 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. English Fairy Tales, collected by Joseph Jacobs. Chapter 16. Titty Mouse and Tattie Mouse Titty Mouse and Tattie Mouse both lived in a house. Titty Mouse went to leasing and Tattie Mouse went to leasing. So they both went to leasing. Titty Mouse leased an ear of corn and Tattie Mouse leased an ear of corn. So they both leased an ear of corn. Titty Mouse made a pudding and Tattie Mouse made a pudding. So they both made a pudding. And Tattie Mouse put her pudding into the pot to boil. But when Titie went to put hers in, the pot tumbled over and scolded her to death. Then Tattie sat down and wept. Then a three-legged stool said, Tattie, why do you weep? Titie's dead, said Tattie, and so I weep. Then said the stool, I'll hop. So the stool hopped. Then a broom in the corner of the room said, Stool, why do you hop? Oh, said the stool, Titie's dead, and Tattie weeps, and so I hop. Then said the broom, I'll sweep. So the broom began to sweep. Then said the door, Broom, why do you sweep? Oh, said the broom, Titie's dead, and Tattie weeps, and the stool hops, and so I sweep. Then said the door, I'll jar. So the door jarred. Then said the window, Door, why do you jar? Oh, said the door, Titie's dead, and Tattie weeps, and the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, and so I jar. Then said the window, I'll creak. So the window creaked. Now there was an old form outside the house, and when the window creaked, the form said, Window, why do you creak? Oh, said the window. Titie's dead, and Tattie weeps, and the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and so I creak. Then said the old form, I'll run round the house. Then the old form ran round the house. Now there was a fine large walnut tree growing by the cottage, and the tree said to the form. Form, why do you run round the house? Oh, said the form. Titie's dead, and Tattie weeps, and the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, and so I run round the house. Then said the walnut tree, I'll shed my leaves. So the walnut tree shed all its beautiful green leaves. Now there was a little bird perched on one of the bows of the tree, and when all the leaves fell it said, Walnut tree, why do you shed your leaves? Oh, said the tree. Titie's dead, and Tattie weeps, the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form runs round the house, and so I shed my leaves. Then said the little bird, I'll molt all my feathers. So who molted all his pretty feathers? Now there was a little girl walking below, carrying a jug of milk for her brothers and sisters supper. And when she saw the poor little bird, molt all its feathers, she said, Little bird, why do you molt all your feathers? Oh, said the little bird. Titie's dead, and Tattie weeps, the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form runs round the house, the walnut tree sheds its leaves, and so I molt all my feathers. Then, said the little girl, I'll spill the milk. So she dropped the pitcher and spilled the milk. Now there was an old man just by on the top of a ladder, thatching a rick. And when he saw the little girl spilled the milk, he said, Little girl, what do you mean by spilling the milk? Your little brothers and sisters must go without their supper. Then said the little girl. Titie's dead, and Tattie weeps, the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form runs round the house, the walnut tree sheds all its leaves, the little bird molts all its feathers, and so I spill the milk. Oh, said the old man. Then I'll tumble off the ladder and break my neck. So he tumbled off the ladder and broke his neck. And when the old man broke his neck, the great walnut tree fell down with a crash, and upset the old form and house, and the house falling knocked the window out, and the window knocked the door down, and the door upset the broom, and the broom upset the stool, and poor little Tattie Mouse was buried beneath the ruins. End of Chapter 16. Tattie Mouse and Tattie Mouse. Nor in anyone else's time, there was an old man and an old woman, and they had one son, and they lived in a great forest, and their son never saw any other people in his life. But he knew that there was some more in the world besides his own father and mother, because he had lots of books, and he used to read every day about them, and when he read about some pretty young women, he used to go mad to see some of them. Till one day, when his father was out cutting wood, he told his mother that he wished to go away to look for his living in some other country, and to see some other people besides them too. And he said, I see nothing at all here but great trees around me, and if I stay here, maybe I shall go mad before I see anything. The young man's father was out all this time, when this talk was going on between him and his poor old mother. The old woman begins by saying to her son before leaving, Well, well, my poor boy, if you want to go, it's better for you to go, and God be with you. The old woman thought for the best when she said that. But stop a bit before you go, which would you like best for me to make you, a little cake and bless you, or a big cake and curse you? Dear, dear, said he, make me a big cake, maybe I shall be hungry on the road. The old woman made the big cake, and she went on top of the house, and she cursed him as far as she could see him. He presently meets with his father, and the old man says to him, Where are you going, my poor boy? When the son told the father the same tale as he told his mother. Well, says his father, I'm sorry to see you going away, but if you've made your mind to go, it's better for you to go. The poor lad had not gone far when his father called him back. Then the old man drew out of his pocket a golden snuff-box and said to him, Here, take this little box and put it in your pocket, and be sure not to open it till you are near your death. And away went poor Jack upon his road, and walked till he was tired and hungry, for he had eaten all his cake upon the road, and by this time night was upon him, so he could hardly see his way before him. He could see some light a long way before him, and he made up to it, and found the back door and knocked at it, till one of the maid servants came and asked him what he wanted. He said that night was on him, and he wanted to get some place to sleep. The maid servant called him into the fire and gave him plenty to eat, good meat and bread and beer, and as he was eating his food by the fire, there came the young lady to look at him, and she loved him well, and he loved her. And the young lady ran to tell her father and said there was a pretty young man in the back kitchen, and immediately the gentleman came to him and questioned him and asked what work he could do. Jack said, the silly fellow, that he could do anything. He meant that he could do any foolish bit of work that would be wanted about the house. Well, says the gentleman to him, if you can do anything, at eight o'clock in the morning I must have a great lake and some of the largest man of war vessels sailing before my mansion, and one of the largest vessels must fire a royal salute, and the last round must break the leg of the bed where my young daughter is sleeping, and if you don't do that, you will have to forfeit your life. All right, said Jack, and away he went to his bed and said his prayers quietly and slept till it was near eight o'clock, and he had hardly any time to think what he was to do, till all of a sudden he remembered about the little golden box that his father gave him, and he said to himself, Well, well, I never was so near my death as I am now, and then he felt in his pocket and drew the little box out, and when he opened it out there hopped three little red men and asked Jack, what is your will with us? Well, said Jack, I want a great lake and some of the largest man of war vessels in the world before this mansion, and one of the largest vessels to fire a royal salute, and the last round to break one of the legs of the bed where this young lady is sleeping. All right, said the little men, go to sleep. Jack had hardly time to bring the words out of his mouth to tell the little men what to do, but what it struck eight o'clock, when bang, bang, went one of the largest man of war vessels, and it made Jack jump out of bed to look through the window, and I can assure you it was a wonderful sight for him to see, after being so long with his father and mother living in a wood. By this time Jack dressed himself and said his prayers and came down laughing, for he was proud he was because the thing was done so well. The gentleman comes to him and says to him, Well, my young man, I must say that you are very clever indeed. Come and have some breakfast. And the gentleman tells him, Now there are two more things you have to do, and then you shall have my daughter in marriage. Jack gets his breakfast and has a good squint at the young lady, and also she at him. The other thing that the gentleman told him to do was to fell all the great trees for miles around by eight o'clock in the morning, and to make my long story short it was done, and it pleased the gentleman well. The gentleman said to him, The other thing you have to do, and it was the last thing, you must get me a great castle standing on twelve golden pillars, and there must come regiments of soldiers and go through their drill. At eight o'clock the commanding officer must say, Shoulder up! All right, said Jack. When the third and last morning came, the third great feat was finished, and he had the young daughter in marriage. But oh dear, there is worse to come yet. The gentleman now makes a large hunting party, and invites all the gentlemen around the country to it, and to see the castle as well. And by this time Jack has a beautiful horse and a scarlet dress to go with them. On that morning his valet, when putting Jack's clothes by after changing them to go hunting, put his hand in one of Jack's waistcoat pockets, and pulled out the little golden snuff-box, as poor Jack left behind in a mistake. And that man opened the little box, and there hopped the three little red men out, and asked him what he wanted with them. Well, said the valet to them, I want this castle to be moved from this place far and far across the sea. All right, said the little red men to him, do you wish to go with it? Yes, said he. Well get up, said they to him, and away