 Section 154 of Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sarah Williams. Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories by various authors. Section 154, Beauty and the Beast. Adapted by E. Nesbit. Once upon a time there was a rich merchant who had three daughters. They lived in a very fine house in a beautiful city and had many servants in grand liveries to wait upon them. All their food was served on gold and silver dishes and their gowns were made of the richest stuff sewn with jewels. The two eldest were called Marigold and Dresalinda. Never a day passed but these two went out to some feast or junketing but Beauty, the youngest, loved to stay at home and keep her old father company. Now it happened that misfortune came upon the merchant. Ships of his which were sailing the high seas laden with merchandise of great price were wrecked and in one day he found that he was no longer the richest merchant in the city but a very poor man. There was still left to him a little house in the country and to this when everything else had been sold he retired. His three daughters of course went with him. Marigold and Dresalinda were very cross to think that they had lost all their money and after being so rich and sought after they must now live in a miserable cottage. But Beauty's only thought was to cheer her old father and while her two sisters sat on wooden chairs and cried and bewailed themselves Beauty lighted the fire and got the supper ready for the merchant was now so poor that he could not even keep a servant and so it went on. The two eldest sisters would do nothing but sulk in corners while Beauty swept the floors and washed the dishes and did her best to make the poor cottage pleasant. They led their sister a dreadful life too with their complaints for not only did they refuse to do anything themselves but they said that everything she did was done wrong but Beauty bore all their unkindness patiently for her father's sake. In this way a whole year went by and then one day a letter came for the merchant. He hastened to find his daughters for he was anxious to tell them the good news contained in the letter. My dear children, he said, at last our luck has turned. This letter says that one of the ships supposed to have been lost has come safely home to Port and if that were so we need no longer live in poverty. We shall not be so rich as before but we shall have enough to keep us in comfort. Get me my travelling cloak, Beauty. I will set out at once to claim my ship. And now tell me, girls, what shall I bring you when I come back? A hundred pounds, said Marigold, without hesitating an instant. I want a new silk dress, said Dressalinda, an apple-green one sewn with seed-pearls and green shoes with red heels and a necklace of emeralds and a box of gloves. And what shall I bring for you, my Beauty? asked the father as his little daughter helped him to put on his travelling cloak. Oh, bring me a rose, said Beauty hastily. Her father kissed her fondly and set out. You silly girl, said Marigold. You just want our father to think you are more unselfish than we are. That's what you want, of Rose indeed. Indeed, sister, said Beauty, that was not the reason. I thought her father would have enough to do in seeing to the safety of his ship without being troubled to do shopping for me. But the sisters were very much offended and went off to sit in their own room and talk of the fine things they would have when their father came back. In the meantime the merchant went his way to the city, full of hope and great plans as to what he would do with his money. But when he got there he found that someone had played a trick on him and no ship of his had come into harbour, so he was just as badly off as before. He spent the whole day looking about to make sure there was no truth in the letter he had received, and it was beginning to get dusk when he started out with a sad heart to make the journey home again. He was tired and miserable, and he had tasted no food since he left home in the morning. It was quite dark by the time he came to the great wood through which he had to pass to get to his cottage, and when he saw a light shining through the trees he decided not to go to his home that night, but to make his way toward the light in the woods and ask for food and shelter. He expected to find a woodcutter's cottage, but what was his surprise as he drew near the light to find that it came from the windows of a large and beautiful palace? He knocked at the gates, but no one answered, and presently, driven by hunger and cold, he made bold to enter and mounted the marble steps into the great hall. All the way he never saw a soul. There was a big fire in the hall, and when he had warmed himself he set out to look for the master of the house, but he did not look far, for behind the first door he opened was a cozy little room with supper set for one, a supper the mere look of which made you hungry. So the merchant sat down as bold as you please and made a very hearty supper, after which he again thought he would look for the master of the house. He started off and opened another door, but there he saw a bed merely to look at which made you sleepy, so he said to himself, this is some fairy's work. I had better not look any farther for the master of the house. And with that he tumbled into bed and, being very tired, he went to sleep at once and slept like a top till it was time to get up in the morning. When he awoke he was quite surprised to find himself in such a soft and comfortable bed, but presently he remembered all that had happened to him. I must be going, he said to himself, but I wish I could thank my host for my good rest and my good supper. When he got out of bed he found he had something else to be grateful for, for on the chair by the bedside lay a fine suit of new clothes, marked with his name, and with ten gold pieces in every pocket. He felt quite a different man when he had put on the suit of blue and silver and jingled the gold pieces of money in his pockets. When he went downstairs he found a good breakfast waiting for him in the little of room where he had supped the night before, and when he had made a good meal he thought he would go for a stroll in the garden. Down the marble steps he went and when he came to the garden he saw that it was full of roses, red and white and pink and yellow, and the merchant looked at them and remembered beauty's wish. Oh, my poor daughters, he said. What a disappointment it'll be to them to know that my ship has not come after all, but beauty at any rate can have what she wanted. So he stretched out his hand and plucked the biggest red rose within his reach. As the stalk snapped in his fingers he started back in terror for he heard an angry roar and the next minute a dreadful beast sprang upon him. It was taller than any man and uglier than any animal. But what seemed most dreadful of all to the merchant it spoke to him with a man's voice after it had roared at him with the beasts. Ungrateful wretch said the beast have I not fed you, lodged you and clothed you and now you must repay my hospitality by stealing the only thing I care for, my roses. Mercy, mercy! cried the merchant. No, said the beast, you must die. The poor merchant fell upon his knees and tried to think of something to say to soften the heart of the cruel beast and at last he said, Sir, I only stole this rose because my youngest daughter asked me to bring her one. I did not think after all you have given me that you would grudge me a flower. Tell me about this daughter of yours, said the beast suddenly. Is she a good girl? The best and dearest in the world, said the old merchant, and then he began to weep to think that he must die and leave his beauty alone in the world with no one to be kind to her. Oh, he cried. What will my poor children do without me? You should have thought of that before you stole the rose, said the beast. However, if one of your daughters loves you well enough to suffer instead of you she may. Go back and tell them what has happened to you, but you must give me your promise that either you or one of your daughters shall be at my palace door in three months' time from today. The wretched man promised. At any rate, he thought, I shall have three months more of life. Then the beast said, I will not let you go empty-handed. So the merchant followed him back into the palace. There, on the floor of the hall, lay a great and beautiful chest of wrought silver. Fill this with any treasures that take your fancy, said the beast, and the merchant filled it up with precious things from the beast's treasure-house. I will send it home for you, said the beast, shutting down the lid. And so with a heavy heart the merchant went away. But as he went through the palace gate the beast called to him that he had forgotten Beauty's rose, and at the same time held out to him a large bunch of the very best. The merchant put these into Beauty's hand when she ran to meet him at the door of their cottage. Take them, my child, he said, and cherish them, for they have cost your poor father his life. And with that he sat down and told them the whole story. The two elder sisters wept and wailed, and of course blame Beauty for all that had happened. If it had not been for your wanting of rose our father would have left the palace in safety, with his new suit and his gold pieces. But your foolishness has cost him his life. No, said Beauty, it is my life that shall be sacrificed for when the three months are over I shall go to the beast, and he may kill me if he will, but he shall never hurt my dear father. The father tried hard to persuade her not to go, but she had made up her mind and at the end of three months she set out for the beast's palace. Her father went with her to show her the way. As before he saw the lights shining in the wood, knocked and rang in vain at the great gate, warmed himself at the fire in the big hall, and then found a little room with the supper on the table that made you hungry to look at. Only this time the table was laid for two. Come, father, dear, said Beauty, take comfort. I do not think the beast means to kill me, or surely he would not have given me such a good supper. But the next moment the beast came into the room, Beauty screamed and clung to her father. Don't be frightened, said the beast gently, but tell me, do you come here of your own free will? Yes, said Beauty, trembling. You were a good girl, said the beast, and then, turning to the old man, he told him that he might sleep there for the night, but in the morning he must go and leave his daughter behind him. They went to bed and slept soundly, and the next morning the father departed, weeping bitterly. Beauty, left alone, tried not to feel frightened. She ran here and there through the palace and found it more beautiful than anything she had ever imagined. The most beautiful set of rooms in the palace had, written over the doors, Beauty's rooms, and in them she found books and music, canary birds and Persian cats, and everything that could be thought of to make the time pass pleasantly. Oh, dear, she said, if only I could see my poor father I should be almost happy. As she spoke she happened to look at a big mirror, and in it she saw the form of her father reflected, just riding up to the door of his cottage. That night, when Beauty sat down to supper, the Beast came in. May I have supper