/

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Gift of

LANSING V. HAMMOND
Yale 1930

FAIRY LIBRARY.

GEORGE CRUIK SHANK'S FAIRY LIBRARY.
HOP-O'-MY-THUMB.
JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK.
CINDERELLA.
PUSS IN BOOTS.

LONDON :
GEORGE BELL AND SONS, YORK STREET,
COVENT GARDEN.
1885.

This Edition is limited to 500 copies, with India paper
impressions. The former Editions have been from litho
graphic transfers. The plates were retouched under Mr.
Cruikshank 's direction shortly before his death, and have not
been used since until now.

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EDITOR'S NOTE.
| HEN these tales were first published by Mr.
Cruikshank, they excited a certain amount of
hostile criticism on the score that he had pre
sumed to alter them in conformity with certain
philanthropic principles, and especially in the cause of
temperance, with which, in later years, his name was so
closely associated. Conspicuous amongst his critics was
Charles Dickens, who, in an article in " Household Words,"
entitled "Frauds on the Fairies," energetically resented
such tampering with the time-honoured tales of English
youth. It is unnecessary to reprint the " Address to Little Boys
and Girls," or the Appendix addressed to Parents and
Guardians, in which our old friend, in his genial and
simple-hearted style, justified the liberties which he had
taken with the received renderings of these stories, which
are by no means without considerable variations in different
editions. It is sufficient to say that he clearly enough
showed that in many details not suitable for children's ears

vi EDITOR'S NOTE.
and minds they undoubtedly called for some revision ; and
if he failed in proving that the open advocacy of a social
improvement is not inimical to the directness of thought
and simplicity of narrative which is the great charm of
popular legends, we shall at least find that the tales are
enriched by many a little touch of character such as are
conceded to any narrator, and have, in fact, become im
pressed with the individuality of one of our most genial
and gifted humourists.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
I. THE FATHER PROPOSES TO LOSE THE CHILDREN.
2. HOP-O'MY-THUMB AND HIS BROTHERS LEFT IN THE WOOD.
3. THE GIANT OGRE DISCOVERS HOP AND HIS BROTHERS.
4. THE GIANT OGRE IN HIS SEVEN-LEAGUE BOOTS.
5. THE GIANT OGRE ASLEEP.
6. HOP LEADS HIS BROTHERS OUT OF THE WOOD.
7. HOP ESCAPES IN THE SEVEN-LEAGUE BOOTS.
8. HOP ARRIVES AT HOME, AND SHOWS THE BOOTS.
9. HOP-O'MY-THUMB PRESENTING THE BOOTS TO THE KING.
IO. JACK CLIMBING THE BEAN-STALK.
II. JACK SHOWS KINDNESS TO A POOR OLD WOMAN,
12. WHO TURNS OUT TO BE A FAIRY, AND
13. WHO GIVES HIM THE WONDERFUL BEAN, WHICH HE SETS IN
THE GARDEN.
14. JACK GETS THE GOLDEN HEN AWAY FROM THE GIANT.
15. JACK AND THE FAIRY HARP ESCAPING FROM THE GIANT.
16. THE FAIRIES TIE THE GIANT UP IN THE BEAN-STALK.
17. JACK BRINGS THE GIANT PRISONER TO KING ALFRED.
18. CINDERELLA IN THE CHIMNEY-CORNER.
19. CINDERELLA SCOURING THE POTS AND KETTLES.
20. CINDERELLA HELPING HER SISTERS TO DRESS FOR THE
ROYAL BALL.
21. CINDERELLA'S GODMOTHER (THE FAIRY) TURNING THE
PUMPKIN, ETC., ETC., INTO A COACH AND HORSES.