they went, far and far over the great sea. Now the grand hunting party comes back, and the castle upon the twelve golden pillars had disappeared, to the great disappointment of those gentlemen as did not see it before. That poor silly Jack is threatened by taking his beautiful young wife from him, for taking them in in the way he did. But the gentleman at last made an agreement with him, and he is to have a twelve months and a day to look for it, and off he goes with a good horse and money in his pocket. Now poor Jack goes in search of his missing castle, over hills, dales, valleys and mountains, through woolly woods and sheep walks, further than I can tell you or ever intend to tell you. Until at last he comes up to the place where lives the king of all the little mice in the world. There was one of the little mice on sentry at the front gate, going up to the palace, and did try to stop Jack from going in. He asked the little mouse, where does the king live? Where does the king live? I should like to see him. This one sent another with him to show him the place, and when the king saw him he called him in, and the king questioned him, and asked him where he was going that way. Well, Jack told him all the truth, that he had lost the great castle, and was going to look for it, and he had a whole twelve months and a day to find it out. And Jack asked him whether he knew anything about it, and the king said, No, but I am the king of all the little mice in the world, and I will call them all up in the morning, and maybe they have seen something of it. Then Jack got a good meal and bed, and in the morning he and the king went onto the fields, and the king called all the mice together, and asked them whether they had seen the great beautiful castle standing on golden pillars. And all the little mice said, No, there was none of them had seen it. The old king said to him that he had two other brothers. One is the king of all the frogs, and my other brother who was the oldest, he is the king of all the birds in the world, and if you go there maybe they know something about the missing castle. The king said to him, Leave your horse here with me till you come back, and take one of my best horses under you, and give this cake to my brother, he will know then who you got it from. Mind and tell him I am well, and should like dearly to see him. And then the king and Jack shook hands together. And when Jack was going through the gates, the little mouse asked him, should he go with him, and Jack said to him, No, I shall get myself into trouble with the king. And the little thing told him, It will be better for you to let me go with you, maybe I shall do some good to you some time without you knowing it. Jump up then, and the little mouse ran up the horse's leg and made it dance, and Jack put the mouse in his pocket. Now Jack, after wishing good morning to the king and pocketing the little mouse which was on sentry, trudged on his way, and such a long way he had to go, and this was his first day. At last he found the place, and there was one of the frogs on sentry, and gun upon his shoulder, and he tried to hinder Jack from going in. But when Jack said to him that he wanted to see the king, he allowed him to pass, and Jack made up to the door. The king came out, and asked him his business, and Jack told him all from beginning to end. Well well, come in. He gets good entertainment that night, and in the morning the king made such a funny sound, and collected all the frogs in the world. And he asked them, did they know or see anything of a castle that stood upon twelve golden pillars? And they all made a curious sound. Cro-cro, cro-cro, and said no. Jack had to take another horse, and a cake to this king's brother, who was the king of all the fowls of the air. And as Jack was going through the gates, the little frog that was on sentry asked John, should he go with him? Jack refused him for a bit, but at last he told him to jump up, and Jack put him in his other waistcoat pocket, and away he went again on his great long journey. It was three times as long this time as it was the first day. However he found the place, and there was a fine bird on sentry. And Jack passed him, and he never said a word to him. And he talked with the king, and told him everything, all about the castle. Well, said the king to him, you shall know in the morning from my birds whether they know anything or not. Jack put up his horse in the stable, and then went to bed, after having something to eat. And when he got up in the morning, the king and he went on to some field. And there the king made some funny noise, and there came all the fowls that were in all the world. And the king asked them, did they see the fine castle? And all the birds answered, no. Well, said the king, where is the great bird? They had to wait then for a long time for the eagle to make his appearance. When at last he came all in a perspiration, after sending two little birds high up in the sky to whistle on him to make all the haste he possibly could. The king asked the great bird, did he see the great castle? And the bird said, yes, I came from there where it now is. Well, says the king to him, this young gentleman has lost it, and you must go with him back to it, but stop till you get a bit of something to eat first. They killed a thief, and sent the best part of it to feed the eagle on his journey over the seas, and had to carry Jack on his back. Now when they came in sight of the castle, they did not know what to do to get the little golden box. Well, the little mouse said to them, leave me down and I will get the little box for you. But the mouse stole into the castle, and got hold of the box. And when he was coming down the stairs it fell down, and he was very near being caught. He came running out with it, laughing his best. Have you got it? Jack said to him. He said yes, and off they went back again, and left the castle behind. As they were all of them, Jack, mouse, frog and eagle, passing over the great sea, they felt a quarrelling about which it was that got the little box, till down it slipped into the water. It was by them looking at it, and handing it from one hand to the other that they dropped the little box to the bottom of the sea. Well, well, said the frog, I knew that I would have to do something, so you had better let me go down in the water. And they let him go, and he was down for three days and three nights, and up he comes and shows his nose and little mouth out of the water. And all of them asked him, did he get it? And he told them, no. Well, what are you doing there then? Nothing at all, he said, only I want my full breath. And the poor little frog went down the second time, and he was down for a day and a night, and up he brings it. And away they did go after being there four days and nights, and after a long tug-over seas and mountains arrive at the palace of the old king, who is the master of all the birds in the world, and the king is very proud to see them, and has a hearty welcome and a long conversation. Jack opens the little box and told the little men to go back and to bring the castle here to them. And all of you make as much haste back again as you possibly can. The three little men went off, and when they came near the castle they were afraid to go to it till the gentleman and lady, and all the servants were gone out to some dance. And there was no one left behind there, only the cook and another maid with her. And the little red men asked them which would they rather, go or stop behind. And they both said, I will go with you. And the little men told them to run upstairs quick. There were no sooner up and in one of the drawing rooms than here comes just in sight the gentleman and lady and all the servants. But it was too late. Off the castle went at full speed, with the women laughing at them through the window, while they made motions for them to stop, but all to no purpose. They were nine days on their journey in which they did try to keep the Sunday holy, when one of the little men turned to be the priest, the other the clerk, and third presided at the organ. And the women were the singers, for they had a grand chapel in the castle already. Very remarkable there was a discord made in the music, and one of the little men ran up one of the organ pipes to see where the bad sound came from. When he found out it only happened to be that the two women were laughing at the little red man stretching his little legs full length on the base pipes. Also his two arms the same time, with his little red nightcap, which he never forgot to wear, and what they never witnessed before could not help calling forth some good merriment while on the face of the deep. And poor thing, through them not going on with what they begun with, they very near came to danger as the castle was once very near sinking in the middle of the sea. At length after a merry journey they come again to Jack and the King. The King was quite struck with the sight of the castle, and going up the golden stairs went to see the inside. The King was very much pleased with the castle, but poor Jack's time over twelve months and a day was drawing to a close, and he, wishing to go home to his young wife, gives orders to the three little men to get ready by the next morning at eight o'clock to be off to the next brother, and to stop there for one night, also to proceed from there to the last or the youngest brother, the master of all the mice in the world, in such place where the castle shall be left unto his care until it's sent forth. Jack takes a farewell of the King, and thanks him very much for his hospitality. Away went Jack and his castle again, and stopped one night in that place, and away they went again to the third place, and there left the castle under his care. As Jack had to leave the castle behind, he had to take to his own horse which he had left there when he first started. Now poor Jack leaves his castle behind, and faces towards home, and after having so much merriment with the three brothers every night, Jack became sleepy on horseback, and would have lost the road if it was not for the little men are guiding him. At last he arrived weary and tired, and they did not seem to receive him with any kindness whatever, because he had not found the stolen castle. And to make it worse, he was disappointed in not seeing his young and beautiful wife to come and meet him through being hindered by her parents. But that did not stop long. Jack put full power on, and dispatched the little men off to bring the castle from there, and they soon got there. Jack shook hands with the king, and returned many thanks for his kingly kindness in minding the castle for him. And then Jack instructed the little men to spur up and put speed on. And off they went, and were not long before they reached their journey's end, when out comes the young wife to meet him with a fine lump of a young son, and they all lived happily ever afterwards. End of Chapter 17, Jack and his Golden Snuff Box. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. English Fairy Tales, collected by Joseph Jacobs. Chapter 18, The Story of the Three Bears Once upon a time there were three bears who lived together in a house of their own in a wood. One of them was a little, small wee bear, and one was a middle-sized bear, and the other was a great, huge bear. They had each a pot for their porridge, a little pot for the little, small wee bear, and a middle-sized pot for the middle bear, and a great pot for the great, huge bear. And they had each a chair to sit in, a little chair for the little, small wee bear, and a middle-sized chair for the middle bear, and a great chair for the great, huge bear. And they had each a bed to sleep in, a little bed for the little, small, wee bear, and a middle-sized bed for the middle bear, and a great bed for the great, huge bear. One day after they had made the porridge for their breakfast and poured it into their porridge pots, they walked out into the wood while the porridge was cooling, that they might not burn their mouths by beginning too soon to eat it. And while they were walking, a little old woman came to the house. She could not have been a good, honest old woman. For first she looked in at the window, and then she peeped in at the keyhole, and seeing nobody in the house, she lifted the latch. The door was not fastened, because the bears were good bears who did nobody any harm and never suspected that anybody would harm them. So the little old woman opened the door and went in, and well pleased she was when she saw the porridge on the table. If she had been a good little old woman, she would have waited till the bears came home, and then perhaps they would have asked her to breakfast, for they were good bears, a little rough or so as the manner of bears is, but for all that very good natured and hospitable. But she was an imputed, bad old woman, and set about helping herself. So first she tasted the porridge of the great huge bear, and that was too hot for her, and she said a bad word about that. And then she tasted the porridge of the middle bear, and that was too cold for her, and she said a bad word about that too. And then she went to the porridge of the little, small wee bear, and tasted that, and that was neither too hot nor too cold, but just right, and she liked it so well that she ate it all up. But the naughty old woman said a bad word about the little porridge pot, because it did not hold enough for her. Then the little old woman sat down in the chair of the great huge bear, and that was too hard for her. And then she sat down in the chair of the middle bear, and that was too soft for her. And then she sat down in the chair of the little, small wee bear, and that was neither too hard nor too soft, but just right. So she seated herself in it, and there she sat till the bottom of the chair came out, and down she came plump upon the ground. And the naughty old woman said a wicked word about that too. Then the little old woman went upstairs into the bed chamber in which the three bears slept. At first she lay down upon the bed of the great huge bear, but that was too high at the head for her. And next she lay down upon the bed of the middle bear, and that was too high at the foot for her. And then she lay down upon the bed of the little, small wee bear, and that was neither too high at the head nor at the foot, but just right. So she covered herself up comfortably and lay there till she fell fast asleep. By this time the three bears thought their porridge would be cool enough so they came home to breakfast. Now the little old woman had left the spoon of the great huge bear standing in his porridge. Somebody has been at my porridge, said the great huge bear in his great rough, rough voice. And when the middle bear looked at his, he saw that the spoon was standing in it too. They were wooden spoons. If they had been silver ones, the naughty old woman would have put them in her pocket. Somebody has been at my porridge, said the middle bear in his middle voice. Then the little, small wee bear looked at his and there was the spoon in the porridge pot, but the porridge was all gone. Somebody has been at my porridge and has eaten it all up, said the little, small wee bear in his little, small wee voice. Upon this the three bears seeing that someone had entered their house and had eaten up the little, small wee bear's breakfast began to look about them. Now the little old woman had not put the hard cushion straight when she rose from the chair of the great huge bear. Somebody has been sitting in my chair, said the great huge bear in his great rough, rough voice. And the little old woman had squatted down the soft cushion of the middle bear. Somebody has been sitting in my chair, said the middle bear in his middle voice. And you know what the little old woman had done to the third chair. Somebody has been sitting in my chair and has set the bottom out of it, said the little, small wee bear in his little, small wee voice. Then the three bears thought it necessary that they should make father search. So they went upstairs into their bed chamber. Now the little old woman had pulled the pillow of the great huge bear out of its place. Somebody has been lying in my bed, said the great huge bear in his great rough, rough voice. And the little old woman had pulled the bolster of the middle bear out of its place. Somebody has been lying in my bed, said the middle bear in his middle voice. And when the little, small wee bear came to look at his bed, there was the bolster in its place, and the pillow in its place upon the bolster. And upon the pillow was the little old woman's ugly, dirty head, which was not in its place, for she had no business there. Somebody has been lying in my bed, and here she is, said the little, small wee bear in his little, small wee voice. The little old woman had heard in her sleep the great rough, rough voice of the great huge bear. But she was so fast asleep that it was no more to her than the roaring of wind or the rumbling of thunder. And she had heard the middle voice of the middle bear. But it was only as if she had heard someone speaking in a dream. But when she heard the little, small wee voice of the little, small wee bear, it was so sharp and so shrill that it awakened her at once. Up she started, and when she saw the three bears on one side of the bed, she tumbled herself out at the other and ran to the window. Now the window was open because the bears, like good, tidy bears as they were, always opened their bed-chamber window when they got up in the morning. Out the little old woman jumped, and whether she broke her neck in the fall or ran into the wood and was lost there, or found her way out of the wood and was taken up by the constable and sent to the house of correction for a vagrant as she was, I cannot tell. But the three bears never saw anything more of her. End of Chapter 18. The Story of the Three Bears This is a LibriVox recording. Old LibriVox recordings in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs. Chapter 19. Jack the Giant Killer When Good King Arthur reigned, there lived near the land's end of England in the county of Cornwall, a farmer who had one only son called Jack. He was brisk and of already lively wit, so that nobody or nothing could worse him. In those days the Mount of Cornwall was kept by a huge giant named Cormoran. He was eighteen feet in height, and about three yards round the waist, of a fierce and grim countenance, the terror of all the neighbouring 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 ran out of their houses while he seized on their cattle, making nothing of carrying half a dozen oxen on his back at a time. As for their sheep and hogs, he would tie them round his waist like a bunch of tallow-dips. 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, What reward will be given to the man who kills Cormoran? The giant's treasure, they said, will be the reward. Quoth 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 twenty-two feet deep, and nearly as broad, covering it over with long sticks and straw. Then he strewed a little mould 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, Tantivee, Tantivee! 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 whole and brawl 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. O giant, Quoth Jack, where are you now? O faith, you are got a mountain lobs pound, where I will surely plague you for threatening words. What do you think now of brolling me for your breakfast? Will no other diet serve you but poor Jack? Then having tantalised the giant for a while, he gave him a most braty knock 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 they made a declaration he should henceforth be termed Jack the Giant Killer, and presented him with a sword and a belt. Unrich 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 Blunderball, hearing of it, vowed to be revenged 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, discovered him and knew him to be the far famed Jack the Giant Killer by the lines written on the belt. Without ado he took Jack on his shoulders and carried him towards its castle. Now as they passed through a thicket, the rustling of the boughs 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, he saw the ground strewed with human bones, and the giant told him his own would earlong 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 a far off the two giants coming towards the castle. Now, quoth 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 across a beam and 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 her heads, almost starved to death. Sweet ladies, quoth Jack, I have destroyed this monster and his brutish brother, and obtained your liberties. This said he presented them with the keys, and so proceeded on his journey to