with you? said he. That must be as you please? said Beauty. So the Beast sat down to supper with her, and when it was finished he said, I am very ugly, Beauty, and I am very stupid, but I love you. Will you marry me? No, Beast, said Beauty gently. The poor Beast sighed and went away. And every night the same thing happened. He ate his supper with her, and then asked her if she would marry him, and she always said, No, Beast. All this time she was weighted on by invisible hands, as though she had been a queen. Beautiful music came to her ears without her being able to see the musicians, but the magic-looking glass was best of all, for in it she could see whatever she wished. As the days went by and her slightest wish was granted, almost before she knew what she wanted, she began to feel that the Beast must love her very dearly, and she was very sorry to see how sad he looked every night when she said No to his offer of marriage. One day she saw in her mirror that her father was ill, so that night she said to the Beast, Dear Beast, you are so good to me. Will you let me go home to see my father? He is ill and he thinks that I am dead. Do let me go and cheer him up, and I will promise faithfully to return to you. Very well said the Beast kindly, but don't stay away more than a week, for if you do I shall die of grief because I love you so dearly. How shall I reach home? said Beauty. I did not know the way. Then the Beast gave her a ring and told her to put it on her finger when she went to bed, turned the ruby toward the palm of her hand, and then she would wake up in her father's cottage. When she wanted to come back she was to do the same thing. So in the morning when she awoke she found herself at her father's house, and the old man was beside himself with joy to see her safe and sound. But her sisters did not welcome her very kindly, and when they heard how kind the Beast was to her, they envied her for her good luck and living in such a beautiful palace whilst they had to be content with the cottage. I wish we had gone, said Marigold, Beauty always gets the best of everything. Tell us all about your grand palace, said Dresalinda, and what you do and how you spend your time. So Beauty, thinking it would amuse them to hear, told them, and their envy increased day by day. At last Dresalinda said to Marigold, she has promised to return in a week. If we could only make her forget the day, the Beast might be angry and kill her, and then there would be a chance for us. So on the day before she ought to have gone back they put some poppy juice in a cup of wine which they gave her, and this made her so sleepy that she slept for two whole days and nights. At the end of that time her sleep grew troubled, and she dreamed that she saw the Beast lying dead among the roses in the beautiful gardens of his palace, and from this dream she awoke crying bitterly. Although she did not know that a week and two days had gone by since she left the Beast, yet after that dream she at once turned the ruby toward her palm, and the next morning there she was, sure enough, in her bed at the Beast's palace. She did not know where his rooms in the palace were, but she felt she could not wait till suppertime for seeing him, so she ran hither and thither, calling his name. But the palace was empty, and no one answered her when she called. Then she ran through the gardens, calling his name again and again, but still there was silence. Oh, what shall I do if I cannot find him? she said, I shall never be happy again. Then she remembered her dream and ran to the rose garden, and there, sure enough, beside the basin of the big fountain lay the poor Beast without any sign of life in him. Beauty flung herself on her knees beside him. Oh, dear Beast, she cried, and are you really dead? Alas! Alas! Then I too will die for I cannot live without you. Immediately the Beast opened his eyes, sighed and said, Beauty, will you marry me? In Beauty, beside herself with joy when she found that he was still alive, answered, yes, yes, dear Beast, for I love you dearly. At these words the rough fur dropped to the ground, and in place of the Beast did a handsome prince dressed in a duble of white and silver, like one made ready for a wedding. He knelt at Beauty's feet and clasped her hands. Dear Beauty, he said, nothing but your love could have disenchanted me. A wicked fairy turned me into a Beast and condemned me to remain one until some fair and good maiden should love me well enough to marry me in spite of my ugliness and stupidity. Now, dear one, the enchantment is broken. Let us go back to the palace. You will find that all my servants, who too have been enchanted, and have waited on you all this time with invisible hands, will now become visible. So they returned to the palace, which by this time was crowded with courtiers, eager to kiss the hands of the Prince and his bride. And the Prince whispered to one of his attendants, who went out, and in a very little time came back with Beauty's father and sisters. The sisters were condemned to be changed into statues and to stand at the right and left of the palace gates until their hearts should be softened and they should be sorry for their unkindness to their sister. But Beauty, happily married to her Prince, went secretly to the statues every day and wept over them. And by her tears their stony hearts were softened and they were changed into flesh and blood again, and were good and kind for the rest of their lives. And Beauty and the Beast, who was a beast no more but a handsome Prince, lived happily ever after. And indeed I believe they are living happily still in the beautiful land where dreams come true. End of section 154 Recording by Sarah Williams Germantown, Maryland June 2008 Section 155 of Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories This is a LibriVox recording Old LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories by various authors 155 The White Cat There once was a king who had three sons and because they were all so good and so handsome he could not make up his mind to which of them to give his kingdom for he was growing an old man and began to think it would soon be time for him to let one of them reign in his stead. So he determined to set them a task to perform and whichever should be the most successful was to have the kingdom as his reward. It was some time before he could decide what the task should be but at last he told them that he had a fancy for a very beautiful little dog and that they were all to set out to find one for him. They were to have a whole year in which to search and were all to return to the castle on the same day and present the various dogs they had chosen at the same hour. The three princes were greatly surprised by their father's sudden fancy for a little dog but when they heard that whichever of them brought back the prettiest little animal was to succeed his father on the throne they made no further objection for it gave the two younger sons a chance they would not otherwise have had of being king. So they bade their father goodbye and after agreeing to be back at the castle at the same hour and on the same day when a year should have passed away the three brothers all started together a great number of lords and servants accompanied them out of the city but when they had ridden about a league they sent everyone back and after embracing one another affectionately they all set out to try their luck in different directions the two eldest met with many adventures on their travels but the youngest saw the most wonderful sights of all he was young and handsome and as clever as a prince should be besides being brave wherever he went he inquired for dogs and hardly a day passed without his buying several big and little, grey hounds spaniels, lap dogs and sheep dogs in fact every kind of dog that you could think of and very soon he had a troop of 50 or 60 trotting along behind him one of which he thought would surely win the prize so he journeyed on from day to day not knowing where he was going until one night he lost his way in a thick dark forest and after wandering many weary miles in the wind and rain he was glad to see at last a bright light shining through the trees he thought he must be near some woodcutters cottage but what was his surprise when he found them south before the gateway of a splendid castle at first he hesitated about entering for his garments were trouble stained and he was drenched with rain so that no one could have possibly taken him for a prince all the beautiful little dogs he had taken so much trouble to collect had been lost in the forest and he was thoroughly weary and disheartened however something seemed to bid him into the castle so he pulled the bell immediately the gateway flew open and a number of beautiful white hands appeared and beckoned to him to cross the courtyard and into the great hall here he found a splendid fire blazing beside which stood a comfortable armchair the hands pointed invitingly towards it and as soon as the prince had seated himself they proceeded to take off his wet muddy clothes and dress him in a magnificent suit of silk and velvet when he was ready the hands led him into a brilliantly lighted room in which was the table spread for supper at the end of the room was a raised platform upon which a number of cats were seated all playing different musical instruments the prince began to think he must be dreaming when the door opened and a lovely little white cat came in she wore a long black veil and was accompanied by a number of cats dressed in black and carrying swords she came straight up to the prince and in a sweet sad little voice bade him welcome then she ordered supper to be served and the whole company sat down together they were waited upon by the mysterious hands but many of the dishes were not to the prince's liking stewed rats and mice may be a first-rate meal for a cat but the prince did not feel inclined to try them however the white cat ordered the hands to serve the prince with the dishes he liked best and at once without even mentioning his favourite food he was supplied with every dainty he could think of after the prince had satisfied his hunger he noticed that the cat were a bracelet upon her paw in which was set a miniature of himself but when he questioned her about she sighed and seemed so sad that like a well-behaved prince he said no more about the matter soon after supper the hands conducted him to bed when he at once fell asleep and did not awaken until late the next morning unlooking out of his window he saw that the white cat and her attendants were about to start out on a hunting expedition as soon as the hands had dressed him in a hunting suit of green he was worried down to join his hostess the hands led him up to a wooden horse and seemed to expect him to mount at first the prince was inclined to be angry but the white cat told him so gently that she had no better steed to offer him that he had once mounted feeling very much ashamed of his ill humour they had an excellent day's sport the white cat who rode a monkey proved herself a clever huntress climbing the tallest trees with the greatest ease and without once falling from her steed never was there a pleasanter hunting party and day after day the time passed so happily away that the prince forgot all about the little dog he was searching for and even forgot his own home