iii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
22. THE FAIRY CHANCING CINDERELLA'S KITCHEN-DRESS INTO
A BEAUTIFUL BALL-DRESS.
23. THE PRINCE PICKING UP THE GLASS SLIPPER.
24. CINDERELLA LEAVING THE PALACE AFTER THE CLOCK HAD
STRUCK TWELVE.
25. THE HERALD PROCLAIMING THE PRINCE'S WISH, THAT ALL
THE SINGLE LADIES SHOULD TRY ON THE GLASS
SLIPPER. •
26. CINDERELLA HAVING FITTED ON THE GLASS SLIPPER, PRO
DUCES ITS FELLOW.
27. THE MARRIAGE OF CINDERELLA TO THE PRINCE.
28. TOM PUSS, CONSOLING HIS MASTER AND ASKING FOR A PAIR
OF BOOTS.
29. TOM PUSS CATCHING A RABBIT IN THE RABBIT WARREN.
30. TOM PUSS PRESENTING A RABBIT TO THE KING IN THE ROYAL
PALACE.
31. TOM PUSS TELLING THE KING THAT HIS MASTER IS IN THE
RIVER.
32. TOM PUSS, AFTER HIS MASTER IS DRESSED, INTRODUCES HIM
TO THE KING.
33. TOM PUSS COMMANDS THE REAPERS TO TELL THE KING THAT
ALL THE FIELDS BELONG TO THE MOST NOBLE THE
MARQUESS OF CARABAS.
34. THE OGRE TURNS HIMSELF INTO AN ELEPHANT.
35. THE OGRE TURNS HIMSELF INTO A LION.
36. THE OGRE TURNS HIMSELF INTO A MOUSE. TOM PUSS SFRINGS
UPON HIM AND KILLS HIM.
37. TOM PUSS RECEIVING THE KING, THE PRINCESS AND HIS
MASTER AT THE CASTLE.
38. THE WEDDING FEAST, AND TOM PUSS MAKING A SPEECH.

HOP-O'MY-THUMB.

HOP-O'MY-THUMB AND
THE SEVEN-LEAGUE BOOTS.
NCE upon a time there was a certain Count, who
possessed many castles and large domains. He
was a very good man, but, unfortunately, he
had some very bad , companions, who led him
into drinking habits, card-playing, betting* on horse-races,
and all sorts of foolish gambling ; and these bad men, by
these means, got all his money from him. So he was
obliged to sell one estate after another until all his property
was gone. When he was reduced to extreme poverty, all
his evil companions left him ; and as he had never been
taught any trade or business, he was compelled to cut wood
in the forest to get food for his wife and his children. The
Countess, his wife, was a dear, good lady, and did all she
could to make him and her children happy and comfortable;
but she found it a difficult matter to do this, for what the
Count, earned was very little, and the greater part of that
he spent in buying strong drink — of which he used to take
a great deal too much— so that he was very often tipsy :
this was one of the bad habits he had learnt of his bad

2 HOP-O'MY-THUMB
companions. They had six children — all boys ; but one of
them was such a very little fellow that he could hide him-
. self in his father's shoe, and they called him " Hop-o'my-
Thumb," or sometimes " little Hop." He was at this time
about seven or eight years old, with an extraordinary
sweetness of disposition or good temper, which it is a great
blessing for anybody to have, and he possessed a degree of
intelligence much beyond his age ; and his strength and
activity were also surprising, considering the smallness of
his size. He used to try, by the most affectionate atten
tions, and by playing all sorts of funny pranks, to soothe
the gloomy hours which his father passed in reflecting upon
his former foolish conduct, that had brought himself and
his family to such distress, for they were sometimes almost
starved for want of food. And matters grew worse and
worse with them every day; for it so happened at this time
that there was a famine in the land, and the father, instead
of trusting in Providence, and exerting himself to do some
thing to relieve his family from their miserable condition,
gave way to despondency, and still kept. on drinking and
smoking ; whilst the money that he spent in the drink that
made him tipsy, and on the nasty tobacco which he
smoked, would have bought bread enough for his family to
live upon.
The dear mother had brought up her boys to go to bed
early, which they all did, like good children, without any
grumbling or crying, little Hop-o'my-Thumb always being
the first to say, " I'm ready to go to bed, mother ; " but
before he did so he would play some droll tricks to amuse
his dear mother and his five brothers, which made them all
laugh, even if they had no supper. One night, after they
had said their prayers, and she had put them to bed (and

