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The Story of The Hard Nut "epilogue" excerpts
Uncle and Nephew
. . .Now she knew that her Nutcracker could be none other than young Drosselmeier from Nuremberg, Godfather Drosselmeier's charming nephew, who, unfortunately, had been transformed by Madam Mouserinks's magic. For even while listening to the story, Marie hadn't doubted for one moment that the skillful clockmaker at the court of Pirlipat's father was none other than the judge himself. . .
"But never mind," she said aloud to Nutcracker. "Even if you can't move or say the least little word to me, Mr. Drosselmeier, I know you see into my heart and know how devoted I am to you. Count on my help if you need it -- at the very least, I'll ask your uncle to help you with his skill when necessary."
While thus weeping and lamenting, Marie noticed a big bloodstain on Nutcracker's neck. . .And then his lips stirred and he said in a strained whisper: "Oh, dear Mistress Stahlbaum, honored friend, I already owe you so much. You mustn't sacrifice your picture books or your little Christmas dresses on my account. Just get me a sword; a sword is all I need, I can manage the rest even if he. . .'
"Oh, Mistress Stahlbaum, what splendid things I can show you in this hour of victory over my enemy, if you will be kind enough to follow me a little way. Come with me, I beg you, dear Mistress.". . .
. . .One day the judge happened to be repairing one of the Stahlbaum clocks. Marie was sitting by the glass-fronted cabinet, lost in her dreams and gazing at Nutcracker. Suddenly, quite of their own accord, the words popped out of her:
Maurice Sendak's introduction to E.T.A. Hoffmann's Nutcracker
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E.T.A Hoffmann's "Nutcracker" illustrated by Maurice Sendak Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker / Gergiev, Kirov Orchestra Nutcracker: The Motion Picture (1986)
Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" on the Web 
Nutcracker didn't budge, but it seemed to Marie that the gentlest of sighs came to her almost inaudibly, but ever so sweetly, through the glass panes, and that a little bell-like voice sang to her:
"Dear, sweet Marie,
Protectress mine.
Thou standest by me
And I'll be thine."
. . .OH, WHAT A TIME Marie had that night! Something ice-cold scurried about on her arm, something rough and disgusting lay down on her cheek and piped and squeaked in her ear. The horrid King of the Mice sat down on her shoulder; blood-red foam poured from all seven of his mouths, and, gnashing and grinding his teeth, he piped and squeaked in her ear:
"Hiss hiss hiss
Stay away from that house
Mustn't get caught
O precious mouse
You'll have to miss
The feast.
Give us your picture books
Give us your little dresses
Or you'll have no peace.
Nutcracker will be eaten alive.
Hee hee pee pee
Squeak!"
Marie was beside herself with anguish. And the next morning she was pale and distraught when her mother said, "That nasty mouse hasn't been caught." But believing that Marie was upset about her sweets and afraid of the mouse, her mother added, "Don't worry, child. We'll get rid of that wicked mouse. If the traps don't help, Fritz can bring in his gray legation secretary."...
At that his words ebbed away, and his eyes, which had been alive with the most fervid melancholy, became fixed and dead. Marie felt no fear. . .
She decided to ask Fritz for advice. . .
"I can get Nutcracker a sword," he said, "because only yesterday I pensioned off an old colonel of the cuirassiers. He won't be needing his fine sharp sword anymore.". . .
THE NEXT NIGHT fear and dread kept Marie awake. At the stroke of twelve, she seemed to hear strange sounds, a clanging and a crashing, in the parlor. And then suddenly: "Squeak!". . .
When Marie went on insisting that it wasn't a dream, that she had really seen all those things, her mother took her to the glass-fronted cabinet, pointed at Nutcracker, who was standing on the third shelf as usual, and said, "Silly child, how can you imagine that this wooden doll from Nuremberg is really alive and capable of moving about?"
"But, Mother dear," said Marie, "I know Nutcracker is young Mr. Drosselmeier from Nuremberg, Godfather Drosselmeier's nephew."
