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All lamps are wonderful； all rings are talismans。 Common flower…pots
are full of treasure； with a little earth scattered on the top； trees are for Ali
Baba to hide in； beef…steaks are to throw down into the Valley of
Diamonds； that the precious stones may stick to them； and be carried by
the eagles to their nests； whence the traders； with loud cries； will scare
them。 Tarts are made； according to the recipe of the Vizier's son of
Bussorah； who turned pastrycook after he was set down in his drawers at
the gate of Damascus； cobblers are all Mustaphas； and in the habit of
sewing up people cut into four pieces； to whom they are taken blind…fold。
Any iron ring let into stone is the entrance to a cave which only waits
for the magician； and the little fire； and the necromancy； that will make the
earth shake。 All the dates imported come from the same tree as that
unlucky date； with whose shell the merchant knocked out the eye of the
genie's invisible son。 All olives are of the stock of that fresh fruit；
concerning which the Commander of the Faithful overheard the boy
conduct the fictitious trial of the fraudulent olive merchant； all apples are
akin to the apple purchased （with two others） from the Sultan's gardener
for three sequins； and which the tall black slave stole from the child。 All
dogs are associated with the dog； really a transformed man； who jumped
upon the baker's counter； and put his paw on the piece of bad money。 All
rice recalls the rice which the awful lady； who was a ghoule； could only
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peck by grains； because of her nightly feasts in the burial…place。 My very
rocking…horse；there he is； with his nostrils turned completely inside…out；
indicative of Blood！should have a peg in his neck； by virtue thereof to
fly away with me； as the wooden horse did with the Prince of Persia； in the
sight of all his father's Court。
Yes； on every object that I recognise among those upper branches of
my Christmas Tree； I see this fairy light！ When I wake in bed； at
daybreak； on the cold； dark； winter mornings； the white snow dimly
beheld； outside； through the frost on the window…pane； I hear Dinarzade。
〃Sister； sister； if you are yet awake； I pray you finish the history of the
Young King of the Black Islands。〃 Scheherazade replies； 〃If my lord the
Sultan will suffer me to live another day； sister； I will not only finish that；
but tell you a more wonderful story yet。〃 Then； the gracious Sultan goes
out； giving no orders for the execution； and we all three breathe again。
At this height of my tree I begin to see； cowering among the leaves… …it
may be born of turkey； or of pudding； or mince pie； or of these many
fancies； jumbled with Robinson Crusoe on his desert island； Philip Quarll
among the monkeys； Sandford and Merton with Mr。 Barlow； Mother
Bunch； and the Maskor it may be the result of indigestion； assisted by
imagination and over…doctoringa prodigious nightmare。 It is so
exceedingly indistinct； that I don't know why it's frightfulbut I know it is。
I can only make out that it is an immense array of shapeless things； which
appear to be planted on a vast exaggeration of the lazy…tongs that used to
bear the toy soldiers； and to be slowly coming close to my eyes； and
receding to an immeasurable distance。 When it comes closest； it is worse。
In connection with it I descry remembrances of winter nights incredibly
long； of being sent early to bed； as a punishment for some small offence；
and waking in two hours； with a sensation of having been asleep two
nights； of the laden hopelessness of morning ever dawning； and the
oppression of a weight of remorse。
And now； I see a wonderful row of little lights rise smoothly out of the
ground； before a vast green curtain。 Now； a bell ringsa magic bell；
which still sounds in my ears unlike all other bellsand music plays；
amidst a buzz of voices； and a fragrant smell of orange…peel and oil。
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Anon； the magic bell commands the music to cease； and the great green
curtain rolls itself up majestically； and The Play begins！ The devoted dog
of Montargis avenges the death of his master； foully murdered in the
Forest of Bondy； and a humorous Peasant with a red nose and a very little
hat； whom I take from this hour forth to my bosom as a friend （I think he
was a Waiter or an Hostler at a village Inn； but many years have passed
since he and I have met）； remarks that the sassigassity of that dog is
indeed surprising； and evermore this jocular conceit will live in my
remembrance fresh and unfading； overtopping all possible jokes； unto the
end of time。 Or now； I learn with bitter tears how poor Jane Shore；
dressed all in white； and with her brown hair hanging down； went starving
through the streets； or how George Barnwell killed the worthiest uncle that
ever man had； and was afterwards so sorry for it that he ought to have
been let off。 Comes swift to comfort me； the Pantomimestupendous
Phenomenon！when clowns are shot from loaded mortars into the great
chandelier； bright constellation that it is； when Harlequins； covered all
over with scales of pure gold； twist and sparkle； like amazing fish； when
Pantaloon （whom I deem it no irreverence to compare in my own mind to
my grandfather） puts red…hot pokers in his pocket； and cries 〃Here's
somebody coming！〃 or taxes the Clown with petty larceny； by saying；
〃Now； I sawed you do it！〃 when Everything is capable； with the greatest
ease； of being changed into Anything； and 〃Nothing is； but thinking makes
it so。〃 Now； too； I perceive my first experience of the dreary sensation
often to return in after…lifeof being unable； next day； to get back to the
dull； settled world； of wanting to live for ever in the bright atmosphere I
have quitted； of doting on the little Fairy； with the wand like a celestial
Barber's Pole； and pining for a Fairy immortality along with her。 Ah； she
comes back； in many shapes； as my eye wanders down the branches of my
Christmas Tree； and goes as often； and has never yet stayed by me！
Out of this delight springs the toy…theatre；there it is； with its familiar
proscenium； and ladies in feathers； in the boxes！and all its attendant
occupation with paste and glue； and gum； and water colours； in the
getting…up of The Miller and his Men； and Elizabeth； or the Exile of
Siberia。 In spite of a few besetting accidents and failures （particularly an
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unreasonable disposition in the respectable Kelmar； and some others； to
become faint in the legs； and double up； at exciti