''
``Yes, yes,'' cried the boys, ``you shall have all
the nuts you wish, only crack some for us, and be
quick about it!''
The little man stood before them, for he could
not sit down because of his long, stiff pigtail that
hung down behind, and he sang:--
``Lift my pigtail, long and thin,
Place your nuts my jaws within,
Pull the pigtail down, and then
I'll crack your nuts, my little men.''
The boys did as they were told, laughing hard
all the time. Whenever they pulled down the pigtail,
there was a sharp CRACK, and a broken nut
sprang out of the Nutcracker's mouth.
Soon all the hazelnuts were opened, and the
little man grumbled again:--
``Hight! hight! Bite! bite!
Your nuts are cracked, and now my pay
I'll take and then I'll go away.''
Now one of the boys wished to give the little
man his promised reward, but the other, who was
a bad boy, stopped him, saying:--
``Why do you give that old fellow our nuts?
There are only enough for us. As for you,
Nutcracker, go away from here and find some for
yourself.''
Then the little man grew angry, and he
grumbled horribly:--
``If you do not pay my fee,
Why, then, you've told a lie to me!
I am hungry, you're well fed,
Quick, or I'll bite off your head!''
But the bad boy only laughed and said: ``You 'll
bite off my head, will you! Go away from here
just as fast as you can, or you shall feel these nut-
shells,'' and he shook his fist at the little man.
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