and his father's promise at length the white cat reminded him that in three days he must appear at court and the prince was terribly upset to think that he had now no chance of winning his father's kingdom but the white cat told him that all would be well and giving him an acorn bade him mount the wooden horse and ride away the prince thought she must be mocking him but when she held the acorn to his ear he heard quite plainly a little dog's bark inside this acorn she said is the prettiest little dog in the world but be sure you do not open the fruit until you are in the king's presence the prince thanked her and having bitten her a sorrowful farewell mounted his wooden steed and rode away before he reached the castle he met his two brothers who made fine fun of the wooden horse and also of the big ugly dog which trotted by his side they imagined this to be the one that their brother had brought back from his travels hoping that it would gain the prize when they reached the palace everyone was loud in praise of the two lovely little dogs the elder brothers had brought back with them but when the youngest opened this acorn and showed a tiny dog lying upon a white satin cushion they knew that this must be the prettiest little dog in the world however the king did not feel inclined to give up his throne just yet so he told the brothers that there was one more task they must first perform they must bring him a piece of muslin so fine that it would pass through the eye of a needle so once more the brothers set out upon their travels as for the youngest he mounted his wooden horse and rode straight back to his dear white cat she was delighted to welcome him and when the prince told her that the king had now ordered him to find a piece of muslin fine enough to go through the eye of a needle she smiled at him very sweetly and told him to be of good cheer in my palace I have some very clever spinners she said and I will set them to work upon the muslin the prince had begun to suspect by this time that the white cat was no ordinary pussy but whenever he begged her to tell him her history she only shook her head mournfully and sighed well the second year passed away as quickly as the first and the night before the day on which the three princes were expected at their father's court the white cat gave the young prince a walnut telling him that it contained the muslin then she made him goodbye and he mounted the wooden horse and rode away this time the young prince was so late that his brothers had already began to display their pieces of muslin to the king when he arrived at the castle gates the materials they had brought were of extremely fine texture and passed easily through the eye of a darning needle but through the small needle the king had provided they would not pass then the youngest prince stepped into the great hall and produced his walnut he cracked it carefully and found inside a hazelnut this one cracked held a cherry stone inside the cherry stone was a grain of wheat and in the wheat a millet seed the prince himself began to mistrust the white cat but he instantly felt a cat's claw scratch him gently so he persevered opened the millet seed and found inside a beautiful piece of soft white muslin that was 400 Ls long at the very least it passed with the greatest ease through the eye of the smallest needle in the kingdom and the prince felt that now the prize must be his but the old king was still very low to give up ruling so he told the princes that before any one of them could become king he must find a princess to marry him who would be lovely enough to grace her high station and whichever of the princess brought home the most beautiful bride should really have the kingdom for his own of course the prince went back to the white cat and told her how very unfairly his father had behaved to him she comforted him as best she could and told him not to be afraid for she would introduce him to the loveliest princess the son had ever shown upon the appointed time passed happily away and when evening the white cat reminded the prince that on the next day he must return home alas said he where shall I find a princess now the time is so short that I cannot even look for one then the white cat told him that if only he would do as she bade him all would be well take your sword cut off my head and my tail and cast them into the flames she said the prince declared that on no account would he treat her so cruelly but she begged him so earnestly to do as she asked that at last he consented no sooner had he cast the head and the tail into the fire than a beautiful princess appeared where the body of the cat had been the spell that had been cast upon her was broken and at the same time her courtiers in attendance who had also been changed into cats hastened in their proper forms again to pay their respects to their mistress the prince at once filled deeply in love with the charming princess and begged her to accompany him to his father's court as his bride she consented and together they rode away during the journey the princess told her husband the story of her enchantment she had been brought up by the fairies who treated her with great kindness until she offended them by falling in love with the young man who's portrayed the princess in a bonobo and who exactly resembled him now the fairies wished her to marry the king of the dwarves and were so angry when she declared she would marry no one in love that they changed her into a white cat as a punishment when the prince and his bride reached the court all were bound to acknowledge that the princess was by far the loveliest lady they had ever seen so the poor old king felt that now he would be obliged to give up his kingdom but the princess knelt by his side kissed his hand gently and told him there was no reason for him to cease ruling for she was rich enough to give a mighty kingdom to each of his elder sons and still have three left for herself and to dear husband so everyone was pleased and there was a great rejoicing and feasting in the king's palace and they all lived happily ever after The Story of P.D. Goldilocks There was once a princess so lovely that no one could see her without loving her her hair fell about her shoulders and waving masses and because it was the color of gold she was called P.D. Goldilocks She always wore a crown of flowers and her dresses were embroidered with pearls and diamonds The fame of her beauty reached a young king who determined to marry her although he had never seen her he sent an ambassador to ask her hand in marriage and so confident was he that the princess would return with him that he made every preparation to receive her The ambassador arrived at the palace of the princess with a hundred horses and as many servants with great ceremony he presented the king's gifts of pearls and diamonds together with his message The princess however did not favor the king's suit and sent back his gift to the polite refusal When the ambassador returned without the princess she gave him for his failure and the king's disappointment was so great that no one could console him Now at the king's court was a young man so handsome and clever that he was called Charming Everyone loved him except some who were envious because he was a king's favorite One day Charming rashly remarked that if the king had sent him for the princess she would have come back with him His enemies at once went to the king and used the remark to influence him against Charming He thinks himself so handsome that the princess could not have resisted him although she refused his king they told his majesty The both forward so offended the king that he ordered Charming to be shut up in the tower where he had only straw to lie on and bread and water to eat In this miserable state he languished for some time not knowing why he had been imprisoned One day the king happened to be passing the tower and heard him exclaim I am the king's most faithful subject How have I incurred his displeasure Then in spite of the protests of Charming's enemy the king ordered the tower door opened and Charming brought forth His old favorite sadly knelt and kissed his hand saying How have I offended The king told him of the boast his enemies had repeated True Sawyer, I did say that had I been sent to plead your cause he would not have failed for lack of eloquence Could the princess see you as my tongue would picture you I would not return without her The king at once saw that he had been deceived and he mistook Charming to favor While at supper that night he confided to him that he was as much in love with the Goldilocks as ever and could not be reconciled to her answer Do you think, asked the king that she could be induced to change her mind Charming replied that he was at the king's service and willing to undertake the task of winning the princess for him The king was delighted and offered him a splendid escort but he asked only for a good horse Early the next day he set forth with a resolute heart and the king's letter to the princess One day when he had ridden a great distance he dismounted and sat down under a tree that grew beside a river He took from his pocket a little book in which he jotted down some happy thoughts he meant to use in his plea to the princess No far from where he sat a golden carp was springing from the water to catch flies an abound too high landed on the grass at Charming's feet He painted helplessly and who had died had he not taken pity on it and thrown it back into the river It sank out of sight but presently returned to the surface long enough to say Thank you Charming for saving my life Someday I may repay you Naturally he was greatly surprised at so much politeness from a fish A few days later while riding along his way he saw a raven pursued by an eagle In a moment more the eagle would have overtaken the raven and not charming aiming to zero in time and kill the pursuer The raven perched on a tree nearby and croaked its gratitude You have rescued me from a dreadful fate it said Someday I will repay you A day or two afterward in the dusk of early morning he heard a distressful cries of an owl Hunting about he found the unfortunate bird caught in a net which some bird catchers had spread Why will men persecute and torment harmless creatures exclaimed Charming as he set the bird free The owl floated above his head saying You have saved me from the fallers who would have killed me I am not ungrateful and someday I will repay you After that it flew swiftly away Charming at last reached the palace of the princess and asked an audience His name so pleased her that she at once received him He was ushered into the present of the princess who sat on a throne of golden ivory Her setting dress was embroidered with jewels and her golden hair was confined by a crown of flowers Soft music and perfume filled air and Charming was so awed by all this splendor that at first he could not speak Recovering himself in a moment he told of his mission and set forth the good qualities of the king in such glowing terms that the princess listened You have argued so eloquently replied she that I regret to deny you but I have made a vow not to marry until the ambassador can return to me a ring which I lost in the river I validated more than all my other jewels and nothing but its recovery can persuade me to your suit Charming could urge no more but offered an embroidered