AND THE SEVEN-LEAGUE BOOTS. 3
when, as she thought, they were all asleep), the father came
home and sat down by the side of his wife before the fire,
and then began to tell her all the news about the scarcity
of all sorts of food, and that he was unable any longer to
get bread either for themselves or the children, and that
they must, therefore, all starve to death. There was, to be
sure, just enough for her and himself for a couple of days,
but there was none for the boys ; and as it would be a
shocking sight to see them all starving, he proposed to his
wife that they should take the children out with them in
the morning when he went to cut fuel, and that they should
leave the children in the great forest.
" No, indeed," cried the tender mother, " I shall do no
such thing ! If the poor dear children are to die, I will die
With them." But the father insisted that it should be done,
got quite angry, and talked so loud that he woke little
Hop-o'my-Thumb, who was a very light sleeper, so he sat
up in bed and heard all the talk ; and after a great deal of
crying and opposition, the mother at last consented ; for
she saw that the Count had been drinking, and she knew
it was of no use arguing with him when he was in that
state, for he .did not know what he was about ; so, although
she consented, she thought in her own mind that she would
mark the road and go back herself, and take them to some
place where she would beg the people to keep them Tor
charity until times got better, and then she could pay for
their board and bring them home, and surprise and delight
their father.
Hop-o'my-Thumb, who had heard all the talk about
leaving him and hrs brothers in the forest, immediately
thought of a plan whereby he should be able to find his
way back, and return home again with his brothers.; he,

4 HOP-O'MY-THUMB
therefore, got up before the dawn of day, and went to a
brook that was close by the hut, and there he filled his
pockets with little white pebbles, returned to the house
again, and crept into bed before his parents or his brothers
were awake. However, not long after they all awoke and
got up, and washed themselves in cold water (which they
did winter and summer, because it is most refreshing and
healthy to do so) ; and when they had said their prayers,
they sat down to a scanty breakfast. The Countess was in
very low spirits, although she had determined in her own
mind to take care that the boys should come to no harm ;
yet she anxiously watched her husband, in the hope that
when he had quite recovered himself, he would give up the
horrid notion of losing the children ; but he had drunk so
much the night before that he was not yet quite sober, but
seemed to be in a desperate mood, which he kept up by
taking a little more strong drink out of a bottle that he had
spent his last penny to buy. But he did not eat any break
fast ; for people who get tipsy cannot take much food, so
they soon get ill and die. After the Countess and the boys
had taken their scanty breakfast, the Count put on his cap,
took his hatchet, and said, in a surly tone, " Come along,
let us go to work ! " They all used to help the Count in his
labour by gathering up the sticks that he cut away with his
axe, and making them up into bundles, — Hop-o'my-Thumb,
as well as the other boys : but they all used to laugh at the
little tiny bundles that little Hop made ; but although he
did not do much himself, he used to lighten their work by
singing songs and telling them funny stories.
When they were all ready to set out, the Countess gave
each of them a little bit of bread to put in their pockets, as
they had to go a long way from home, she told them.

AND THE SEVEN-LEAGUE BOOTS. 5
They then set out on their journey to the great forest ; but,
as they went along, little Hop-o'my-Thumb took care to
drop a little white pebble at different places ; and although
he had no doubt but that he should find his way back by
these means, nevertheless he also took notice of particular
trees, rocks, and streams, that they passed ; and he also
took care to mark which side of the road the sun was
shining upon ; as he knew if it were on one side in the
morning, it would be on the opposite side in the evening.
At length they entered the wood, and the father began
chopping away, and the Countess and the children gather
ing and binding. The Count kept his wife close by him all
the time, in order that they might be ready to set off the
first opportunity ; but whenever he was about to steal
away, he always found that little Hop was alongside of
him. So, in order to get rid of Master Hop, he told the
boys they might leave off work for a little while, and have
a bit of play ; and he proposed that they should join hands
and form a ring, and put little Hop in the middle and
dance round him. The boys were all delighted with this
game except little Thumb, who tried hard to get out of
the ring, but his brothers would not let him ; and thus,
while they were all dancing and shouting, the Count took
the opportunity of slipping away, dragging the Countess
along with him. The poor mother, although she had deter
mined to go back for the children, was, nevertheless, fearful
that they might be lost or come to some harm, So she
began to cry, and beg of her husband to let her go back
for the children ; but he had been draining his bottle, and
only gave her harsh words and made her go on quickly, in
order that they might get entirely away from the children.
Little Hop-o'my-Thumb's brothers kept on dancing away