Dr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum burst out laughing. Marie was on the verge of tears. "Oh, Father dear, now you're even laughing at my Nutcracker, and he spoke so well of you. 
When we came to Marzipan Castle and he introduced me to the princesses his sisters, he referred to you as an emminent physician.". . .
"Oh, dear Mr. Drosselmeier, if you were really alive, I wouldn't be like Princess Pirlipat. I wouldn't scorn you because you had stopped being a handsome young man on my account."
On hearing that, the judge exploded: "Stuff and nonsense!" But in that same moment, there was such a bang and jolt that Marie fell in a faint from her chair.
When she came to, her mother was watching her and said, "How can a big girl like you fall off her chair like that? -- The Judge's nephew from Nuremberg is here. So be on your good behavior."
Marie looked up. The judge had put his glass wig and his yellow coat back on and was smiling happily.
He was holding by the hand a small but shapely young man with a little face as white as milk and as red as blood. He was wearing a magnificent red coat trimmed with gold, and white silk stockings and slippers, and amidst the ruffle of his shirt he was carrying a charming bouquet. He was elegantly curled and powdered and had a splendid pigtail hanging down behind. The little sword at his side sparkled as if it were made all of jewels, and the little hat under his arm was woven of silk fibers. The young man had charming manners, which he displayed by bringing Marie all sorts of lovely toys, figures of the finest marzipan, including those that the King of the Mice had bitten to pieces, and a beautiful saber for Fritz. At the table he obligingly cracked nuts for the whole company; even the hardest could not resist him. With his right hand he put them in his mouth, with his left he pulled his pigtail, and crack! -- the shell broke into pieces.
Marie turned as red as a beet when she saw the young man, and she
turned even redder after dinner when young Drosselmeier asked her to go with him to the glass cabinet in the parlor.
"Go and play, children," said the judge. "Now, that my clocks are telling the right time, I have no objection."
NO SOONER was young Drosselmeier alone with Marie than he went down on one knee and said, "Oh, my precious Mistress Stahlbaum, you see at your feet the happiest of men, whose life you saved on this very spot. You were kind enough to say that you would not scorn me as that nasty Princess Pirlipat did, for becoming ugly on your account. In that instant, I ceased to be a lowly nutcracker and regained my former, not unpleasant aspect. Oh, Precious Mistress Stahlbaum, favor me with your hand, share my crown and kingdom with me, reign with me over Marzipan Castle, for I am king there now.
Marie raised the young man to his feet and said softly, "Dear Mr. Drosselmeier, you are a good kind gentleman, and since in addition you rule over a charming country full of pretty and amusing people, I accept you as my betrothed."
So then Marie was engaged to Drosselmeier. In a year and a day he called for her in a golden carriage drawn by silver horses. At the wedding, two and twenty thousand of the most brilliant figures adorned with pearls and diamonds danced and Marie is believed to still be the queen of a country where sparkling Christmas woods, transparent marzipan castles, in short the most wonderful things, can be seen if you have the right sort of eyes for it.
AND THAT'S the story of Nutcracker and the King of the Mice.
The Story of the Hard Nut, Part One
The Story of the Hard Nut, Part Two
The Story of the Hard Nut, Part Three
The Story of the Hard Nut, Part Four
E.T.A. Hoffmann's Nutcracker at our house
Does Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker make sense to you?
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This is but one of the many Nutcracker CDs available; others are priced at a steal!
The sets and costumes are Sendak's; the company, the Pacific Northwest Ballet; the plot, once again, a hack and slash of Hoffmann's treasure. This particular production toys with the sexual awakening of 13-year-old Clara and paints Drosselmeier as being infatuated with her, but not in a way obvious to children. It must be said, this production does away with the tired Land of Sweets -- huzzah; and the music is still Tchaikovsky's.
Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann, original name Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann (1776-1822)
Russian Dance - Trepak
Miniature Overture
March
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Russian Dance - Trepak
Waltz of the Flowers
You are cordially invited to send a free Nutcracker postcard. Worth every penny.