scarf and his little dog Frisk as tokens of devotion These were declined so bowing low he reluctantly took leave of the princess He believed that she had but used this means to put him off and his appointment was so great that he could not sleep In the morning he and Frisk were walking by the riverside when the dog ran to the water's edge barking furiously Joining the little animal he saw that his excitement was caught by a golden carp which came swimming swiftly toward them and its mouth was a beautiful ring which he laid in Charming's hand You saved my life by the willow tree said the carp and I now repay you by giving to you the princess's ring Charming lost no time in presenting it to the princess and claiming his reward What fair he aids you asked the princess Only my wish to serve you Charming was blind Alas said the princess I cannot marry you until Gallifron the giant is dead because I would not take him from my husband he persecutes my subjects and lays waste my land Princess I will bring back the giant's head to you or die in your defense bravely declared of Charming The princess and all the people tried to dissuade him but he mounted his horse and rode off accompanied only by his little dog Frisk He traveled straight to the giant's castle All about it was tuned the bones of Gallifron's victims Inside the castle the giant was singing in a terrible voice Little children I love to eat their bones are tender their flesh is sweet I do not care I eat so many if their hair be straight or if they haven't any Charming called out loudly in reply Be not so boastful Gallifron till you've met a knight who may be good to feed upon but is here to fight you The giant appeared at the door clubbing hand When he saw Charming fearlessly waiting him he came toward him in a terrible rage but before he could wield his club a raven lit on his head and pegged at his eyes so that he dropped his weapon and was at Charming's mercy When the valiant knight had killed the giant the raven croaked from a tree nearby You saved me from the eagle and I'm in turn have saved you from the giant Charming cut off the head of the giant and carried it back with him to the princess then the people shouted until they were hoarse and welcomed him as a great hero Your enemy is dead Charming told the princess Will you now make my master the happiest of kings There is, replied the reluctant princess some water which gives eternal health and beauty to those who drink it I would regret to leave my kingdom without possessing some of it but no one has dared to brave the two dragons that guard the cavern where the fountain is to be found You do not need the water princess but my life is yours to command gallantly replied Charming and he set out at once on the perilous mission When he came to the mouth of the cavern black smoke hissed forth and presently he perceived the terrible form of a dragon from whose mouth and eyes fire was darting beating goodbye to faithful frisk he grabbed his sword in one hand and the crystal flask which the princess had given him in the other Just then he heard his name called twice and looking back he saw an owl flying toward him I can enter the glooming cavern without danger, the owl said giving the flask to me and I will repay the debt I owe you for having saved me from the net Charming gladly surrendered the flask to the owl who in a short time returned it to him filled with the precious water The princess this time consented to marry the king and after many preparations she and Charming started for his kingdom The journey was made so entertaining for the princess that she one day said to Charming Why did I not make you king and remain in my own country Charming replied that he must have considered his duty to his king even before happiness so great The king with presence of rituals and splendid escort met them on the way to the palace The marriage was celebrated with great pomp and Charming stood first in the king's favor however did not continue long for envious enemies pointed out to the king that the princess was never happy unless Charming was near The unhappy night was again put into prison where he was cruelly chained and fed on bread and water When Godilocks learned this she wept and implored the king to set him free But for him I never would have been here she said Did he not perform every task I required even that of getting for me the water whereby I shall never grow old The princess's grief only made the king more jealous but he determined to make use of this wonderful water of which he had told It so happened that one of the princess's ladies had broken the crystal flask and spilled all of the water Not jarring to confess she put another in its place that exactly resembled it in appearance This however contained a deadly poison When the king bathed his face with it he fell into a sleep from which he never awoke There was great confusion in the palace when the king was found dead Frisk ran immediately to Charming and told him the news In a short time Godilocks also appeared unlocked his chains and set him free You shall be my husband said she and I will make you king Charming fell at her feet and expressed his gratitude and joy They were married soon afterward and they reigned together for many happy years End of section 156 A bad tempered widow had two daughters The eldest was like her mother both in feature and disposition while the youngest resembled her father She was sweet-natured always and as pretty as she was amiable The widow doted on the daughter who was so like her son and she was as pretty as she was as pretty as she was as pretty as she was as pretty as she was as pretty as she was as pretty as she was She was treated on the daughter who was so like herself but had no love for the other whom she compelled to work hard all day and to live upon the leavings of her elder sister Among her other hard tasks she was obliged to carry water every day from a great distance One day when she had just filled her picture at the fountain an old woman asked to drink from it With all my heart she said to the pretty girl Glad to show a kindness to one old and infirm she held the picture while the woman slaked her thirst Now this was not a trembling old peasant as she appeared but a fairy who rewarded good deeds Your face is pretty and your heart is gentle she said For your kindness to a poor old woman I will make you a gift Every time you speak from your mouth shall come a flower or a jewel When the girl reached home her mother scolded her for her long absence Pardon me for being away so long she sweetly replied as she spoke some pearls and diamonds issued from her lips What is this I see child? asked the astonished widow The forlorn girl was so happy to be called child by her mother that she eagerly related her experience with the old woman at the fountain while with her words dropped precious stones and roses The widow immediately called her favourite daughter to her Fanny, wouldst thou have the same gift as thy sister? asked she Go thou to the fountain and fetch water and if an old woman asks thee for a drink The girl refused to perform the menial task until the widow lost patience and drove her to it Finally she took the silver tankard and sullenly obeyed No sooner was she at the fountain than from the wood came a lady most handsomely attired who asked the hotty girl for a drink from her pitcher I have not come here to serve you she rudely replied But take that pitcher and help yourself for all I care I would have you know that I'm as good as you The lady was the fairy who had taken the appearance of a princess to see how far the girl's insolence would go I will make you a gift she said to equal your discourtesy and ill-breeding every time you speak there shall come from your mouth or a toad The girl ran home to her mother who met her at the door Well daughter she said impatient to hear her speak when she opened her mouth to the mother's horror two vipers and two toads sprang from it This is the fault of your wretched sister the unhappy mother cried she ran to beat the poor younger sister who fled to the forest to escape the cruel blows when she was past pursuit she threw herself upon the green grass and wept bitterly the king's son returning from the hunt found her thus and asked the cause of her tears My mother has driven me from my home she told him she was so pretty that he fell in love with her at once and pressed her to tell him more then related to him the whole story while pearls and diamonds kept falling from her lips and raptured he took her to the king who gave his consent for their immediate marriage Meanwhile the ugly and selfish sister had made herself so disagreeable that even her own mother turned against her she too was driven forth into the forest where she died miserable and alone Section 157 Section 158 of Childhood Favorites and Fairy Stories This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Ralph Snelson Childhoods Favorites and Fairy Stories by various authors Section 158 The History of Tom Thumb It is said that in the days of the famed Prince Arthur who was king of Britain in the year 516 there lived a great magician called Merlin the most learned and skillful enchanter in the world at that time This great magician who could assume any form he pleased was traveling in the disguise of a poor beggar and being very much fatigued he stopped at the cottage of an honest plowman to rest himself and to ask for some refreshment The countryman gave him a hearty welcome and his wife who was a very good hearted hospitable woman soon brought him some milk in a wooden bowl and some coarse brown bread on a platter Merlin was much pleased with this homely repast and the kindness of the plowman that though everything was neat and comfortable in the cottage they seemed both to be sad and much cast down He therefore questioned them on the cause of their sadness and learned that they were miserable because they had no children The poor woman declared with tears in her eyes that she should be the happiest creature in the world if she had a son and although he was no bigger than her husband's thumb Merlin was so much amused with the idea of a boy no bigger than a man's thumb that he made up his mind to pay a visit to the queen of the fairies and ask her to grant the poor woman's wish The droll fancy of such a little person among the human race pleased the fairy queen too greatly and she promised Merlin that the wish should be granted Accordingly, in a short time after the woman's wife had a son who, wonderful to relate was not a bit bigger than his father's thumb The fairy queen, wishing to see the little fellow thus born into the world came in at the window while the mother was sitting up in bed admiring him The queen kissed the child and, giving it the name of Tom Thumb sent for some of the fairies who dressed her little favorite as she bade them for his crown, his shirt of web by spider's spun with jacket-wove of thistles down his trousers were of feathers done his stockings of apple-rind they tie with eyelash from his mother's eye his shoes were made of mouse's skin tanned with the downy hair within It is remarkable that Tom never grew any larger than his father's thumb which was only of an ordinary size but as he got older he became very cunning and full of tricks When he was old enough to play with the boys and had lost all his own cherry stones he used to creep into