Wales. Jack made the best of his way by travelling as fast as he could, but lost his road and was benighted, and could find any 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 they 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 outright. Says thou so, quoth Jack, that is like one of your Welsh tricks, yet I hope to be cunning enough for you. Then, getting out of bed, he laid a billet 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 sleeve, gave him hearty thanks for his night's lodging. How have you rested, quoth the giant? Did you not feel anything in the night? No, quoth Jack, nothing but a rat which gave me two or three slaps with a tail. With that, greatly wondering, the giant led Jack to breakfast, bringing him a bowl containing four gallons of hasty pudding. Being low 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 it 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. We're upon saying, odd splutters her nails, her can do that trick herself. The monster took the knife, and ripping open his belly, fell 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 and the Prince set out with 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 arrested 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 debts shall be paid. They came in such great numbers that before night he had only two pence 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 pence these seven years. Pray, pay me as well as the rest. Putting his hand to his pocket the Prince gave the woman all he had left, so that after their days' food which cost what small spell Jack had by him, they were without a penny between them. When the son got low the king's son said, Jack, since we have no money where can we lodge this night? But Jack replied, Master will do well enough, for I have an uncle who lives within two miles of this place. He is a huge and monstrous giant with three heads. He'll fight five hundred men in armour and make them to fly before him. Alas, quote the Prince, what shall we do there? He'll certainly chop us up at a 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 of the castle, he knocked so loud that he made the neighbouring 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, heavy news, good what? Pretty, quote the giant, what heavy news can come to me? I am a giant with three heads, and besides thou knowest I can fight five hundred men in armour and make them fly like chaff before the wind. Oh, but, quote Jack, here's the King's son are coming with a thousand men in armour to kill you and destroy all that you have. Oh, cousin Jack, said the giant, this is heavy 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. The sword cuts asunder 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 old one, she gave the handkerchief to old Lucifer, who laid it upon a shelf, whence Jack took it and 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 sew 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, said she, if you do not, death's your portion. At midnight she went as before, and was angry with old Lucifer for letting the handkerchief go. But now, quoth she, 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 broke 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, where 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 resembled rods of iron wire, and 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. 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 stark 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 wagoner he hired for that purpose. Jack now resolved to enter the giant's cave in search of his treasure, and passing along through a great many windings 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 dine. 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, this young man art thou come to be one amongst us in this miserable den. I, quote Jack, but pray tell me what is the meaning of your captivity. We are kept here, said one, till such time as the giants have a wish to feast, and then the fattest among us is slaughtered, and many other times they have dined upon murdered men. Say you so, quote Jack, and straight away unlocked the gate and let them free, who all rejoiced like condemned men at sight 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 one thunderdale, a giant with two heads, having heard of the death of his kinsmen, had come from the northern dales to be revenged 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 pick his teeth, and you, ladies and gentlemen, walk out into the garden and you shall witness this great thunderdale's death and destruction. The castle was situated in the midst of a small island, surrounded by a moat 30 feet deep and 20 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 a sword of sharpness. Although the giant could not see Jack, he smelt his approach and cried out in these words, Fee, fie, fove, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman, be he alive or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make me bread. Says thou so, said Jack, then thou art a monstrous miller indeed. The giant cried out again, art thou that villain who killed my kinsmen, that 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. Then, coming to 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 firmed to hear him scoff, and plunged from place to place in the moat, yet he could not get out to be revenged. Jack at length got a cart rope, and cast it over 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. Here, late 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 traveler that has lost his way? Yes, said the old man, you are right welcome to my poor cottage. We upon Jack entered, and down they sat together, and the old man began to speak as follows. Son, I see 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 Gilagantua, and he by the help of an old conjurer, betrays many knights and ladies into his castle, whereby magic art they are transformed into sensory shapes and forms. But above all I grieve 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, and 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 griffins which are placed at the castle gate, and which destroy every one who comes near. But you, my son, may pass by them undiscovered, where on the gates of the castle you will find engraving 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 and put on his 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 griffins, 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 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 conjurer were in horrid confusion, biting their thumbs and tearing their hair, 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 Delegantua 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 Chapter 19. Jack the Giant Killer This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs. Chapter 20. Henny Penny One day Henny Penny was picking up corn in the corn yard when, whack, something hit her upon the head. Goodness gracious me said Henny Penny, the skies are going to fall, I must go and tell the king. So she went along and she went along and she went along, till she met Kokiloki. Where are you going Henny Penny says Kokiloki. Oh I'm going to tell the king the skies are falling says Henny Penny. May I come with you says Kokiloki. Certainly says Henny Penny. So Henny Penny and Kokiloki went to tell the king the sky was falling. They went along and they went along and they went along till they met Ducky Daddles. Where are you going to Henny Penny and Kokiloki says Ducky Daddles. Oh we're going to tell the king the skies are falling said Henny Penny and Kokiloki. May I come with you says Ducky Daddles. Certainly said Henny Penny and Kokiloki. So Henny Penny, Kokiloki and Ducky Daddles went to tell the king the sky was falling. So they went along and they went along and they went along till they met Goosey Poosey. Where are you going to Henny Penny, Kokiloki and Ducky Daddles said Goosey Poosey. Oh we're going to tell the king the skies are falling said Henny Penny and Kokiloki and Ducky Daddles. May I come with you said Goosey Poosey. Certainly said Henny Penny, Kokiloki and Ducky Daddles. So Henny Penny, Kokiloki, Ducky Daddles and Goosey Poosey went to tell the king the sky was falling. So they went along and they went along and they went along till they met Turkey Lurky. Where are you going Henny Penny, Kokiloki, Ducky Daddles and Goosey Poosey says Turkey Lurky. Oh we're going to tell the king the skies are falling said Henny Penny, Kokiloki, Ducky Daddles and Goosey Poosey. May I come with you Henny Penny, Kokiloki, Ducky Daddles and Goosey Poosey said Turkey Lurky. Why certainly Turkey Lurky said Henny Penny, Kokiloki, Ducky Daddles and Goosey Poosey. So Henny Penny, Kokiloki, Ducky Daddles, Goosey Poosey and Turkey Lurky all went to tell the king the sky was falling. was affalling. So they went along, and they went along, and they went along. So they met Foxy-Woxy. And Foxy-Woxy said to Henny-Penny, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poo-Sea, and Turkey-Lurky. Where are you going, Henny-Penny, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poo-Sea, and Turkey-Lurky? And Henny-Penny, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poo-Sea, and Turkey-Lurky, said to Foxy-Woxy. We're going to tell the king the skies are falling. Oh! But this is not the way to the king! Henny-Penny, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poo-Sea, and Turkey-Lurky, says Foxy-Woxy. I know the proper way. Shall I show it you? Why, certainly, Foxy-Woxy said Henny-Penny, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poo-Sea, and Turkey-Lurky. So Henny-Penny, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poo-Sea, Turkey-Lurky, and Foxy-Woxy all went to tell the king the sky was falling. So they went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they came to a narrow and dark hole. Now this was the door of Foxy-Woxy's cave. But Foxy-Woxy said to Henny-Penny, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poo-Sea, and Turkey-Lurky. This is the short way to the king's palace. You'll soon get there if you follow me. I'll go first, and you come after Henny-Penny, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poo-Sea, and Turkey-Lurky. Why of course, certainly, without doubt. Why not? said Henny-Penny, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poo-Sea, and Turkey-Lurky. So Foxy-Woxy went into his cave, and he didn't go very far, but turned round to wait for Henny-Penny, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poo-Sea, and Turkey-Lurky. So at last that first Turkey-Lurky went through the dark hole into the cave. He hadn't got far when, Hrmph! Foxy-Woxy snapped off Turkey-Lurky's head, and threw his body over his left shoulder. Then Goosey-Poo-Sea went in, and Hrmph! Off went her head, and Goosey-Poo-Sea was thrown beside Turkey-Lurky. Then Ducky-Daddles waddled down, and Hrmph! snapped Foxy-Woxy, and Ducky-Daddles' head was off, and Ducky-Daddles was thrown alongside Turkey-Lurky and Goosey-Poo-Sea. Then Cocky-Locky strutted down into the cave, and he hadn't gone far when, Hrmph! went Foxy-Woxy, and Cocky-Locky was thrown alongside of Turkey-Lurky, Goosey-Poo-Sea, and Ducky-Daddles. But Foxy-Woxy had made two bites at Cocky-Locky, and when the first snap only hurt Cocky-Locky but didn't kill him, he called out to Henny-Penny, so she turned tail and ran back home. So she never told the king the sky was a falling. End of Chapter 20. Henny-Penny. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs. Chapter 21. Child Rowland. Child Rowland and his brother's twain were playing at the ball, and there was their sister Bird-Ellen in the midst among them all. Child Rowland kicked it with his foot and caught it with his knee, at last as he plunged among them all, or the church he made it flee. Bird-Ellen round about the aisle to seek the ball is gone, but long they waited, and longer still, and she came lock back again. They sought her east, they sought her west, they sought her up and down, and woe were the hearts of those brethren, for she was not to be found. So at last her eldest brother went to the Warlock Merlin and told him all the case, and asked him if he knew where Bird-Ellen was. The fair Bird-Ellen said Warlock Merlin must have been carried off by the fairies, because she went round the church wide as shins, the opposite way to the sun. She is now in the dark tower of the King of Elfland. It would take the boldest knight in Christendom to bring her back. If it is possible to bring her back, said her brother, I'll do it, or perish in the attempt. Possible it is, said the Warlock Merlin, but woe to the man or mother's son that attempts it, if he is not well taught beforehand what he is to do. The eldest brother of Bird-Ellen was not to be put off by any fear of danger from attempting to get her back. So he begged the Warlock Merlin to tell him what he should do and what he should not do in going to seek his sister. And after he had been taught and had repeated his lesson he set out for Elfland. But long they waited and longer still with doubt and muckle pain, but woe were the hearts of his brethren, for he came not back again. Then the second brother got tired and sick of waiting and went to the Warlock Merlin and asked him the same as his brother. So he set out to find Bird-Ellen. But long they waited and longer still with muckle doubt and pain, and woe were his mother's and brother's heart, for he came not back again. And when they had waited and waited a good long time, Child Rowland, the youngest of Bird-Ellen's brothers, wished to go, and went to his mother, the good queen, to ask her to let him go. But she would not at first, for he was the last of her children she now had, and if he was lost all would be lost. But he begged and he begged to let last the good queen let him go, and gave him his father's good brand that never struck in vain, and as she girded round his waist she said the spell that would give it victory. So Child Rowland said goodbye to the good queen, his mother, and went to the cave of the Warlock Merlin. Once more and but once more he said to the Warlock, tell how man or mother's son may rescue Bird-Ellen and her brother's twain. Well my son said the Warlock Merlin, there are but two things, simple they may seem, but hard they are to do. One thing to do and one thing not to do, and the thing to do is this, after you have entered the land of Fairy, whoever speaks to you till you meet the Bird-Ellen, you must out with your father's brand, and off with their head, and what you've not to do is this, bite no bit and drink no drop, however hungry or thirsty you be, drink a drop or bite a bit, while an elf land you be and never will you see Middle-Earth again. So Child Rowland said the two things over and over again, till he knew them by heart, and he thanked the Warlock Merlin and went on his way, and he went along and along and along, and still further along, till he came to the Horse-Head of the King of Elfland, feeding his horses. These he knew by their fiery eyes, and knew that he was at last in the land of Fairy. Canst thou tell me, said Child Rowland, to the Horse-Head, where the King of Elfland's dark tower is? I cannot tell thee, said the Horse-Head, but go on a little further, and thou wilt come to the Cow-Head, and he may be, can tell thee. Then without a word more, Child Rowland drew the good brand that never struck in vain, and off went the Horse-Head's head, and Child Rowland went on further, till he came to the Cow-Head, and asked him the same question. I can't tell thee, said he, but go on a little farther, and thou wilt come to the hen-wife, and she is sure to know. Then Child Rowland, out with his good brand, that never struck in vain, and off went the Cow-Head's head, and he went on a little further, till he came to an old woman in a grey cloak, and he asked her, she knew where the dark tower of the King of Elfland was. Go on a little further, said the hen-wife, till you come to a round green hill, surrounded with terraced rings, from the bottom to the top. Go round at three times wider shins, and each time say, open door, open door, and let me come in. And the third time the door will open, and you may go in. And Child Rowland was just going on, when he remembered what he had to do, so he out with the good brand that never struck in vain, and off went the hen-wife's head. Then he went on and on and on, till he came to the round green hill with the terraced rings from top to bottom. And he went round at three times wider shins, saying each time, open door, open door, and let me come in. And the third time the door did open, and he went in. And it closed with a click, and Child Rowland was left in the dark. It was not exactly dark, but a kind of twilight or gloaming. There were neither windows nor candles, and he could not make out where the twilight came from, if not through the walls and roof. These were rough arches made of a transparent rock encrusted with sheep-silver and rock-spar and other bright stones. But though it was rock, the air was quite warm, as it always is in Elfland. So he went through this passage till at last he came to two wide and high folding doors which stood ajar. And when he opened them, there he saw a most wonderful and glorious sight, a large and spacious hall, so large that it seemed to be as long and as broad as the green hill itself. The roof was supported by fine pillars, so large and lofty that the pillars of a cathedral were as nothing to them. They were all of gold and silver, with fretted work, and between them and around them, reeds of flowers, composed of what do you think? Why of diamonds and emeralds, and all manner of precious stones? And the very keystones of the arches had for ornaments, clusters of diamonds, and rubies, and pearls, and other precious stones. And all these arches met in the middle of the roof, and just there, hung by a golden chain, an immense lamp made out of one big pearl hollowed out and quite transparent. And in the middle of this was a big, huge carbuncle, which kept spinning round and round, and this was what gave light by its rays to the whole hall, which seemed as if the setting sun was shining on it. The hall was furnished in a manner equally grand, and at one end of it was a glorious couch of velvet, silver, and gold, and there stayed Bird Ellen, combing her golden hair with a silver comb. And when she saw Child Rowland, she stood up and said, God pity ye, poor luckless fool, what have ye here to do? Here ye this, my youngest brother, why didn't ye bide at home? Had ye hundred thousand lives ye couldn't spare any a one? But sit ye down, but woe, oh, woe, that ever ye were born, for come the king of Elfland in, your fortune is forlorn. Then they sat down together, and Child Rowland told her all that he had done, and she told him how their two brothers had reached the dark tower, but had been enchanted by the king of Elfland, and lay there entombed as if dead. And then after they had talked a little longer, Child Rowland began to feel hungry from his long travels, and told his sister Bird Ellen how hungry he was, and asked for some food, forgetting all about the warlock Merlin's warning. Bird Ellen looked at Child Rowland sadly and shook her head, but she was under a spell and could not warn him. So she rose up and went out, and soon brought back a golden basin full of bread and milk. Child Rowland was just going to raise it to his lips, when he looked at his sister, and remembered why he had come all that way. So he dashed the bowl to the ground and said, Not a sup will I swallow, nor a bit will I bite, till Bird Ellen is set free. Just at that moment they heard the noise of someone approaching, and a loud voice was heard, saying, Fee, fie, foe, fom, I smell the blood of a Christian man, be he dead, be he living, with my brand I'll dash his brains from his brain-pan. And then the folding doors of the hall were burst open, and the king of Elfland rushed in. Strike then, Bogle, if thou darest, shouted out Child Rowland, and rushed to meet him with his good brand that never yet did fail. They fought, and they fought, and they fought, till Child Rowland beat the king of Elfland down onto his knees, and caused him to yield and beg for mercy. I grant thee mercy, said Child Rowland, release my sister from thy spells, and raise my brothers to life, and let us all go free, and thou shalt be spared. I agree, said the Elfin king, and rising up he went to a chest from which he took a file, filled with a blood-red liquor. With this he anointed the ears, eyelids, nostrils, lips, and fingertips of the two brothers, and they sprang it once into life, and declared that their souls had been away, but had now returned. The Elfin king then said some words to bird Ellen, and she was disenchanted, and they all four