6 HOP-O'MY-THUMB
until they were tired and out of breath, and then they all
sat down to rest themselves. But when they looked round
and could not see either their father or mother, they jumped
up and ran about to look for them ; but little Hop stood
where he was, for he had noticed which way his parents
had gone off. But, oh ! when his brothers could not find
their parents anywhere, they all looked at one another, and
said, " Oh dear, we are lost ! oh dear, where's father and
mother ? What shall we do ? " and they set up such a cry,
and came back to the place where little Hop was, who told
them that instead of crying they ought to try what they
could do to get out of the wood ; and if they would help
him to do so by carrying him, he thought he could show
them the road home. So they left off crying, and the
biggest boy took little Hop up in his arms and carried
him ; and then Master Hop-o'my-Thumb directed him
which way to go, for he had noticed particular trees, and
had marked others with his knife.1 So they soon got clear
of the wood ; and then Hop told his brother to set him on
the ground, and then the first thing that he did was to see
whereabout the sun was ; and although it was not shining
out at that time, he could tell in what direction it was ;
and, as he began to feel hungry, he knew that it was about
twelve o'clock, that being their usual dinner-hour, but he
could also pretty well tell the time by the height of the
sun. Hop next began to look for one of the white pebbles,
and having found one, he called out to his brothers to come
along ; and on he went, leading the way. And at last, by
the aid of the pebbles and the observations he had made in
the morning, he had brought them nearly half the way
1 This is what the Indians do,— they notch the trees, and so find
their way through 1'ic largest forests.

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AND THE SEVEN-LEAGUE BOOTS. 7
home ; when, as they were passing a steep bank by the
side of a hill, they heard a voice calling loudly to them, and
upon looking up they saw somebody coming down hastily
towards them, — it was their mother ! At first they all
screamed, " Oh, here's mother ! " and then set off as fast as
they could to meet her, and in the hurry pushed over poor
little Hop-o'my-Thumb ; but he was up in a minute, and
ran after his brothers as fast as his little legs could carry
him. " O my dear boys ! " the Countess exclaimed ; " and
have I found you ? Come to my arms, my little darlings!"
and then she began to cry, and then the children began to
cry, and they all had a good cry together. She then took
up her dear little Hoppy, as she called him, in her arms,
and said, " Come, dears, let us make haste home. You
must be very hungry ; and I hope by the time we get
back, there will be some nice food for you ; for your father
has been sent for by a rich farmer in the neighbourhood to
do some writing for him, and he is to bring back a large
basket of provisions." And as they were trudging along,
who should they see coming to meet them but the Count
their father, who, with tears in his eyes, embraced all the
children ; and after embracing his wife, he took little Hop
from her and put him on his shoulder. They soon got
home, and they had a good, hearty supper that night, and
were all very happy,^not that much eating at supper is
good generally, but not having had any dinner, it was all
very well in such a case.
All the boys were glad to get to bed, they being, as you
may suppose, thoroughly tired out, and were soon fast
asleep, except little Hop, who, although very sleepy and
tired, tried hard to keep awake to hear what his father and

