It was Christmas Eve, and Marie's house was filled with delights. In the living room stood a magnificent tree decorated with colored bulbs, silver streamers and toys. Oh, the toys! There were silver flutes and clarinets and piccolos hanging from the branches. At the very top stood a beautiful fairy made of icing sugar.
Beneath the tree were Marie's gifts - dolls from China and Russia and Arabia, each one wearing the clothing of its country. Toy soldiers dressed in starched uniforms stood nearby. Marie loved all the toys and dolls, but most of all she loved the nutcracker her godfather had given her. The nutcracker looked like an old man, with a huge smiling mouth and large teeth for cracking nuts. When she looked into his eyes, she imagined he could talk to her.Marie invited all her friends to see the tree. The children had a wonderful party. They played with the tin soldiers, made music with the instruments, ate cakes and other sweets. But suddenly her brother, Fritz, dropped the nutcracker as he played with it. The nutcracker broke into several pieces.
Marie bit her lip and tried hard not to cry. She pretended not to mind because she didn't want to ruin the party. But when all the children had left, and everyone in the house had gone to sleep, Marie slipped out of bed and tiptoed downstairs. She hoped she could piece the nutcracker back together again.
Just as she reached the bottom of the long stairway, the clock struck midnight. Before her eyes, the tree began to grow bigger and bigger, and the fairy at the top waved her wand. All the toys came alive. Best of all, the nutcracker was mended!
Suddenly Marie heard a strange scurrying sound. To her astonishment, an army of mice began to march out of the corner of the living room, with the Mouse King leading the formation. When the toys saw the mice, they stopped dancing. The soldiers stopped playing music. Everything was still and silent.
The terrifying battle began. Marie trembled as she watched the Mouse King with his seven heads struggling with the nutcracker, twisting him this way and that. It seemed as if the nutcracker would any moment split in two. Without thinking, she took off her slipper and threw it right at the Mouse King. He fell to the ground, and the other mice dashed back into their hiding place behind the wall.
The moment the Mouse King fell, the nutcracker was transformed into a dashing young prince. He bowed before Marie.
"The Mouse King was an evil fairy, but you have broken his spell," the prince said. "He changed me into the nutcracker you once knew, and now I am a prince again. Because you've saved my life, I am going to take you on a magical journey."
He had barely finished speaking when Marie felt herself lift into the air. Out the window they flew. Higher and higher they rose, into the shimmering stars.
At last they began to drift downward, and Marie saw that she was in a most amazing country. The mountains surrounding her were made of chocolate cake, topped by snowy white whipped cream. The ground was coated with brown sugar and sparkling candies, and everywhere dolls and fairies waved as Marie and Prince Nutcracker floated to the ground.
"Welcome to the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy," the prince said. When Marie looked around, she saw that this land was filled with all her old friends. She saw the Russian doll, the Chinese ballerina, the Arabian dancer and all the soldiers playing instruments. Everyone was bowing to Marie.
"Hooray," they cried. "Hail to you for saving our Prince Nutcracker, Marie. You are our hero!"
Marie was quite surprised by all this, but even more so when suddenly a queen appeared. She looked exactly like the sugar fairy on the top of the Christmas tree back in her faraway home.
"To celebrate this joyous occasion, we have arranged a special show for you," the queen said. She gave a signal, and all the soldiers lifted their instruments and began to play a charming song. Prince Nutcracker leaned close to Marie. "This is the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," he whispered. "This dance is for you, Marie."
The queen leaped upon the stage and whirled and twirled, and soon the Russian doll joined in, vigorous and quick. Arms folded in front of him, he squatted low and kicked out his feet in time with the wonderful music. With a crash of tambourines, the dark-eyed Arabian doll stepped onto the stage, with rings on her toes and jewels on her ankles. Her silk veils swirled around her. The music slowed and the doll danced, and when she was nearly finished, the music changed once more.
Now Marie heard tinkling bells, and the Chinese ballerina in her bright red slippers jumped onto stage. As she pirouetted, the flutes began to trill. This time even the instruments leaped onto stage, spinning round and round, thrumming and strumming.
Marie had never felt so happy as she felt now, watching and listening to this marvelous show.
When at last the music stopped, Prince Nutcracker bowed to Marie. "Now we will attend a ball in your honor."
In a flash Marie was in a beautiful winter garden, surrounded by flowers. "These are snow flowers," the prince explained as the flowers stepped out of their bushes, two by two. Soon the flowers were dancing. Lilies and tulips, narcissus and hyacinths, hollyhocks, daffodils and roses frolicked to the sound of sweet music.
"May I have this dance?" Prince Nutcracker asked Marie. She nodded, and he took her hand in his. They spun around the dance floor, in and out of the dancing flowers, careful not to crush the soft petals that brushed Marie's cheek. Marie closed her eyes and leaned her head on Prince Nutcracker's shoulder. She felt as if she were dancing in the sweetest dream imaginable.
And then, in the midst of their dance, Marie heard a soft voice calling to her from far away. "Marie, Marie," the voice called. The music played on, but the voice grew louder. It seemed to be coming closer. "Marie, Marie . . ."
With her eyes closed, and the fragrance of flowers and sweets surrounding her, Marie suddenly recognized the voice. It was her mother calling to her.
"Merry Christmas, dear. Merry Christmas to my sweet daughter."
Now Marie felt herself spinning and flying through the air. She opened her eyes and saw that she was home again, lying in her warm bed. She touched the crocheted flowers of her soft quilt and smiled.
"It's Christmas morning, Marie," her mother said. "Time to wake up."
Marie smiled up at her mother. "I know it's Christmas, Mother. And it's the best Christmas ever. We must go downstairs and celebrate with everyone!"
And that's exactly what they did.