thing, or you will perish yourself. For know, my lad, that I am a fairy, and was your father's guardian."

Jack was brave, and, besides, his fortunes were so bad they could not well be worse: so he promised.

7. The fairy continued, "Your father, Jack, was a most excellent, generous man. He had a good wife, faithful servants, plenty of money; but he had one misfortune, a false friend. This was a giant, whom he had helped in trouble, and who returned his kindness by killing him and seizing all his property. He also made your mother take a solemn oath that she would never tell you any thing about your father, or he would kill both her and you. Then he turned her off with you in her arms, to wander about the wide world as she might. I could not help her, as my power only returned on the day you went to sell your cow."

8. "It was I," added the fairy, "who put it into your head to take the beans, who made the bean-stalk grow, and filled you with the desire to climb up it to this strange country; for it is here the wicked giant lives who killed your father. You must avenge him, and rid the world of a monster who never will do any thing but evil. I will help you. You may lawfully take his house and all his riches, for every thing he has belonged to your father, and is therefore yours. Now, farewell! Do not tell your mother that you know your father's history: this is my command, and if you disobey me you will suffer for it. Now go."

9. Jack asked where he was to go. "Along the direct road, till you see the house where the giant lives. You must then act according to your best judgment, and I will guide you if any difficulty arises. Farewell!" And then, with a kindly smile, she vanished.

suf'fered, let, permitted.

dis-suade' [dis-swade'], turn away pur-sued' [pur-sūd'], went on.

from some plan.

dun'geon [dun'jun], a dark prison.

vic'tims, persons to be sacrificed.

1. JACK pursued his way. He walked on till after sunset, when, to his great joy, he saw a large mansion. At the door was a plain-looking woman. He spoke to her, begging she would give him a bit of bread and a night's lodging. She expressed the greatest surprise, and said it was quite uncommon to see a human being near their house; for it was well known that her husband was a powerful giant, who would never eat any thing but human flesh, if he could possibly get it, and he would walk fifty miles to procure it, usually being out the whole day for that purpose.

2. This account greatly frightened Jack; but still he hoped to escape the giant, and so he again begged the woman to take him in for one night only, and hide him where she thought proper. She at last suffered herself to be persuaded, for she was of a kind and generous disposition, and took him into the house. First they entered a fine large hall, magnificently furnished. They then passed through several great rooms, in the same style of grandeur; but all appeared forsaken and lonely. A long gallery came next. This was very dark, — just light enough to show that, instead of a wall on one

side, there was a grating of iron which parted off a dismal dungeon, whence issued the groans of the victims whom the cruel giant kept for his feasts.

3. Poor Jack was half dead with fear, and would have given the world to be with his mother again; for he now began to doubt if he should ever see her more. He even listrusted the good woman, and thought she had let him into the house only to lock him up among the unfortunate people in the dungeon. However, she bade Jack sit down, and gave him plenty to eat and drink. Not seeing any thing to make him uneasy, he soon forgot his fear, and was just beginning to enjoy himself, when he was startled by a loud knocking at the outer door, which made the whole house shake.

"Ah, that's the giant; and if he sees you he will kill you and me too," cried the poor woman, trembling all over. "What shall I do?"

4. "Hide me in the oven," cried Jack, now as bold as a lion at the thought of being face to face with his father's cruel murderer. So he crept into the oven, for there was no fire near it, and listened to the giant's loud voice and heavy step as he went up and down the kitchen, scolding his wife. At last he seated himself at table; and Jack, peeping through a crevice in the oven, was amazed to see how much food he devoured. It seemed as if he never would finish eating and drinking; but he stopped at last, and, leaning back, called to his wife in a voice like thunder,

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Bring me my hen!" She obeyed, and placed upon the table a very beautiful live hen.

5. "Lay!" roared the giant; and the hen laid immediately an egg of solid gold. "Lay another!" And

6. As soon as he was asleep, Jack crept out of the oven, seized the hen, and ran off with her. He got safely out of the house, and, finding his way along the road by which he had come, reached the top of the bean-stalk, and descended in

safety. His mother was overjoyed to see him, for she thought he had come to some ill end.

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Not a bit of it, mother. Look here!" and he "Now lay!" and the hen obeyed

showe her the hen.

him as readily as the eggs as he wished.

giant, and laid as many golden

7. These eggs being sold, Jack and his mother had plenty of money, and for some months lived very happily toge her. Then Jack had another great longing to climb th bean-stalk and carry away some more of the giant's riches. He had told his mother of his adventure, t had been had been very careful not to say a word about his ather. He thought of his journey again and again, but still he could not venture to tell his mother, for he knew very well that she would try to prevent his going. However, one day he told her boldly that he must make another journey up the bean-stalk. She begged and prayed him not to think of it, and tried all in her power to dissuade him. She told him that the giant's wife would certainly know him again, and that the giant would like nothing better than to get him into his power, in order that he might put him to a cruel death, and thus be revenged for the loss of his hen.