he Nutcrackers are Missing

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

The annual nutcracker contest was a big success. This year they selected the best nutcracker that was a man's figure and one that was a woman's figure. All of the craftsmen in Lilliland said that the judges did a fine job. In addition to a prize of money from the Baron, the winners had the honor of displaying the winning nutcrackers in a display area in the Lilliland Center Marketplace for everyone to see.

One day to the alarm of everyone, the two nutcrackers were missing from the display area. The Baron called in his security staff to investigate the missing nutcrackers.

A description was posted for everyone to see. The one nutcracker was the figure of a man who was an Alpine mountain climber, and the woman nutcracker, a skier wearing a ski suit and holding a pair of skis.

Many weeks went by and no one had a clue as to what happened to the missing prize-winning nutcrackers of Lilliland.

One day a special package for Baron Von Lodge arrived by diplomatic courier from another country. In the box were the two missing nutcrackers in perfect condition. There was a note with a check payable to the Charities of Lilliland. The note was from the head of a nearby country apologizing for the missing items. It seems that two citizens from the other country were to observe the craftsmanship of the Lilliland artisans. They were so impressed that they felt if they did not bring examples back to show, no one would believe the excellent work being done in Lilliland.

Baron Von Lodge was pleased with the return of the nutcrackers and everyone was happy again in Lilliland.