Good evening. Welcome to the Just Sleep podcast. I'm Tasia, your host.

Every week, I will read you an old story to help you relax,

but the stressful day behind you and drift off to sleep.

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Tonight, I will be reading The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T. Hoffman.

So lie down, close your eyes, and let me read you a story.

Christmas Eve.

During the long, long day of the 24th of December, the children of Dr. Stalbaum were not permitted

to enter the parlor, much less the adjoining drawing-room.

Frederick and Maria sat nestled together in a corner of the back chamber.

Dusky twilight had come on, and they felt quite gloomy and fearful, for, as was commonly

the case on this day, no light was brought into them.

Fred, in great secrecy,

and in a whisper, informed his little sister, she was only just seven years old, that ever since morning he had heard a rustling and a rattling, and now and then a gentle knocking in the forbidden

chambers.

Not long ago also he'd seen a little man with a large chest under his arm gliding softly through the entry,

but he knew very well that it was nobody but Godfather Drosselmeyer.

Upon this, Maria clapped her little hands together for joy and exclaimed,

Ah, what beautiful things his godfather Droselmeier made for us this time.

...