passed out of the hall through the long passage, and turned their back on the dark tower, never to return again. And they returned home, and the good queen their mother, and bird Ellen never went round the church wider shins again. End of Chapter 21 Child Rowland This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales, collected by Joseph Jacobs Chapter 22 Molly Whuppy Once upon a time there was a man and a wife had too many children, and they could not get meat for them. So they took the three youngest, and left them in a wood. They travelled and travelled, and could see never a house. It began to be dark, and they were hungry. At last they saw a light and made for it. It turned out to be a house. They knocked at the door, and a woman came to it, who said, what do you want? They said, please let us in and give us something to eat. The woman said, I can't do that, as my man is a giant, and he would kill you if he comes home. They begged hard, let us stop for a little while, said they, and we will go away before he comes. So she took them in, and set them down before the fire, and gave them milk and bread. But just as they had begun to eat, a great knot came to the door, and a dreadful voice said, Fee, fire, foe, thumb, I smell the blood of some earthly one. Who have you there, wife? Eh, said the wife, it's three poor lassies, cold and hungry, and they will go away. You won't touch the man. He said nothing, but ate up a big supper, and ordered them to stay all night. Now he had three lassies of his own, and they were to sleep in the same bed with the three strangers. The youngest of the three strange lassies was called Molly Wappy, and she was very clever. She noticed that before they went to bed, the giant put straw ropes around her neck and her sisters, and around his own lassies' necks, he put gold chains. So Molly took care, and did not fall asleep, but waited till she was sure everyone was sleeping sound. Then she slipped out of the bed, and took the straw ropes off her urine and her sister's necks, and took the gold chains off the giant's lassies. She then put the straw ropes on the giant's lassies, and the gold on herself and her sisters, and lay down. And in the middle of the night, up rose the giant, armed with a great club, and he felt for the necks with the straw. It was dark. He took his own lassies out of bed, onto the floor, and battered them until they were dead, and then lay down again, thinking he had managed fine. Molly thought at times she and her sisters were out of that, so she wakened them, and told them to be quiet, and they slipped out of the house. They all got out safe, and they ran and ran, and never stopped until morning, when they saw a grand house before them. It turned out to be a king's house, so Molly went in and told her story to the king. He said, Well, Molly, you are a clever girl, and you have managed well, but if you would manage better, and go back and steal the giant's sword that hangs on the back of his bed, I would give your elder sister my eldest son to marry. Molly said she would try. So she went back, and managed to slip into the giant's house, and crept in below the bed. The giant came home, and ate up a great supper, and went to bed. Molly waited until he was snoring, and she crept out, and she reached over the giant, and got down the sword. But just as she got it out over the bed, it gave a rattle, and up jumped the giant, and Molly ran out at the door, and the sword with her. And she ran, and he ran, till they came to the bridge of one hair. And she got over, but he couldn't. And he says, Well worth ye, Molly Wuppie, never ye come again. And she says, Twice yet, Carl, quotes she, I'll come to Spain. So Molly took the sword to the king, and her sister was married to his son. Well, the king he says. You've managed well, Molly, but if ye would manage better, and steal the purse that lies below the giant's pillow, I would marry your second sister to my second son. And Molly said she would try. So she set out for the giant's house, and slipped in, and hid again below the bed. And waited till the giant had eaten his supper, and with snoring sound asleep. She slipped out, and slipped her hand below the pillow, and got out the purse. But just as she was going out, the giant wakened, and ran after her. And she ran, and he ran, till they came to the bridge of one hair. And she got over, but he couldn't. And he said, Well worth ye, Molly Wuppie, never ye come again. Once yet, Carl, quotes she, I'll come to Spain. So Molly took the purse to the king, and her second sister was married to the king's second son. After that, the king says to Molly, Molly, you are a clever girl, but if you would do better yet, and steal the giant's ring that he wears on his finger, I will give you my younger son for yourself. Molly said she would try. So back she goes to the giant's house, and hides herself below the bed. The giant wasn't long ere he came home, and after he had eaten a great big supper, he went to his bed, and shortly was snoring loud. Molly crept out, and reached over the bed, and got hold of the giant's hand. And she pulled, and she pulled, until she got off the ring. But just as she got it off, the giant got up, and gripped her by the hand, and he says, Now I have catched you, Molly Wuppie, and if I had done as much ill to you, as ye have done to me, what would ye do to me? Molly says, I would put you into a sack, and I'd put the cat inside with you, and the dog beside you, and a needle and thread, and a shears, and I'd hang you up upon the wall, and I'd go to the wood, and choose the thickest stick I could get, and I would come home, and take you down, and bang you till you were dead. Well, Molly says the giant, I'll just do that to you. So he gets a sack, and puts Molly into it, and the cat and the dog beside her, and a needle and thread, and shears, and hangs her upon the wall, and goes to the wood to choose a stick. Molly, she sings out, If ye see what I see. Oh, says the giant's wife, What do ye see, Molly? But Molly never said a word, but oh, ye see what I see. The giant's wife begged that Molly would take her up into the sack, till she would see what Molly saw. So Molly took the shears, and cut a hole in the sack, and took out the needle and thread with her, and jumped down and helped. The giant's wife up into the sack, and sewed up the hole. The giant's wife saw nothing, and began to ask to get down again. But Molly never minded, and hid herself at the back of the door. Home came the giant, and a great big tree in his hand, and he took down the sack and began to batter it. His wife cried, It's me, man! But the dog barked, and the cat mewed, and he did not know his wife's voice. But Molly came out from the back of the door, and the giant saw her, and he after her, and he ran, and she ran, till they came to the bridge of one hair. And she got over, but he couldn't. And he said, We're worth you, Molly Wappy, never you come again. Never more, Carl, quotes she, will I come again to Spain. So Molly took the ring to the king, and she was married to his younger son, and she never saw the giant again. End of Chapter 22 Molly Wappy This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs Chapter 23 The Red Ettin There was once a widow that lived on a small bit of ground, which she rented from a farmer, and she had two sons, and by and by it was time for the wife to send them away to seek their fortune. So she told her elder son one day to take a can and bring her water from the well that she might bake a cake for him, and however much or however little he might bring, the cake would be great or small accordingly, and that cake was to be all that she could give him when he went on his travels. The lad went away with the can to the well, and filled it with water, and then came away home again. But the can being broken, the most part of the water had run out before he got back. So his cake was very small. Yet small as it was, his mother asked him if he was willing to take the half of it with her blessing, telling him that if he chose rather to take the whole, he would only get it with her curse. The young man thinking he might have to travel a far way, and not knowing when or how he might get other provisions, said he would like to have the whole cake, come of his mother's malice and what like. So she gave him the whole cake and her malice and along with it. Then he took his brother aside, and gave him a knife to keep till he should come back, desiring him to look at it every morning, and as long as it continued to be clear, then he might be sure that the owner of it was well. But if it grew dim and rusty, then for certain some ill had befallen him. So the young man went to seek his fortune, and he went all that day, and all the next day, and on the third day in the afternoon, he came up to where Sheppard was sitting with a flock of sheep, and he went up to the Sheppard and asked him who the sheep belonged to, and he answered. The red Ettin of Ireland once lived in Balagon, and stole King Markham's daughter, the King of Fair Scotland. He beat her, he binds her, he lays her on a band, and every day he strikes her with a bright silver wand. Like Julian the Roman, he's one that fears no man. It's said there's one predestinate to be his mortal foe, but that man is yet unborn, and long may it be so. This Sheppard also told him to beware of the beasts he should next meet, for they were of a very different kind from any he had yet seen. So the young man went on, and by and by he saw a multitude of very dreadful beasts with two heads, and on every head four horns, and he was sore frightened, and ran away from them as fast as he could, and glad was he when he came to a castle that stood on a hillock with the door standing wide open to the wall. And he went into the castle for shelter, and there he saw an old wife sitting beside the kitchen fire. He asked the wife if he might stay for the night, as he was tired with a long journey, and the wife said he might, but it was not a good place for him to be in, as it belonged to the red Ettin, who was a very terrible beast with three heads that spared no living man it could get hold of. The young man would have gone away, but he was afraid of the beasts on the outside of the castle, so he beseeched the old woman to hide him as best she could, and not tell the Ettin he was there. He thought if he could put over the night he might get away in