the bags of his playfellows fill his pockets and getting out unseen would again join in the game One day, however, as he was coming out of a bag of cherry stones where he had been pilfering as usual a boy to whom it belonged chants to see him Aha, my little Tommy, said the boy so I have caught you stealing my cherry stones at last and you shall be rewarded for your thieving tricks On saying this he drew the string tight round his neck and gave the bag such a hearty shake that poor little Tom's legs, thighs and body were sadly bruised He roared out with the pain and begged to be let out promising never to be guilty of such bad practices again A short time afterwards his mother was making a batter pudding and Tom, being very anxious to see how it was made climbed up to the edge of the bowl but unfortunately his foot slipped and he plumped overhead and ears into the batter unseen by his mother who stirred him into the pudding bag and put him in the pot to boil The batter had filled Tom's mouth and prevented him from crying but on feeling the hot water he kicked and struggled so much in the pot that his mother thought that the pudding was bewitched and instantly pulling it out of the pot she threw it to the door A poor tinker who was passing by lifted up the pudding and putting it into his budget he then walked off as Tom had now got his mouth clear to the batter which so frightened the tinker that he flung down the pudding and ran away The pudding being broke to pieces by the fall Tom crept out, covered over with the batter and with difficulty walked home His mother, who was very sorry to see her darling in such a woeful state put him into a teacup and soon washed off the batter after which he kissed him and laid him in bed Soon after the adventure of the pudding Tom's mother went to milk her cow in the meadow and she took him along with her As the wind was very high fearing lest he should be blown away she tied him to a thistle with a piece of fine thread The cow soon saw the oak leaf hat and liking the look of it took poor Tom and the thistle at one mouthful While the cow was chewing the thistle Tom was afraid of her great teeth which threatened to crush him to pieces and he roared out as loud as he could Mother, mother Where are you Tommy, my dear Tommy said his mother Here mother, replied he in the cow's mouth His mother began to cry and ring her hands but the cow, surprised at the odd noise in her throat, opened her mouth and let Tom drop out Fortunately his mother caught him in her apron as he was falling to the ground or he would have been dreadfully hurt She then put Tom in her bosom and ran home with him Tom's father made him a whip of a barley straw to drive the cattle with and having one day gone into the fields he slipped a foot and rolled into the furrow A raven which was flying over picked him up and flew with him to the top of a giant's castle that was near the seaside and there left him Tom was in a dreadful state and did not know what to do but he was soon more dreadfully frightened for old grumble the giant came up to walk on the terrace and seeing Tom he took him up and swallowed him like a pill The giant had no sooner swallowed Tom than he began to repent what he had done for Tom began to kick and jump about so much that he felt very uncomfortable and at last threw him up again into the sea A large fish swallowed Tom the moment he fell into the sea which was soon after caught and bought for the table of King Arthur When they opened the fish in order to cook it everyone was astonished at finding such a little boy and Tom was quite delighted to be out again They carried him to the king who made Tom his dwarf and he soon grew a great favorite at court for by his tricks and gambles and he amused the king and queen but also all the knights of the round table It is said that when the king rode out on horseback he often took Tom along with him and if a shower came on he used to creep into his Majesty's waistcoat pocket where he slept till the rain was over King Arthur one day asked Tom about his parents wishing to know if they were as small as he was and whether rich Tom told the king that his father and mother were as tall as any of the sons about court but rather poor On hearing this the king carried Tom to his treasury the place where he kept all his money and told him to take as much money as he could carry home to his parents which made the poor little fellow caper with joy Tom went immediately to fetch a purse which was made of a water-bubble and then returned to the treasury where he got a silver three-penny piece to put into it Our little hero had some trouble in lifting the burden upon his back but he at last succeeded in getting it placed to his mind and set forward on his journey However, without meeting with any accident and after resting himself more than a hundred times by the way in two days and two nights he reached his father's house in safety Tom had traveled forty-eight hours with a huge silver piece on his back and was almost tired to death when his mother ran out to meet him and carried him into the house Tom's parents were both happy to see him and the more so as he had brought such an amazing sum of money with him but the poor little fellow was excessively worried having traveled half a mile in forty-eight hours with a huge silver three-penny piece on his back his mother in order to recover him placed him in a walnut shell by the fireside and feasted him for three days on a hazelnut which made him very sick for a whole nut used to serve him a month Tom was soon well again but as there had been a fall of rain and the ground was very wet he could not travel back to King Arthur's court therefore his mother one day when the wind was blowing in that direction she made a little parasol of cambrick paper and tying Tom to it she gave him a puff into the air with her mouth which soon carried him to the King's palace just at the time when Tom came flying across the courtyard the cook happened to be passing with the King's great bowl of porridge which was a dish his Majesty was very fond of but unfortunately the poor little fellow fell plump into the middle of it and splashed the hot porridge about the cook's face the cook who was an ill-natured fellow being in a terrible rage at Tom for frightening and sculling him with the porridge went straight to the King and said that Tom had jumped into the royal porridge and thrown it down out of mere mischief the King was so enraged when he heard this that he ordered Tom to be seized and tried for high treason and there being no person who dared to plead for him he was condemned to be beheaded immediately on hearing this dreadful sentence pronounced poor Tom fell at trembling with fear but seeing no means of escape and observing a miller close to him gaping with his great mouth as country boobies do it at fair he took a leap and fairly jumped down his throat this exploit was done with such activity that not one person present saw it and even the miller did not know the trick which Tom had played upon him now as Tom had disappeared the court broke up and the miller went home to his mill when Tom heard the mill at work he knew he was clear of the court and therefore he began to roll and tumble about so that the poor miller could get no rest thinking he was bewitched so he sent for a doctor when the doctor came Tom began to dance and sing and the doctor, being as much frightened as the miller, sent in haste for five other doctors and twenty learned men when they were debating about this extraordinary case the miller happened to yawn when Tom, seizing the chance made another jump and alighted safely upon his feet on the middle of the table the miller who was very much provoked at being tormented by such a little pygmy creature fell into a terrible rage and laying hold of Tom ran to the king with him but his majesty, being engaged with state affairs, ordered him to be taken away and kept in custody till he sent for him the cook was determined that Tom should not slip out of his hands this time so he put him into a mouse trap and left him to peep through the wires Tom had remained in the trap a whole week when he was sent for by King Arthur who pardoned him for throwing down the porridge and took him again into favor on account of his wonderful feats of activity Tom was knighted by the king and went under the name of the renowned Sir Thomas Thumb as Tom's clothes had suffered much in the batter pudding the porridge and the insides of the giant miller and fishes his majesty ordered him a new suit of clothes and to be mounted as a knight a butterflies wings his shirt was made his boots of chickens hide and by a nimble fairy blade well learned in the tailor trade his clothing was supplied a needle dangled by his side a dapper mouse he used to ride thus strutted Tom in stately pride it was certainly very diverting to see Tom in this dress and mounted on the mouse as he rode out a hunting with the king and nobility who were all ready to expire with laughter at Tom and his fine prancing charger one day as they were riding by a farmhouse a large cat which was lurking about the door made a spring and seized both Tom and his mouse she then ran up a tree with him and was beginning to devour the mouse but Tom boldly drew his sword and attacked the cat so fiercely that she let them both fall when one of the nobles caught him in his hat and laid him on a bed of down in a little library cabinet the queen of the fairies came soon after to pay Tom a visit and carried him back to Fairyland where he lived several years during his residence there King Arthur and all the persons who knew Tom had died and as he was desirous of being again at court the fairy queen after dressing him in a suit of clothes sent him flying through the air to the palace in the days of King Thunstone the successor of Arthur everyone flocked round to see him and being carried to the king he was asked who he was whence he came and where he lived Tom answered my name is Tom Thumb from the fairies I've come when King Arthur shone his court was my home seated by him I was knighted did you never hear of Sir Thomas Thumb the king was so charmed with this address that he ordered a little chair to be made in order that Tom might sit upon his table and also a palace of gold a span high with a door an inch wide to live in he also gave him a coach drawn by six small mice the queen was so enraged that the honor paid to Sir Thomas that she resolved to ruin him and told the king that the little knight had been saucy to her the king sent for Tom in great haste but being fully aware of the danger of royal anger he crept into an empty snail's shell where he lay for a long time until he was almost starved with hunger but at last he ventured to peep out a fine large butterfly on the ground near his hiding-place he approached very cautiously and getting himself placed astride on it was immediately carried up into the air the butterfly flew with him from tree to tree and from field to field and at last he returned to the court where the king and nobility all strove to catch him but at last poor Tom fell from his seat into a watering pot in which he was almost drowned when the queen saw him she was in a rage and said he should be beheaded and he was again put into a mousetrap until the time of his execution however a cat observing something alive in the trap patted it about till the wires