8 HOP- O'M Y- THUMB
mother would say. And he soon began to understand that
his mother never intended to leave them to perish in the
wood ; and she pointed out to his father the horrible
cruelty of deserting the children in this way, and also the
wickedness in spending money in drink and tobacco that
would buy bread ; and also the sin of getting tipsy, so that
he was not able to work properly for their support.
The father was very sorry for what he had done, and
seemed quite heart-broken ; and then the dear good Countess
began to comfort him, and they both knelt down and
prayed together, little Hop joining in their prayers. And
when he heard the deep sobs of repentance of his father,
mingled with the sobs and thankfulness of his mother, his
little tears rolled down his tiny cheeks upon his pillow
until he went off into a quiet and refreshing sleep.
After this they lived very comfortably for some time,
for the rich farmer employed the Count to do a great deal
of writing for him, as he was engaged in a lawsuit, and the
Count entirely left off his drinking habits. This made the
Countess very happy ; and she had now such confluence in
her husband, that she thought she could leave the children
in his care with safety ; and that she could now set out on
a journey she had long wished to take, to seek out a brother
of hers, who was a rich Baron, and whom she had not seen
or heard of for many years, as he had been in the wars in
foreign countries. And she was anxious to find her brother
the Baron, as she knew he would take them out of their
poverty, educate her boys, and put them in a way of get
ting an honest and respectable livelihood. Having saved
up a little money, she packed up her Sunday clothes in a
bundle, put some bread and cheese in a basket, and kissing
all the children and bidding them be good boys until her

AND THE SEVEN-LEAGUE BOOTS. 9
return, she set out upon her journey, the Count accom
panying her a little way on the road. After the Count
had taken an affectionate farewell of the Countess, and
wished her a safe journey and a successful one, he turned
to go to his hut and his children ; but on the road he un
fortunately met with one of his former drinking companions,
who prevailed upon him, after a great deal of persuading,
to go into an ale-house just to have one glass, which he had no
sooner taken than he forgot all his promises to the Countess
not to take strong drink. And after getting quite tipsy
that night, he went on, day after day, in the old bad way,
so that he did not know what he was about, and the farmer
would not give him any more writing to do ; so he fell into
greater distress than ever, for the dear clever Countess was
not there to manage his domestic affairs.
Well, one night he came home late in a terrible state ;
knocked the stools and the table over, and frightened little
Hop and his brothers very much. And in the morning he
made the children get up very early, and told them they
must go to work in the forest again : this frightened all the
boys, except little Hop, who thought that if his father left
them again, he should be able to find his way back in the
same way as he did before '; for they recollected how they
had been lost in the forest, to which place they had never
been since that time. Poor little Hop was about to slip
out to the brook to get some white pebbles, as before ; but
his father called him back, and bade him and his brothers
take their share of the last loaf for their breakfast. The
boys ate their bread very sorrowfully ; but Hop did not eat
all his, for he thought that he would drop bits of bread
instead of pebbles.
The Count now took a different road to the forest than
C

i o HOP- O'M Y- THUMB
he had done the last time, and a longer way about ; so that
when they arrived in a thick and shady part of the wood,
the Count said they might sit down and rest themselves,
which they were very glad to do ; and little Hop-o'my-
Thumb was so tired, that he could not have gone on any
farther, for the Count had made him walk a great part of
the way ; but he had taken good notice again, and had
dropped bits of bread as he came along. The father laid him
self down and fell asleep, or pretended to do so ; and when
Hop saw his father fast asleep, as he thought, he himself
lay down to rest ; but he and his brothers were so tired,
and had had so little sleep the night before, that they all
went to sleep as sound as tops. This was still early in the
day ; and when they awoke the sun was high up, and their
father was gone. They would have given way to grief
again ; but as Hop-o'my-Thumb had shown them the way
home before, they looked to him to do the same again ;
and he said, " Come along, brothers ! " But the most
clever people sometimes meet with disappointments ; for
the clouds had quite hidden the sun, and it was a long
time before they could get out of the wood. And when
they arrived at the place where they had entered, little Hop
found that the birds had eaten up the crumbs of bread
which he had dropped. But although he had a little heart,
it was a brave one, and he was sure he should recollect the
trees and land-marks they had passed. But it began
to get very dark, and as it was a cloudy night, he did not
know which way to go. If the moon or the stars could
have been seen, he would have known then which way to
go, but he could not see either. He, therefore, looked out
for a tall tree, which he asked his eldest brother to climb,
and to look all round from the top to see if he could dis-