the morning without meeting with the beasts, and so escape. But he had not been long in his hiding-hole before the awful Ettin came in, and no sooner was he in than he was heard crying. Snock-butt and snock-ben, I find the smell of an earthly man, be he living or be he dead, his heart this night shall kitchen my bread. The monster soon found the poor young man, and pulled him from his hole, and when he had got him out he told him that if he could answer him three questions his life should be spared. So the first head asked, a thing without an end, what's that? But the young man knew not. Then the second head said, the smaller the more dangerous, what's that? But the young man knew it not. And then the third head asked, the dead carrying the living riddle me that. But the young man had to give it up. The lad not being able to answer one of these questions, the red Ettin took a mallet and knocked him on the head, and turned him into a pillar of stone. On the morning after this happened the younger brother took out the knife to look at it, and he was grieved to find it all brown with rust. He told his mother that the time was now come for him to go away upon his travels also. So she requested him to take the can to the well for water, that she might make a cake for him. And he went, and as he was bringing home the water a raven over his head cried to him to look, and he would see that the water was running out. And he was a young man of sense, and seeing the water running out he took some clay and patched up the holes so that he brought home enough water to bake a large cake. When his mother put it to him to take the half cake with her blessing he took it in preference to having the hole with her mallet, and yet the half was bigger than what the other lad had got. So he went away on his journey, and after he had travelled a far away he met with an old woman that asked him if he would give her a bit of his Johnny cake, and he said, I will gladly do that. And so he gave her a piece of the Johnny cake, and for that she gave him a magical wand that she might yet be of service to him, if he took care to use it rightly. Then the old woman who was a fairy told him a great deal that would happen to him and what he ought to do in all circumstances. And after that she vanished in an instant out of his sight. He went on a great way farther, and then he came up to the old man herding the sheep, and when he asked whose sheep these were, the answer was. The red Ettin of Ireland once lived in Baligan, and stole King Malcolm's daughter, the King of Fair Scotland. He beat her, he binds her, he lays her on a band, and every day he strikes her with a bright silver wand. Like Julian the Roman, he's one that fears no man. But now I fear his end is near and destiny at hand, and your to be I plainly see, the air of all his land. When he came to the place where the monstrous beasts were standing, he did not stop nor run away, but went boldly through amongst them. One came up roaring with open mouth to devour him, when he struck it with his wand, and laid it in an instant dead at his feet. He soon came to the Ettin's castle where he knocked, and was admitted. The old woman who sat by the fire warned him of the terrible Ettin, and what had been the fate of his brother. But he was not to be daunted. The monster soon came in, saying, Snockbutt and Snockben, I find the smell of an earthly man. Be he living, or be he dead, his heart shall be kitchen to my bread. He quickly aspired to the young man, and bade him come forth on the floor, and then he put the three questions to him. But the young man had been told everything by the good fairy, so he was able to answer all the questions. So when the first head asked, what's the thing without an end, he said, a bowl. And when the second head said, the smaller the more dangerous, what's that? He said at once, a bridge. And last, the third head said, when does the dead carry the living, riddle me that. Then the young man answered up at once and said, when a ship sails on the sea with men inside her. When the Ettin found this, he knew that his power was gone. The young man then took up an axe and hewed off the monster's three heads. He next asked the old woman to show him where the king's daughter lay, and the old woman took him upstairs and opened a great many doors, and out of every door came a beautiful lady who had been imprisoned there by the Ettin. And one of the ladies was the king's daughter. She also took him down into a low room, and there stood a stone pillar that he had only to touch with his wand when his brother started into life. And the whole of the prisoners were overjoyed at their deliverance, for which they thanked the young man. Next day they all set out for the king's court and a gallant company they made, and the king married his daughter to the young man that had delivered her, and gave a noble's daughter to his brother. And so they all lived happily all the rest of their days. End of Chapter 23 The Red Ettin This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs. Chapter 24 The Golden Arm He was once a man who travelled the land all over in search of a wife. He saw young and old, rich and poor, pretty and plain, and could not meet with one to his mind. At last he found a woman, young, fair and rich. He possessed a right arm of solid gold. He married her at once, and thought no man so fortunate as he was. They lived happily together, but, though he wished people to think otherwise, he was fonder of the golden arm than of all his wife's gifts besides. At last she died. The husband put on the blackest black, and pulled the longest face at the funeral. But for all that he got up in the middle of the night, dug up the body, and cut off the golden arm. He hurried home to hide his treasure and thought no one would know. The following night he put the golden arm under his pillow, and was just falling asleep when the ghost of his dead wife glided into the room. Stalking up to the bedside it drew the curtain and looked at him reproachfully. Pretending not to be afraid he spoke to the ghost and said, What has thou done with thy cheeks so red? All withered and wasted away replied the ghost in a hollow tone. What has thou done with thy red rosy lips? All withered and wasted away. What has thou done with thy golden hair? All withered and wasted away. What has thy done with thy golden arm? Thou hast it! English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs Chapter 25 The History of Tom Thung In the days of the great Prince Arthur, the lived a mighty magician called Merlin, the most learned and skillful enchanter the world has ever seen. This famous magician, who could take any form he pleased, was travelling about as a poor beggar, and being very tired, he stopped at the cottage of a plowman to rest himself and asked for some food. The countrymen bade him welcome, and his wife, who was a very good-hearted woman, soon brought him some milk in a wooden bowl and some coarse brown bread on a platter. Merlin was much pleased with the kindness of the plowman and his wife, but he could not help noticing that though everything was neat and comfortable in the cottage, they seemed both to be very unhappy. He therefore asked them why they were so melancholy, and learned that they were miserable because they had no children. The poor woman said with tears in her eyes, I should be the happiest creature in the world if I had a son, although he was no bigger than my husband's thumb I would be satisfied. Merlin was so much amused with the idea of a boy no bigger than a man's thumb, that he determined to grout the poor woman's wish. Accordingly, in a short time after, the plowman's wife had a son, who, wonderful to relate, was not a bit bigger than his father's thumb. The queen of the fairies, wishing to see the little fellow, came in at the window while the mother was sitting up in the 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 godson according to her orders. An oak leaf hat he had 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 and skin, tanned with the downy hair within. Tom never grew any larger than his father's thumb, which was only of 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 play-fellows, fill his pockets, and, getting out without their noticing him, would again join in the game. One day, however, as he was coming out of a bag of cherry stones, where he had been stealing as usual, the boy to whom it belonged, chanced 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 thievish 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 was sadly bruised. He wrought out with pain and begged to be let out, promising never to steal 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 his foot slipped, and he plumped overhead and ears into the batter, without his mother noticing him, who stirred him into the pudding bag, and put him in the pot to boil. The batter 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 pulling it out of the pot, she threw it outside 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 cleared of the batter, he then began to cry aloud, 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 all over with the batter, and 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 she 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, for fear of being blown away, she tied him to a thistle with a piece of fine thread. The cow, seen observed Tom's oak leaf hat, and liking the appearance 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 in pieces, and he wrought out as loud as he could, Mother, Mother! Where are you, Tommy, my dear Tommy? said his mother. Here, Mother, replied he, in the red cow's mouth. His mother began to cry, and wring 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 over the sea, and there dropped him. A large fish swallowed Tom the moment he fell into the sea, which was soon after caught, and brought 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 at being free again. They carried him to the king who made Tom his dwarf, and he soon grew a great favourite at court, for by his tricks and gambles he not only 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 they were well off. Tom told the king that his father and mother were as tall as anybody about the court, but in rather poor circumstances. 