Chapter I: Front Matter

THE

KING OF ROOT VALLEY

AND HIS CURIOUS DAUGHTER.

A Fairy Tale.

BY

R. REINICK.

With Eight Illustrations, by T. Von Oer and R. Reinick.

LONDON:
CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY.
1856.

PRINTED BY
JOHN EDWARD TAYLOR, LITTLE QUEEN STREET,
LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS.

Contents.

CHAPTER THE FIRST.
PAGE

THE ROOT-VALLEY AND ITS INHABITANTS.--THE STORY-TELLING
GUESTS.--THE KING OF ROOT-VALLEY AND HIS CURIOUS
DAUGHTER.--THE AERIAL CHARIOT.--FESTIVITIES IN THE
TOWN.--RETURN THROUGH THE AIR FROM THE ROOF OF THE
TOWN-HOUSE.--WHIMS OF THE PRINCESS 1

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 7

CHAPTER THE THIRD.

THE WONDERFUL BROOK.--THE OVERTURNED CARRIER'S
WAGGON.--NUTCRACKER AND HARLEQUIN COME TO LIFE.--THE
THREE WISHES.--THE BOX OF NUREMBERG TOYS.--THE
WANDERING RATS.--HOW HARLEQUIN BRINGS TO LIFE A WHOLE
NATION AND ARMY.--BATTLE WITH THE
RATS.--HOMAGE.--PROCESSION TO THE ROOT-VALLEY 11

CHAPTER THE FOURTH.

NUTCRACKER IS BETROTHED TO THE PRINCESS OF ROOT-VALLEY, AND
TAKES POSSESSION OF THE NUTFIELD.--THE BIRDS
DEPART.--WHAT ILL COMES OF IT.--WEDDING AND PARTING 19

CHAPTER THE FIFTH.

THE PUPPET-KINGDOM IS SET IN ORDER.--HAUGHTINESS OF
NUTCRACKER, HIS WIFE, AND SUBJECTS.--ANTIPATHY OF THE
TWO PEOPLES.--THE ROOT-KING ABDICATES HIS
CROWN.--NUTCRACKER A TYRANT.--PREPARATIONS FOR WAR IN
ROOT-VALLEY.--THE WAR.--HARLEQUIN'S DEATH.--FLIGHT AND
DESTRUCTION OF THE PUPPET-KINGDOM.--NUTCRACKER'S
DEATH.--THE PRINCESS SAVED 22

CHAPTER THE SIXTH.

THE BIRDCATCHER AND HIS FAMILY.--HOW THE CHILDREN RETURN
HOME WITH RARE TREASURES.--NUTCRACKER'S DEAD BODY.--THE
LITTLE MAIDEN IN THE STORK'S NEST, AND WHO SHE
WAS.--AFFECTING RECONCILIATION ON THE
NUTFIELD.--THREATENING DANGER TO THE
ROOTMEN.--EMIGRATION OF THE ROOTMEN 28

The King of Root Valley

AND

His Curious Daughter.