AND THE SEVEN-LEAGUE BOOTS. n
cover any kind of building, or a light burning anywhere.
So the brother got up, and after looking first one way and
then another, he cried out that he could see a light, which
seemed to come from a window. Upon which little Hop
called out to his brother to break or cut off a small branch,
and throw it down on the side of the tree where the light
appeared. This was done ; and when the brother came
down, he took up Hop on his shoulder, who kept his eye
fixed upon some trees in the direction where his brother
said the light was seen. So, after a tiresome walk over the
rough ground, and being terrified by the howling of the
wolves, who now came out of their dens, they at last came
to a very large house ; and after they had knocked several
times on the great gate with a large stone, it was opened
by a great big woman, a sort of Giantess, who was very
much surprised at seeing the children, and asked them
what they wanted. Upon which Hop-o'my-Thumb told
her that they were the six sons of a Count, and having lost
their way, they had to beg for a little food and a night's
lodging, upon which she said, —
"You may be the sons of a Count, but I can only count
five of you ; so I think you must have lost your wits as
well as your way."
So little Hop replied, —
" Oh, yes, ma'am, there are six of us ; but I am so small
that, perhaps, you can't see me."
" See you ! " she cried ; " why, where are you ? "
" On my brother's shoulder, ma'am."
So the Giantess was curious to see the little body from
which the little voice came, and she said, —
" Dear me ! come into the light, and let me have a look
at you." So they all went into the house, and then they

1 2 HOP- O'M Y- THUMB
put Hop-o'my-Thumb on the table. Oh, such a big table !
And then the Giantess took the lamp and had a good look
at little Hop, and seemed very much pleased with. him ; so,
without any ceremony, Hop begged she would be so kind
as to give them something to eat, for that they were all
dying with hunger. Now she was a very good-natured
lady, as most of those Giantesses are, and gave them some
food directly, and told them to make haste and eat it up, —
which they would have done without being told, for if they
were hungry before they came in, they were more so after
wards, as they could smell that meat was being roasted.
So soon as the boys had eaten up the victuals, the Giantess
took Hop off the table and gave him to his eldest brother,
saying, " Now, my little men, you had better run away, for
you must not stop here any longer." Upon which little
Hop begged very hard that they might be allowed to stop
until the morning, if it was only in an outhouse or barn, as
they were afraid of the wolves. Upon which she began to
sigh, and said, " Ah, my little dears, you little think what
kind of a house you are in ; but I must tell you that my
husband is a Giant-Ogre ; and if he does not come home
tipsy, he is sure to get tipsy after his supper, and then he'll
be sure to kill you and eat you up ; whereas if you go away,
you may by chance escape from the wolves." But all the
boys were so afraid to go out into the dark forest where
the wolves were, and felt so warm and comfortable where
they were, that they all begged and prayed of her to let
them stay. So, as she was such a good-natured Giant-
woman, she at last consented, as she thought she might
be able to hide the children from her husband, who, she
thought, would not perhaps smell them out in consequence
of the smell of the meat which she was cooking for his

AND THE SEVEN-LEAGUE BOOTS. 13
supper. So she took them into the kitchen, where they
were surprised to see a whole sheep roasting ; and showed
them a box that stood in a corner of the kitchen, and told
them, when they heard a knock at the door, to run and
hide themselves behind the box. They looked about, but
as they could not see anything that looked like a box,
little Hop asked her where it was ; upon which she showed
them a great square wooden thing that looked almost as
big as their father's hut : but you must understand that
everything in the house, — tables, stools, plates, dishes, and
so on, — were of a very large size ; even too big for the
Giantess, who was obliged to use a small ladder herself to
get the plates off the shelf ; and the dish she had to put
the sheep in was as much as she could lift, and the gravy-
spoon was as big as a shovel. While she was busy getting
all ready for the Giant's return, the boys looked about in
wonder. By-and-by they heard a confused, rumbling sound,
and then something like the roaring of a lion : — it was the
Giant singing ! — he was coming home merry !
" Ah ! " said the Giantess, " he has had something to
drink. Run and hide yourselves ! " And they had no
sooner got behind the great box than a knock came at the
door, so loud that it quite stunned them ; and when the
door was opened, and the Ogre-Giant walked in, and every
step he took shook the house, big and strong as it was, it
made all the little fellows tremble. As soon as he came in
he said, in a loud, frightful voice, —
" Well, wife, what have you got for supper ? Something
nice ? It smells nice ! "
" Here it is," she said ; " it's a fine large sheep ! "
" Ah ! is there nothing else ? " he asked. " I smell fresh
meat ! "

