按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
JACK SELLS THE COW
ONCE upon a time there was a poor widow who lived in a little
cottage with her only son Jack。
Jack was a giddy； thoughtless boy； but very kind…hearted and
affectionate。 There had been a hard winter； and after it the poor
woman had suffered from fever and ague。 Jack did no work as yet；
and by degrees they grew dreadfully poor。 The widow saw that
there was no means of keeping Jack and herself from starvation
but by selling her cow； so one morning she said to her son； ‘I am
too weak to go myself； Jack； so you must take the cow to market
for me； and sell her。'
Jack liked going to market to sell the cow very much； but as
he was on the way； he met a butcher who had some beautiful
beans in his hand。 Jack stopped to look at them； and the butcher
told the boy that they were of great value； and persuaded the silly
lad to sell the cow for these beans。
When he brought them home to his mother instead of the money
she expected for her nice cow； she was very vexed and shed many
tears； scolding Jack for his folly。 He was very sorry； and mother
and son went to bed very sadly that night； their last hope seemed
gone。
At daybreak Jack rose and went out into the garden。
‘At least；' he thought； ‘I will sow the wonderful beans。 Mother
says that they are just common scarlet…runners； and nothing else；
but I may as well sow them。'
So he took a piece of stick； and made some holes in the ground；
and put in the beans。
That day they had very little dinner； and went sadly to bed；
knowing that for the next day there would be none and Jack；
unable to sleep from grief and vexation； got up at day…dawn and
went out into the garden。
What was his amazement to find that the beans had grown up
in the night； and climbed up and up till they covered the high cliff
that sheltered the cottage； and disappeared above it！ The stalks
had twined and twisted themselves together till they formed quite
a ladder。
‘It would be easy to climb it；' thought Jack。
And； having thought of the experiment； he at once resolved to
carry it out； for Jack was a good climber。 However； after his late
mistake about the cow； he thought he had better consult his mother
first。
WONDERFUL GROWTH OF THE BEANSTALK
So Jack called his mother； and they both gazed in silent wonder
at the Beanstalk； which was not only of great height； but was thick
enough to bear Jack's weight。
‘I wonder where it ends；' said Jack to his mother； ‘I think I
will climb up and see。'
His mother wished him not to venture up this strange ladder；
but Jack coaxed her to give her consent to the attempt； for he was
certain there must be something wonderful in the Beanstalk； so at
last she yielded to his wishes。
Jack instantly began to climb； and went up and up on the ladder…
like bean till everything he had left behind himthe cottage； the
village； and even the tall church towerlooked quite little； and still
he could not see the top of the Beanstalk。
Jack felt a little tired； and thought for a moment that he would
go back again； but he was a very persevering boy； and he knew
that the way to succeed in anything is not to give up。 So after
resting for a moment he went on。
After climbing higher and higher； till he grew afraid to look
down for fear he should be giddy； Jack at last reached the top of
the Beanstalk； and found himself in a beautiful country； finely
wooded； with beautiful meadows covered with sheep。 A crystal
stream ran through the pastures； not far from the place where he
had got off the Beanstalk stood a fine； strong castle。
Jack wondered very much that he had never heard of or seen
this castle before； but when he reflected on the subject； he saw that
it was as much separated from the village by the perpendicular
rock on which it stood as if it were in another land。
While Jack was standing looking at the castle； a very strange…
looking woman came out of the wood； and advanced towards him。
She wore a pointed cap of quilted red satin turned up with
ermine； her hair streamed loose over her shoulders； and she walked
with a staff。 Jack took off his cap and made her a bow。
‘If you please； ma'am；' said he； ‘is this your house？'
‘No；' said the old lady。 ‘Listen； and I will tell you the story of
that castle。
‘Once upon a time there was a noble knight； who lived in this
castle； which is on the borders of Fairyland。 He had a fair and
beloved wife and several lovely children： and as his neighbours； the
little people； were very friendly towards him； they bestowed on him
many excellent and precious gifts。
‘Rumour whispered of these treasures； and a monstrous giant；
who lived at no great distance； and who was a very wicked being；
resolved to obtain possession of them。
‘So he bribed a false servant to let him inside the castle； when
the knight was in bed and asleep； and he killed him as he lay。 Then
he went to the part of the castle which was the nursery； and also
killed all the poor little ones he found there。
‘Happily for her； the lady was not to be found。 She had gone
with her infant son； who was only two or three months old； to visit
her old nurse； who lived in the valley； and she had been detained
all night there by a storm。
‘The next morning； as soon as it was light； one of the servants
at the castle； who had managed to escape； came to tell the poor
lady of the sad fate of her husband and her pretty babes。 She
could scarcely believe him at first； and was eager at once to go back
and share the fate of her dear ones； but the old nurse； with many
tears； besought her to remember that she had still a child； and that
it was her duty to preserve her life for the sake of the poor innocent。
‘The lady yielded to this reasoning； and consented to remain at
her nurse's house as the best place of concealment； for the servant
told her that the giant had vowed； if he could find her； he would
kill both her and her baby。 Years rolled on。 The old nurse died；
leaving her cottage and the few articles of furniture it contained to
her poor lady； who dwelt in it； working as a peasant for her daily
bread。 Her spinning…wheel and the milk of a cow； which she had
purchased with the little money she had with her； sufficed for the
scanty subsistence of herself and her little son。 There was a nice
little garden attached to the cottage； in which they cultivated peas；
beans； and cabbages； and the lady was not ashamed to go out at
harvest time； and glean in the fields to supply her little son's wants。
‘Jack； that poor lady is your mother。 This castle was once your
father's； and must again be yours。'
Jack uttered a cry of surprise。
‘My mother！ oh； madam； what ought I to do？ My poor
father！ My dear mother！'
‘Your duty requires you to win it back for your mother。 But
the task is a very difficult one； and full of peril； Jack。 Have you
courage to undertake it？'
‘I fear nothing when I am doing right；' said Jack。
‘Then；' said the lady in the red cap； ‘you are one of those who
slay giants。 You must get into the castle； and if possible possess
yourself of a hen that lays golden eggs； and a harp that talks。
Remember； all the giant possesses is really yours。' As she ceased
speaking； the lady of the red hat suddenly disappeared； and of course
Jack knew she was a fairy。
Jack determined at once to attempt the adventure； so he
advanced； and blew the horn which hung at the castle portal。 The
door was opened in a minute or two by a frightful giantess； with
one great eye in the middle of her forehead。
As soon as Jack saw her he turned to run away； but she caught
him； and dragged him into the castle。
‘Ho； ho！' she laughed terribly。 ‘You didn't expect to see me
here； that is clear！ No； I shan't let you go again。 I am weary of
my life。 I am so overworked； and I don't see why I should not
have a page as well as other ladies。 And you shall be my boy。 You
shall clean the knives； and black the boots； and make the fires； and
help me generally when the giant is out。 When he is at home I
must hide you； for he has eaten up all my pages hitherto； and you
would be a dainty morsel； my little lad。'
While she spoke she dragged Jack right into the castle。 The
poor boy was very much frightened； as I am sure you and I
would have been in his place。 But he remembered that fear
disgraces a man； so he struggled to be brave and make the best of
things。
‘I am quite ready to help you； and do all I can to serve you；
madam；' he said； ‘only I beg you will be good enough to hide me
from your husband； for I should not like to be eaten at all。'
‘That's a good boy；' said the Giantess； nodding her head； ‘it is
lucky for you that you did not scream out when you saw me； as
the other boys who have been here did； for if you had done so my
husband would have awaken