broke and set Thomas at liberty the king received Tom again into favor which he did not live to enjoy for a large spider one day attacked him and although he drew his sword and thought well yet the spider's poisonous breath at last overcame him he fell dead on the ground where he stood and the spider sucked every drop of his blood King Thunstone and his whole court were so sorry at the loss of their little favorite that they went into mourning and raised a fine white marble monument over his grave with the following epitaph here lies Tom Thumb King Arthur's Knight who died by a spider's cruel bite he was well known in Arthur's court where he afforded gallant's Ford he wrote it tilt and tournament and on a mouse a hunting went alive he filled the court with mirth his death to sorrow soon gave birth wipe, wipe your eyes your head and cry alas Tom Thumb is dead end of the history of Tom Thumb section 159 of childhood favorites and fairy stories this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Ralph Snelson childhood's favorites and fairy stories by various authors section 159 Jack the Giant Killer when good King Arthur reigned there lived near the lands end of England in the county of Cornwall a farmer who had only one son called Jack he was brisk and a ready lively wit so that nobody or nothing could worst him in those days the town of Cornwall was kept by a huge giant named Cormoran he was 18 feet in height and about 3 yards round the way of a fierce and grim countenance the terror of all the neighboring towns and villages he lived in a cave in the midst of the mount and whenever he wanted food he would wade over to the mainland where he would furnish himself with whatever came in his way everybody at his approach would run out of their houses while he seized on their cattle making nothing of carrying half a dozen oxen on his back at a time and as for their sheep and hogs he would tie them round his waist like a bunch of tattle depths he had done this for many years so that all Cornwall was in despair one day Jack happened to be at the town hall when the magistrates were sitting in council about the giant he asked to be given to the man who kills Cormoran the giant's treasure they said will be the reward cloth Jack then let me undertake it so he got a horn, shovel, and pickaxe and went over to the mount in the beginning of a dark winter's evening when he fell to work and before morning had dug a pit 22 feet deep and nearly as broad covering it over with long sticks and straw a little mold over it so that it appeared like plain ground Jack then placed himself on the opposite side of the pit farthest from the giant's lodging and just at the break of day he put the horn to his mouth and blew this noise roused the giant who rushed from his cave crying you incorrigible villain are you come here to disturb my rest you shall pay dearly for this satisfaction I will have and this it shall be I will take you all and broil you for breakfast he had no sooner uttered this than he tumbled into the pit and made the very foundations of the mount to shake oh giant cloth Jack, where are you now oh faith you're gotten now into a tight place where I will surely plague you for your threatening words what do you think now of broiling me for your breakfast will no other diet serve you but poor Jack then having tantalized the giant for a while he gave him a most waiting knot with his pickaxe on the very crown of his head and killed him on the spot Jack then filled up the pit with earth and went to search the cave which he found contained much treasure when the magistrates heard of this and made a declaration he should henceforth be termed Jack the Giant Killer and presented him with a sword and a belt on which were written these words embroidered in letters of gold here's the right valiant Cornish man who slew the giant Cormoran the news of Jack's victory soon spread over all the west of England so that another giant named Blunderbore hearing of it vowed to be revenge on Jack if ever he should light on him this giant was the lord of an enchanted castle situated in the midst of a lonesome wood now Jack about four months afterwards walking near this wood in his journey to Wales being weary seated himself near a pleasant fountain and fell fast asleep while he was sleeping the giant coming there for water he discovered him and knew him to be the far-famed Jack the Giant Killer by the lines written on the belt without a do he took Jack on his shoulders and carried him towards the castle now as they passed through a thicket the rustling of the bowels awakened Jack who was strangely surprised to find himself in the clutches of the giant his terror was only begun for on entering the castle the ground strewed with human bones and the giant told him his own would air long be among them after this the giant locked poor Jack in an immense chamber leaving him there while he went to fetch another giant his brother living in the same wood who might share in the meal on Jack after waiting some time Jack on going to the window beheld afar off the two giants in the castle now clothed Jack to himself my death or my deliverance is at hand now there were strong cords in a corner of the room in which Jack was and two of these he took and made a strong noose at the end and while the giants were unlocking the iron gate of the castle he threw the ropes over each of their heads then he drew the other ends pulled with all his might so that he throttled them then when he saw they were black in the face he slid down the rope and drawing his sword slew them both then taking the giants keys and unlocking the rooms he found three fair ladies tied by the hair of their heads almost starved to death sweet ladies quote Jack I have destroyed this monster and his brutish brother and obtained your liberty this said he presented them with the keys and so proceeded on his journey to Wales Jack made the best of his way by traveling as fast as he could but lost his road and was benighted and could find no habitation until coming into a narrow valley he found a large house and in order to get shelter took courage to knock at the gate but what was his surprise when there came forth a monstrous giant with two heads yet he did not appear so fiery as the others were for he was a Welsh giant and what he did was by private and secret malice under the false show of friendship Jack having told his condition to the giant was shown into a bedroom where in the dead of night he heard his host in another apartment muttering these words though here you lodge with me this night you shall not see the morning light my club shall dash your brains out right say us thou so quote Jack that is like one of your Welsh treks yet I hope to be cunning enough for you then getting out of bed he laid a log in the bed in his stead and hid himself in a corner of the room at the dead time of the night in came the Welsh giant who struck several heavy blows on the bed with his club thinking he had broken every bone in Jack's skin the next morning Jack laughing in his sleep gave him a hearty thanks for his nights lodging how have you rested quote the giant did you not feel anything in the night no quote Jack nothing but a rat which gave me two or three slaps with her tail with that greatly wondering the giant led Jack to breakfast bringing him a bowl containing four gallons of hasty pudding being loath to let the giant think it too much for him Jack put a large leather bag under his loose coat in such a way that he could convey the pudding into it without its being perceived then telling the giant he would show him a trick taking a knife Jack ripped open the bag and out came all the hasty pudding whereupon saying odds, letters, or nails her can do that trick herself the monster took the knife and ripping open his belly well down dead now it happened in these days that King Arthur's only son asked his father to give him a large sum of money in order that he might go and seek his fortune in the principality of Wales where lived a beautiful lady possessed with seven evil spirits the king did his best to persuade his son from it but in vain so at last gave way to the two horses one loaded with money the other for himself to ride upon now after several days travel he came to a market town in Wales where he beheld a vast crowd of people gathered together the prince asked the reason of it and was told that they had rested a corpse for several large sums of money which the deceased owed when he died the prince replied that it was a pity creditors should be so cruel and said go bury the dead and let his creditors come to my lodging and there their debt shall be paid they came in such great numbers that before night he had only two pints left for himself now Jack the giant killer coming that way was so taken with the generosity of the prince that he desired to be his servant this being agreed upon the next morning they set forward on their journey together when as they were riding out of the town an old woman called after the prince saying he has owed me two pints these seven years pray pay me as well as the rest putting his hand into his pocket the prince gave the woman all he had left so that after their days food which cost what small store Jack had by him they were without a penny between them when the sun got low the king's son said Jack since we have no money where can we lodge this night but Jack replied master we'll do well enough for I have an uncle lives within two miles of this place he is a huge and monstrous giant with three heads he'll fight five hundred men in armor and make them to fly before him alas quote the prince what should we do there he'll certainly chop us up to mouthful nay we are scarce enough to fill one of his hollow teeth it is no matter for that quote Jack I myself will go before and prepare the way for you therefore stop here and wait till I return Jack then rode away at full speed and coming to the gate in the castle he not so loud that he made the neighboring hills resound the giant roared out at this like thunder who's there Jack answered none but your poor cousin Jack quote he what news with my poor cousin Jack he replied dear uncle bad news God willing pretty quote the giant bad news can come to me I am a giant with three heads and besides they'll know us I can fight five hundred men in armor and make them fly like chaff before the wind oh but quote Jack here's the king's son coming with a thousand men in armor to kill you and destroy all that you have oh cousin Jack said the giant this is bad news indeed I will immediately run and hide myself and thou shalt lock bolt and bar me in and keep the keys until the prince is gone having secured the giant Jack fetched his master when they made themselves heartily merry whilst the poor giant lay trembling in a vault under the ground early in the morning Jack furnished his master with a fresh supply of gold and silver and then sent him three miles forward on his journey at which time the prince was pretty well out of the smell of the giant Jack then returned and let the giant out of the vault who asked what he should give him for keeping the castle from destruction why quote Jack I want nothing but the old coat and cap together with the old rusty sword and slippers which are at your bed's head quote the giant you know not what you ask they are the most precious things I have the coat will keep you invisible