14 HOP-O'MY-THUMB
" Oh ! " replied his wife, " it's the calf I've just killed."
With this answer he seemed satisfied, and sat himself
down to supper. By this time, what with being over tired,
having had a hearty full meal, and being very warm, Hop's
five brothers had dropped off to sleep ; but little Hop,
although very sleepy himself, was curious to see a Giant-
Ogre eat. The sharpening of his knife, which was as big
as a sword, was something fearful to behold. He then cut
off a shoulder of the mutton, and gave it to his wife for her
supper, and then took the other shoulder himself, which he
devoured in a very short time ; and then one leg, and then
the other ; and then ate the neck,- the ribs, and the loin,
giving his wife some of the bones to pick. When he had
finished eating, he filled out a cup that would hold about
two gallons, from a great bottle that he had been drinking
from every now and then whilst he was eating. He then
leaned with his elbows on the table, and began picking his
teeth with a fork, by which Hop-o'my-Thumb judged that
the Giant was not a gentleman. Hop's father and mother,
of course, knew good manners, and had taught them to
their children.
As the wife was clearing away the supper things, the
Giant-Ogre kept on drinking ; and just as little Hop was
falling asleep, he heard the Giant taking long sniffs, and at
last he cried out, —
"Wife, I know there is something else in the house
besides the calf. I smell fresh meat — something delicate."
" Ah, it is the veal, you may be sure : it is very delicate! "
But without noticing what she said, he went on taking
long sniffs again, and said, —
" Fee, faw, fum,
I smell the blood of an Englishman ;

The fiiitit 0<Jrc, discovers >ty»*» myTHum!) &- hisBrothtrs
n liiswifelwd etuUdvoured to £#nte<d from him .„ 

AND THE SEVEN-LEAGUE BOOTS. 15
Let him be alive, or let him be dead,
I'll grind his bones to make my bread ! "
And with that he took his great knife in his hand, and went
smelling about the room, till he came to the place where
Hop and his brothers were hiding. The noise the Giant
made woke them all up, and he cried out in a voice like the
roaring of a bull, —
" Come out there ! " The poor frightened boys crept
out and stood trembling before him ; when he saw that
they were all come out from their hiding-place, he sat
down upon the box, and looking round to his wife, he
roared out, " So, this is the way you deceive me ! If you
were not so old and tough, I would eat you up for my
dinner to-morrow ! " Upon which she burst into a loud
laugh. " Deceive you, indeed ! " she said ; " what should I de
ceive you for, darling ? I only hid them for a bit of fun ;
I knew you would smell them out, and I thought it would
be an agreeable surprise for you."
" Haw ! haw ! " laughed the Ogre ; " is it so ? Let us
have a look at them ; " and stooping down, he discovered
poor little Hop for the first time. " Why, what have we
here ? " he exclaimed, as he lifted him up between his great
finger and thumb. " Well, this is a delicate morsel ! " and
he was going to pop him into his ugly mouth, that looked
like a great coal-tub ; but although poor Hop was dread
fully frightened, he did not lose his senses, but cried out
aloud to the Ogre-Giant for mercy, and to spare him ; and
the brothers, seeing their dear little Hop in such danger,
all went down on- their knees and cried, out to the Ogre to
spare their little brother. At the same moment his wife
laid her hand upon his shoulder, and said, —

