t his speech from terror; and had
not the Cranes, of themselves, lifted up the stork's nest into the
air and borne it quickly off, there would have been an end of the
King and his daughter, and of our story too. However fortunately
they were just in time: and still from afar off the aerial
travellers saw the fireworks fly into the air, whizzing and
fizzing, and crackling and sparkling, from the tower of the
Townhouse, which was certainly all very splendid at a distance,
but close by would have been certain death. So the King and his
daughter returned safe and sound to their own Root-Valley.

The little Princess of course now saw well that Men were too big
for her to be able to share in their grand doings; still her old
fancies and longing returned, and even stronger than ever, although
in a somewhat altered form. She was firmly convinced that there
must be upon earth yet another race of beings as small as her own
little countrymen, but as clever and wise as Men; and so she
resolved never in her life to marry, unless a Prince of her own
size should take her for his wife; but then too he must have
exactly such an hussar's jacket, and exactly such a star on his
breast, and just the same large blue eyes, as the Man-Prince in the
city; and he must also rule over a little People, who possessed
exactly the same peculiarities as they.

These whims and fancies of his daughter made the good old King
quite sad. Right gladly would he have had a son-in-law,--but such a
one! where in the wide world was he to be found? He indeed did all
in his power to form and teach his People according to the rules
and laws of Men, but nothing came of it,--they were not a whit the
cleverer. The little fellows were never tired of _hearing_ of Men
and their doings, but to become like them--no indeed! They would
remain for ever and aye what they were,--free, merry little
Rootmen! The end of it was that the Princess got no husband, and
the King no son-in-law.

[Illustration: Second Chapter.]

CHAPTER THE SECOND.

THE SPRING FESTIVAL IN ROOT-VALLEY.--THE NUT-FIELD.--THE
MIGRATING BIRDS.--A STRANGE PEOPLE MAKE THEIR
APPEARANCE.--NUTCRACKER AND HARLEQUIN.--THE PRINCESS
FALLS INTO RAPTURES.

Several years had passed, and the Spring Festival was returning.
All was green and blooming; the trees and hedges were already in
full leaf, and rock, vale, hill and dale were clothed with
their new dress. The Rootmen had al