the cap will tell you all you want to know this sword cuts us under whatever you strike and the shoes are of extraordinary swiftness but you have been very serviceable to me therefore take them with all my heart Jack thanked his uncle and then went off with them he soon overtook his master and they quickly arrived at the house of the lady the prince sought who finding the prince to be a suitor prepared a splendid banquet for him after the repast was concluded she told him she had a task for him she wiped his mouth with a handkerchief saying you must show me that handkerchief tomorrow morning or else you will lose your head with that she put it in her bosom the prince went to bed in great sorrow but Jack's cap of knowledge informed him how it was to be obtained in the middle of the night she called upon her familiar spirit to carry her to Lucifer but Jack put on his coat of darkness and his shoes of swiftness and was there as soon as she was when she entered the place of the demon she gave the handkerchief to him and he laid it upon a shell whence Jack took it he brought it to his master who showed it to the lady next day and so saved his life on that day she gave the prince a kiss and told him he must show her the lips tomorrow morning that she kissed last night or lose his head ah he replied if you kiss none but mine I will that is neither here nor there if you do not death's your portion at midnight she went as before and was angry with the demon for letting the handkerchief go but now I will be too hard for the king's son for I will kiss thee and he is to show me thy lips which she did and Jack when she was not standing by cut off Lucifer's head and brought it under his invisible coat to his master who the next morning pulled it out by the horns before the lady this brought the enchantment and the evil spirit left her and she appeared in all her beauty they were married the next morning and soon after went to the court of King Arthur for Jack for his many great exploits was made one of the knights of the round table Jack soon went searching for giants again but he had not ridden far when he saw a cave near the entrance of which he beheld a giant sitting upon a block of timber with a knotted iron club by his side his goggle eyes were like flames of fire his countenance grim and ugly and his cheeks like a couple of large flitches of bacon while the bristles of his beard resemble rods of iron wire at the locks that hung down upon his brawny shoulders were like curled snakes or hissing adders Jack alighted from his horse and putting on the coat of darkness went up close to the giant and said softly oh, are you there? it will not be long before I take you fast by the beard the giant all this while could not see him on account of his invisible coat so that Jack, coming up close to the monster struck a blow with his sword at his head but missing his aim he cut off the nose instead at this the giant roared like claps of thunder and began to lay about him with his iron club like one start mad but Jack, running behind drove his sword up to the hilt in the giant's back so that he fell down dead this done Jack cut off the giant's head and sent it with his brothers also to King Arthur by a wagoner he hired for that purpose Jack now resolved to enter the giant's cave and search of his treasure and passing along through the ruins and turnings he came at length to a large room paved with freestone at the upper end of which was a boiling cauldron and on the right hand a large table at which the giant used to die then he came to a window barred with iron through which he looked and beheld a vast number of miserable captives who seeing him cried out would be one amongst us in this miserable dead I, quote Jack but pray tell me what is the meaning of your captivity we are captiers, said one till such time as the giants have a wish to feast and then the fattest among us is slaughtered and many are the times they have dined upon murdered men say you so, quote Jack the gateway unlocked the gate and let them free who all rejoiced like condemned men at its side of a pardon then searching the giant's coffers he shared the gold and silver equally amongst them and took them to a neighbouring castle where they all feasted and made merry over their deliverance but in the midst of all this mirth a messenger brought news that thunderdale a giant having heard of the death of his kinsmen had come from the northern dales to be revensed on Jack and was within a mile of the castle the country people flying before him like chaff but Jack was not a bit daunted and said let him come I have a tool to quiet him and you ladies and gentlemen walk out into the garden and you shall witness this giant thunderdale's death and destruction the castle was situated in the midst of a small island surrounded by a moat thirty feet deep and twenty feet wide over which lay a drawbridge so Jack employed men to cut through this bridge on both sides nearly to the middle and then dressing himself in his invisible coat he marched against the giant with his sword of sharpness but could not see Jack he smelt his approach and cried out in these words fee-fi-fo-fum I smell the blood of an Englishman be he alive or be he dead I'll grind his bones to make me bread sayest I so said Jack then thou art a monstrous miller indeed the giant cried out again art thou that villain who killed my kinsman then I will tear thee with my teeth suck thy blood and grind thy bones to powder you'll have to catch me first quote Jack and throwing off his invisible coat so that the giant might see him and putting on his shoes of swiftness he ran from the giant who followed like a walking castle so that the very foundations of the earth seemed to shake at every step Jack led him a long dance in order that the gentlemen and ladies might see and at last to end the matter ran lightly over the drawbridge the giant in full speed pursuing him with his club in the middle of the bridge the giant's great weight broke it down and he tumbled headlong into the water where he rolled and wallowed like a whale Jack standing by the moat laughed at him all the while but though the giant foamed who hear him scoff and plunge from place to place in the moat yet he could not get out the two heads of the giant and drew him ashore by a team of horses and then cut off both his heads with his sword of sharpness and sent them to King Arthur after some time spent in mirth and pastime Jack taking leave of the knights and ladies set out for new adventures through many woods he passed and came at length to the foot of a high mountain at night he found a lonesome house and knocked at the door which was opened by an aged man with a head as white as snow Father said, Jack can you lodge a benighted traveller that has lost his way Yes, said the old man you're right, welcome to my poor cottage whereupon Jack entered and down they sat together and the old man began to speak as follows and he by your belt you are the great conqueror of giants and behold my son on the top of this mountain is an enchanted castle this is kept by a giant named Gallagantua and he by the help of an old conjurer betrays many knights and ladies into his castle whereby magic art they are transformed into sundry shapes and forms but above all they are made for a duke's daughter whom they fetched from her father's garden carrying her through the air in a burning chariot drawn by fiery dragons when they secured her within the castle they transformed her into a white hind and though many knights have tried to break the enchantment and work her deliverance yet no one could accomplish it on account of two dreadful griffons which are placed at the castle gate and which destroy everyone who comes near but you my son may pass by them undiscovered then on the gates of the castle you will find engraven in large letters how the spell may be broken Jack gave the old man his hand and promised that in the morning he would venture his life to free the lady in the morning Jack arose with an invisible coat and magic cap and shoes and prepared himself for the fray now when he had reached the top of the mountain he soon discovered the two fiery griffons but passed them without fear because of his invisible coat when he had got beyond them he found upon the gates of the castle a golden trumpet hung by a silver chain under which these lines were engraved whoever shall this trumpet blow shall soon the giant overthrow and break the black enchantment straight so all shall be in a happy state Jack had no sooner read this but he blew the trumpet at which the castle trembled to its vast foundations and the giant and the conjurer were in horrid confusion biting their thumbs knowing their wicked reign was at an end then the giant stooping to take up his club Jack at one blow cut off his head whereupon the conjurer mounting up into the air was carried away in a whirlwind then the enchantment was broken and all the lords and ladies who had so long been transformed into birds and beasts returned to their proper shapes and the castle vanished away in a cloud of smoke this being done the head of Gallagantua was likewise in the usual manner conveyed to the court of King Arthur where the very next day Jack followed with the knights and ladies who had been delivered whereupon as a reward for his good services the king prevailed upon the Duke to bestow his daughter in marriage on honest Jack so married they were and the whole kingdom was filled with joy at the wedding furthermore the king bestowed on Jack a noble castle with a very beautiful estate there too belonging where he and his lady lived in great joy and happiness all the rest of their days End of Section 159 Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Chris C Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories by various authors Section 160 The Three Sillies Adapted by Joseph Jacobs Once upon a time there was a farmer and his wife who had one daughter and she was courted by a gentleman every evening he used to come and see her and stop to supper at the farmhouse and the daughter used to be sent down into the cellar to draw the beer for supper so one evening she had gone down to draw the beer and she happened to look up at the ceiling while she was drawing a mallet stuck in one of the beams it must have been there a long, long time but somehow or other she had never noticed it before and she began a thinking and she thought it was very dangerous to have that mallet there for she said to herself suppose him and me was to be married and we was to have a son and he was to grow up and come down into the cellar to draw the beer like as I'm doing now and the mallet was to fall on his head and kill him, what a dreadful thing it would be and she put down the candle and the jug and sat herself down and began a crying well they began to wonder upstairs how it was that she was so long drawing the beer and her mother went down to see after her and she found her sitting on the settle crying and the beer running over the floor why whatever is the matter said her mother oh mother says she, look at that horrid mallet suppose we was to be married and was to have a son and he was to grow up and was to come down to the cellar to draw the beer and the mallet was to fall and kill him what a dreadful thing it would be dear dear, what a dreadful thing it would be said the mother and she sat her down beside the