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 procure a purse, which was made of a water bubble, and then returned to the treasury, where he received a silver three-penny piece to put into it. Our little hero had some difficulty 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 travelled 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. But he soon returned to court. As Tom's clothes had suffered much in the better pudding and the inside of the fish, his majesty ordered him a new suit of clothes, and to be mounted as a knight on a mouse. Of butterflies' wings his shirt was made, his boots of chickens hides, and by a nimble fairy-blade, while learned in the tailoring 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 hunting with the king and nobility, who were all ready to expire with laughter at Tom and his fine prancing charger. The king was so charmed with his 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 at the honors conferred on 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-shell, where he lay for a long time, until he was almost starved with hunger, but at last he ventured to peep out, and seeing a fine, large butterfly on the ground, near the place of his concealment, he got close to it, and jumping astride on it, was carried up into the air. The butterfly flew with him from tree to tree, and from field to field, and at last 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 to the Wiresbrook, 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 fought 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 Arthur 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 sport. He rode at 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, and shake your head, and cry, alas, Tom Thumb is dead. End of Chapter 25, The History of Tom Thumb This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Lady Mary was young, and Lady Mary was fair. She had two brothers and more lovers than she could count. But of them all, the bravest and most gallant was a Mr. Fox, whom she met when she was down at her father's country house. No one knew who Mr. Fox was, but he was certainly brave and surely rich, and of all her lovers Lady Mary cared for him alone. At last it was agreed upon between them that they should be married. Lady Mary asked Mr. Fox where they should live, and he described to her his castle and where it was. But strange to say did not ask her or her brothers to come and see it. So one day, near the wedding day, when her brothers were out, and Mr. Fox was away for a day or two on business, as he said, Lady Mary set out for Mr. Fox's castle. And after many searchings, she came at last to it, and a fine, strong house it was, with high walls and a deep moat. And when she came up to the gateway, she saw written on it, Be bold, be bold. But as the gate was open, she went through it, and found no one there. So she went up to the doorway, and over it she found written, Be bold, be bold, but not too bold. Still she went on, till she came into the hall, and went up the broad stairs, till she came to a door in the gallery, over which was written, Be bold, be bold, but not too bold, lest that your heart's blood should run cold. But Lady Mary was a brave one, she was, and she opened the door. And what do you think she saw? Why, bodies and skeletons of beautiful young ladies, all stained with blood. So Lady Mary thought it was high time to get out of that horrid place, and she closed the door, went through the gallery, and was just going down the stairs and out of the hall, when who should she see through the window, but Mr Fox dragging a beautiful young lady, along from the gateway to the door. Lady Mary rushed downstairs, and hid herself behind a cask, just in time, as Mr Fox came in with the poor young lady, who seemed to have fainted. Just as he got near Lady Mary, Mr Fox saw a diamond ring, glittering on the finger of the young lady he was dragging, and he tried to pull it off. But it was tightly fixed, and would not come off. So Mr Fox cursed and swore, and drew his sword and raised it, and brought it down upon the hand of the poor lady. The sword cut off the hand, which jumped up into the air, and fell of all places in the world, into Lady Mary's lap. Mr Fox looked about a bit, but did not think of looking behind the cask. So at last he went on, dragging the young lady up the stairs into the bloody chamber. As soon as she heard him pass through the gallery, Lady Mary crept out of the door, down through the gateway, and ran home as fast as she could. Now it happened that the very next day the marriage contract of Lady Mary and Mr Fox was to be signed, and there was a splendid breakfast before that. And when Mr Fox was seated at table opposite Lady Mary, he looked at her. How pale you are this morning, my dear. Yes, said she. I had a bad night's rest last night. I had horrible dreams. Dreams go by contraries, said Mr Fox. But tell us your dream, and your sweet voice will make the time pass till the happy hour comes. I dreamed, said Lady Mary, that I went yesterday morn to your castle, and I found it in the woods with high walls, and a deep moat, and over the gateway was written, Be bold, be bold. But it is not so, nor it was not so, said Mr Fox. And when I came to the doorway over it was written, Be bold, be bold, but not too bold. It is not so, nor it was not so, said Mr Fox. And then I went upstairs, and came to a gallery, at the end of which was a door, on which was written, Be bold, be bold, but not too bold, lest that your heart's blood should run cold. It is not so, nor it was not so, said Mr Fox. And then, and then I opened the door, and the room was filled with bodies and skeletons of poor dead women, all stained with their blood. It is not so, nor it was not so, and God forbid it should be so, said Mr Fox. I then dreamed that I rushed down the gallery, and just as I was going down the stairs, I saw you, Mr Fox, coming up to the whole door, dragging after you a poor, young lady, rich and beautiful. It is not so, nor it was not so, and God forbid it should be so, said Mr Fox. I rushed downstairs just in time to hide myself behind a cask, when you, Mr Fox, came in dragging the young lady by the arm, and as you passed me, Mr Fox, I thought I saw you try and get off her diamond ring, and when you could not, Mr Fox, it seemed to me in my dream that you out with your sword, and hacked off the poor lady's hand to get the ring. It is not so, nor it was not so, and God forbid it should be so, said Mr Fox. And was going to say something else, as he rose from his seat when Lady Mary cried out, but it is so, and it was so. Here's hand and ring I have to show, and pulled out the lady's hand from her dress, and pointed it straight at Mr Fox. At once her brothers and her friends drew their swords, and cut Mr Fox into a thousand pieces. End of Chapter 26, Mr Fox. This is a LibriVox recording, all LibriVox recordings in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Once upon a time there was a boy whose name was Jack, and he lived with his mother on a common. They were very poor, and the old woman got her living by spinning. But Jack was so lazy that he would do nothing but bask in the sun in the hot weather, and sit by the corner of the hearth in the wintertime. So they called him Lazy Jack. His mother could not get him to do anything for her, and at last told him one Monday, that if he did not begin to work for his porridge, she would turn him out to get his living as he could. This roused Jack, and he went out and hired himself for the next day to a neighbouring farmer for a penny. But as he was coming home, never having had any money before, he lost it in passing over a brook. You stupid boy, said his mother, you should have put it in your pocket. I'll do so another time, replied Jack. On Wednesday, Jack went out again and hired himself to a cowkeeper, who gave him a jar of milk for his day's work. Jack took the jar and put it into the large pocket of his jacket, spilling it all long before he got home. Dear me, said the old woman, you should have carried it on your head. I'll do so another time, said Jack. So on Thursday, Jack hired himself again to a farmer, who agreed to give him a cream cheese for his services. In the evening, Jack took the cheese and went home with it on his head. By the time he got home, the cheese was all spoilt, part of it being lost, and part matted with his hair. You stupid lout, said his mother, you should have carried it very carefully in your hands. I'll do so another time, replied Jack. On Friday, Lazy Jack again went out and hired himself to a baker, who would give him nothing for his work but a large tomcat. Jack took the cat and began carrying it very carefully in his hands. But in a short time, Pussy scratched him so much that he was compelled to let it go. When he got home, his mother said to him, you silly fellow, you should have tied it with a string and dragged it along after you. I'll do so another time, said Jack. So on Saturday, Jack hired himself to a butcher, who rewarded him by the handsome present of a shoulder of mutton. Jack took the mutton, tied it to a string, and trailed it along after him in the dirt, so that by the time he had got home, the meat was completely spoiled. His mother was this time quite out of patience with him, for the next day was Sunday, and she was obliged to make do with cabbage for her dinner. You niny hammer, said she to her son, you should have carried it on your shoulder. I'll do so another time, replied Jack. On the next Monday, Lazy Jack went once more and hired himself to a kettlekeeper, who gave him a donkey for his trouble. Jack found it hard to hoist the donkey on his shoulders, but at last he did it, and began walking slowly home with his prize. Now it happened that in the course of his journey, there lived a rich man with his only daughter, a beautiful girl, but deaf and dumb. Now she had never laughed in her life, and the doctors said she would never speak till somebody made her laugh. This young lady happened to be looking out of the window, when Jack was passing with the donkey on his shoulders, with the legs sticking up in the air, and the sight was so comical and strange that she burst out into a great fit of laughter, and immediately recovered her speech and hearing. Her father was overjoyed and fulfilled his promise by marrying her to Lazy Jack, who was thus made a rich gentleman. They lived in a large house, and Jack's mother lived with them in great happiness until she died. End of Chapter 27 Lazy Jack