seven blood red mouths and grating and snapping his teeth squeaked and hissed in her ear wise mouse wise mouse goes not into the house goes not to the feast likes sugar things best craft set at naught will not be cut give give all new frock picture books all the best or shall have no rest I will tear and bite not cracker at night hi hi K K maria was full of sorrow and anxiety she looked very pale and disturbed on the following morning when Fred told her that the mouse had not been caught so that her mother thought that she was grieving for her sugar things or perhaps was afraid of the mouse do not grieve their child she said who will soon get rid of him if the trap does not answer friend shall bring his gray secretary of legation as soon as maria was alone in the sitting room she stepped to the glass case and said so being to not cracker ah my dear good Mr. Russell Meyer what can a poor unhappy maiden do for if I should give up all my picture books and even my new beautiful frock to the hateful mouse he will ask more and more and when I have nothing left to give him he will at last want me instead of you to bite in pieces as little maria grieved and sorrowed in this way she observed a large spot of blood on not cracker's neck which had been there ever since the battle now after maria had none that her not cracker was young drossel Meyer the consulers nephew she did not carry him anymore in her arms nor hug and kiss him as she used to do indeed she would very seldom move or touch him but when she saw the spot of blood she took him carefully from the shelf and commenced the rubbing it her pocket hanker she but what was her astonishment what she felt that he should warm in her hand and began to move she put him quickly back upon the shelf again when behold his little mouth began to work and twist and move up and down and at last with a great deal of labor he lisp it out ah the rest best Mr. Halbom excellent friend how shall I thank you now no picture books no Christmas get me a sword a sword for the rest I here's pitch left him and his eyes which had begun to express the deepest sympathy became staring and motionless maria did not feel the least terror on the contrary she lived for joy for she had now found a way to rescue not cracker without any more painful sacrifices but where should she obtain a sword for him maria at last resolved to ask advice of Fred and in the evening when their parents had gone out and they sat alone together in the chamber by the glass case she told him all that had happened to not cracker and mouse king and then begged him to furnish the little fellow with a sword open no part of this narration did Fred reflect so long and so earnestly as open the poor account which she gave him of the bravery of his users he asked once more very seriously if it were so maria assured him of it open her word when Fred ran quickly to the glass case addressed his users in a very moving speech and then as a punishment for their co-orders cut their military badges from their caps and forbade them for a year to play the users grand march after this he turned again to maria and said as to a sword I can easily supply the little fellow with one I yesterday permitted an outlet corner of the Grilla Sears to retire open a pension and consequently he has no fodder used for his fine sharp saber the offer said corner was leaving on the pension which Fred had allowed him in the furthest corner of the third shelf he was brought out his fine silver saber taken from him and bugled about not cracker maria could scarcely get to sleep that night she was so anxious and fearful about midnight it seemed to her as if she heard a strange rustling and rattling and slashing in the sitting room all at once it went quick the mouse king the mouse king cried maria and sprang in her fright out of bed all was still but presently she heard a gentle knocking at the door and a soft voice was heard word he has best kindness Mr. Halba opened the door without fear good thigh things maria knew the voice of the young dorsal mire so she threw her frog about her and opened the door let him not cracker stood without with a bloody sword in his right hand and a wax taper in his left as soon as he saw maria he bent down on one knee and said you oh lady you alone it was that filled me with nightly courage and gave this arm strength to content with the present useful who dared to disturb your slumber the treacherous mouse king is overcome he lies dated in his blood scorn not to receive the tokens of victory from a knight who will remind devoted to your service until that with this word not cracker took of the seven crowns of the mouse king which he had hung upon his left arm and reached them to maria who received them with great joy not cracker then arose and said best kindest mr. halbom you know not what beautiful things I could show you at this moment while my enemy lies vanquished if you would have the condition to follow me for a few steps oh will you not be so kind will you not be so good best kindest mr. halbom end of chapter 11