into the glass case, for all poor Maria's sugar figures are gnawed and bitten in pieces." Maria could not keep from shedding tears, but she soon smiled again, and said to herself: "That is nothing, if Nutcracker is only saved." In the evening, her mother told the Counsellor 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's sugar toys."
"Ha!" cried Fred, merrily, "the baker opposite has a fine, gray secretary of legation; suppose I bring him over? He will soon make an end of the thing; he will have the mouse's head off, very quickly, even if it be Lady Mouserings herself, or her son, the Mouse-King."
"And jump about the tables and chairs," said his mother, laughing, "and throw down cups and saucers, and do all kinds of mischief."
"Ah, no indeed," said Fred; "the baker's secretary of legation is a light, careful fellow.
