They called out to him: “If you know how to crack nuts, why, come here and open ours.” But the little man grumbled through his long white beard:-- “If I crack the nuts for you Promise that you'll give me two.” “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. The Nutcracker grew red with rage. He pulled up his pigtail, snapping his jaws together,--CRACK,--and the bad boy's head was off. THE PUMPKIN PIRATES A TALE FROM LUCIAN BY ALFRED J. CHURCH (ADAPTED) Once upon a time, one Lucian the Greek was filled with a desire to see strange countries, and especially to discover whether there was any opposite shore to the ocean by which he lived. So having purchased a vessel, he strengthened it for a voyage, that he knew would without doubt be long and stormy. Then he chose fifty stout young fellows having the same love of adventure as himself, and next he hired the best captain that could be got for money, and put a store of provisions and water on board. All this being done, he set sail. For many days he and his companions voyaged on deep waters and in strange seas. At times the wind was fair and gentle, and at others it blew so hard that the sea rose in a terrible manner.