daughter and started crying too then after a bit the father began to wonder that they didn't come back and he went down into the cellar to look after them himself and there they too sat crying and the beer running all over the floor whatever is the matter says he why says the mother, look at that horrid mallet just suppose if our daughter and her sweetheart was to be married and was to have a son and he was to grow up and was to come down into the cellar to draw the beer and the mallet was to fall on his head and kill him what a dreadful thing it would be dear dear, so it would the father and he sat himself down beside the other two and started to crying now the gentleman got tired of stopping up in the kitchen by himself and at last he went down into the cellar too to see what they were after and there they three sat crying side by side and the beer running all over the floor and he ran straight and turned the tap and he said whatever are you three doing sitting there crying and letting the beer run all over the floor oh says the father look at that horrid mallet suppose you and our daughter was to be married and was to have a son and he was to grow up and was to come down into the cellar to draw the beer and the mallet was to fall on his head and kill him even before but the gentleman burst out laughing and reached up and pulled the mallet and then he said I've traveled many miles and I never met three such big sillies as you three before and now I shall start out on my travels again and when I can't find three bigger sillies than you three then I'll come back and marry your daughter so he wished them good-bye and started off on his travels and left them all crying because the girl had lost her sweetheart well he set out and he traveled a long way and at last he came to a woman's cottage that had some grass growing on the roof and the woman was trying to get her cow to go up a ladder to the grass and the poor thing durced not go so the gentleman asked the woman what she was doing why looky she said look at all that beautiful grass I'm going to get the cow on the roof to eat it she'll be quite safe for I shall tie a string around her neck and pass it down the chimney and tie it to my waist as I go about the house so she can't fall off without my knowing it oh you poor sillies said the gentleman you should cut the grass down to the cow but the woman thought it was easier to get the cow up a ladder than to get the grass down so she pushed her and coaxed her and got her up and tied a string around her neck and passed it down the chimney and fastened it around her own wrist and the gentleman went on his way but he hadn't gone far when the cow tumbled off the roof and hung by the string and tied around her neck and it strangled her and the weight of the cow tied to her wrist pulled the woman up the chimney and she stuck fast halfway and was smothered in the soot well that was one big silly and the gentleman went on and on and he went to an inn to stop the night and they were so full at the inn and another traveler was to sleep in the other bed the other man was a very pleasant fellow and they got very friendly together but in the morning when they were both getting up the gentleman was surprised to see the other hang his trousers on the knobs of the chest of drawers and run across the room and try to jump into them and he tried over and over again but the woman couldn't manage it and the gentleman wondered whatever he was doing it for at last he stopped and wiped his face with his handkerchief oh dear he says I do think trousers are the most awkwardest kind of clothes that ever were I can't think who could have invented such things it takes me the best part of an hour to get into mine every morning so hot how do you manage yours so the gentleman burst out laughing and showed him how to put them on and he was very much obliged to him and said he had never should have thought of doing it that way so that was another big silly then the gentleman went on his travels again and he came to a village and outside the village there was a pond and around the pond was a crowd of people and they had rakes and brooms and pitchforks reaching into the pond and the gentleman asked what was the matter why they say matter enough moons tumbled into the pond and we can't rake it out anyhow so the gentleman burst out laughing and told them to look into the sky and that it was only the shadow of in the water but they wouldn't listen to him thankfully and he got away as quick as he could so there were a whole lot of sillies bigger than the three sillies at home so the gentleman turned back home again and married the farmer's daughter and if they didn't live happy forever after that's nothing to do with you or me section 161 of childhoods favorites and fairy stories this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org childhoods favorites and fairy stories by various authors King O'Toole and his goose oh I thought all the world far and dear King O'Toole well well but the darkness of mankind is untellable well sir you must know as you didn't hear it before that there was a king called King O'Toole who was a fine old king in the old ancient times long ago and it was he that owned the churches in the early days the king you see was the right sort he was the real boy and loved sport as he loved his life and hunting in particular so he got and away he went over the mountains after the deer and find times they were well it was all mighty good as long as the king had his health but you see in the course of time the king grew old by reason he was stiff in his limbs and when he got stricken in years his heart failed him and he was lost entirely for want of diversion because he couldn't go a hunt and no longer and by dad the poor king was obliged at last to divert him oh you may laugh if you like but it's the truth I'm telling you and the way the goose diverted him was this away you see the goose used to swim across the lake and go diving for trout and catch fish on a Friday for the king and flew every other day round about the lake divert in the poor king all went on mighty well until by dad the goose got stricken in years like her master and couldn't divert him no longer and then it was that the poor king was lost entirely the king was walking one morning by the edge of the lake lamenting his cruel fate and thinking of drowning himself that could get no diversion in life when all of a sudden turn around the corner whom should he meet but a mighty decent young man coming up to him God save you says the king to the young man God save you kindly king otul says the young man true for you says the king I am king otul says he prince and plenty-penny tinsery of these parts says he but how came he to know that says he oh never mind says st. cavern you see it was st. cavern sure enough the saint himself in disguise and nobody else oh never mind says he I know more than that may I make bold to ask how is your goose king otul says he blur and Iggers how came he to know about my goose says the king oh no matter I was given to understand it says st. cavern after some more talk the king says what are you I am an honest man says st. cavern well honest man says the king and how is it you make your money so easy by making old things as good as new says st. cavern is it a tinker you are says the king no says the saint I am no tinker by trade king otul I have a better trade than a tinker says he what would you say if I made your old goose as good as new my dear at the word of making his goose as good as new you would think the poor old king's eyes were ready to jump out of his head with that the king whistled and down came the poor goose just like a hound waddling up to the poor cripple her master and as like him as two peas the minute the saint clapped his eyes on the goose I'll do the job for you says he king otul by jaminy says king otul if you do I'll say you're the cleverest fellow in the seven parishes oh my dad says st. cavern you must say more nor that my horn's not so soft all out says he as to repair your old goose for nothing what would you give me if I do the job for you that's the chat says st. cavern I'll give you whatever you ask says the king isn't that fair devil affair says the saint that's the way to do business now he says this is the bargain I'll make with you king otul will you give me all the ground the goose flies over the first offer after I make her as good as new I will says the king you won't go back on your word says st. cavern honor bright says king otul holding out his fist honor bright says st. cavern back again it's a bargain come here says he to the poor old goose come here you unfortunate old cripple and it's I that'll make you the sport and bird with that my dear he took up the goose by the two wings chrissa my cross and you says he making her to grace with the blessed sign at the same minute and thrown her up in the air whew says he just giving her a blast to help her with that my jewel she took to her heels flying like one of the eagles themselves and cotton as many capers as a swallow before a shower of rain well my dear it was a beautiful sight to see the king standing with his mouth open looking at his poor old goose flying as light as a lark and better than ever she was and when she lit at his feet patted her on the head and mother mean says he but you are the darling of the world and what do you say to me says st. cavern for making her the like by jabber says the king I say nothing beats the art a man bar in the bees and you say no more nor that says st. cavern and that I'm beholden to you says the king but will you give me all the ground the goose flew over says st. cavern I will says king old tool and you're welcome to it says he the last acre I have to give but you'll keep your word true says the saint as true as the sun says the king it's well for you king old tool that you said that word says he for if you didn't say that word the devil the bitter your goose would ever fly again when the king was as good as his word st. cavern was pleased with him and then it was that he made himself known to the king and says he king old tool you're a decent man for I only came here to try you you don't know me says he because I'm disguised masha then says the king who are you I'm st. cavern said the saint blessing himself whole queen of heaven says the king making the sign of the cross between his eyes and falling down on his knees before the saint is it the great st. cavern says he that I've been discoursing all this time it says he all is one as if he was a lump of a gasone and so you're a saint says the king I am says st. cavern by jabers I thought I was only talking to a decent boy says the king well you know the difference now says the saint I'm st. cavern says he the greatest of all the saints and so the king had his goose as good as new to divert him as long as he lived and supported him after he came into his property as I told you until the day of his death and that was soon after for the goose thought he was catching a trout one Friday but my jewel it was a mistake he made and instead of a trout it was a thieve and horse eel and instead of the goose killing a trout for the king's supper by dad the eel killed the king's goose and small blame to him but he didn't ate her because he darned ate what st. cavern had laid his blessed hands on and of section 161 recording by John Chase Edmonton