1 6 HOP-O'MY-THUMB
" What are you going to do ? You'll spoil all ! You've
had a good supper, ten minutes ago, so you cannot be
hungry already ; and after all that mutton you would not
be able to taste such a delicate relish. Besides, you know
your brothers are coming here to dine with you the day
after to-morrow ; and, as the children are very thin, I in
tended to fatten them up and make them into a pie for
the second course, and I thought your brothers would be
amused to see such a little chap as that stuck on the top of
the pie ! "
This seemed to amuse the Ogre, who burst into a loud
laugh at the idea of seeing little Hop stuck up outside the
pie ; so, after taking a good look at poor Hop, and pre
tending to snap his head off, he put him down, and told his
wife to fatten them all up and to make a nice pie ; he then
set himself down again to his drink, pleased with the
thought of having a nice relish in store for himself and his
friends. The Giantess then put the children to bed in a
sort of closet, saying, —
" There ! you would stay, when I told you what you had
to expect. But I've done the best I could for you ; so say
your prayers, and go to sleep ; " and she then burst into
tears, and left the room.
Master Hop observed that she did not fasten the door
when she left them, and he had taken notice as he came
in that the key was in the lock on the outside of the door.
Now, like good boys, they said their prayers, as the Giantess
had told them ; but as to going to sleep, that was out of
the question. So little Hop, who did not relish the idea of
being stuck up as an ornament on the top of a pie, told his
brothers not to be down-hearted, but to lend him a hand
to help to get out of the Giant's house. But as he thought

AND THE SEVEN-LEAGUE BOOTS. 17
the Giant might come to have a look at them before he
went to bed, he told them to jump into bed again if they
heard him coming, and pretend to be asleep. In a short
time they heard the Ogre staggering along the passage,
which shook with his tread, upon which they were all in
bed in an instant. The Giant, with a lamp in his hand,
stooped down, and put his great ugly head into the place
to look at them ; and then licking his chops, he shut the
door and locked it. The sound of the key turning in the
lock of the door was terrible to the ears of the poor boys ;
and they began to sob, thinking they were now doomed to
the horrible fate of being eaten up by Ogres. But Hop
told them to cheer up, and so soon as the Giant was asleep
they would then set to work to try and get out. And
almost before he had done speaking they heard a most
fearful noise, as if there were a thousand pigs grunting and
squeaking all at once, — it was the Giant snoring ! Little
Hop said, —
" Now, then, brothers, I am going to creep under the
door, so you wait quietly until I come back."
Accordingly, Hop got under the door and made his way
to where he heard the snoring ; and when he got to the
Giant's bed-room, he found, to his great delight, that there
was a lamp burning ; but, nevertheless, he was a little dis
appointed to find that the Giant, although fast asleep, held
the key that Hop wanted fast in his hand. The Giant's
bed was nothing more than a great straw mattress on the
ground, upon which he lay with his clothes on. Hop
looked about the room, and he found a long thin piece of
stick, which was almost like a pole to him ; nevertheless,
with the end of this he managed to tickle the tip of the
Giant's nose, who let go the key that he might rub his
D

1 8 HOP-O'MY-THUMB
nose ; and as soon as he began to snore again, little Hop
dragged off the key, which was more than he could lift ;
and having got it to the door where his brothers were, he
pushed it underneath, and crept in himself. They then set
to, to drag the bed-clothes and place them against the door,
and by climbing up the clothes, they reached the key
hole, and put in the key. They had hardly strength
enough to turn it, but at length they succeeded in un
locking the door.
They had many difficulties to get over besides this,
before they got out of the Giant's house altogether ; which,
however, they did at last, and glad enough they were
when they found themselves outside, and the moon shining
as bright as day. Some things are impossible to do, but
there are many things which at first seem impossible, but
which may be overcome by perseverance. Hop-o'my-
Thumb knew by the moon in which direction their home
lay; and off they set at a good pace, the elder brothers
carrying Hop by turns. When the sun rose they happened
to be on the top of a hill, from whence they could see the
part of the country where their father lived, between them
and which (in the valley) was part of the great forest ; so
Hop said they had better go through the wood, as in case
the Giant should come after them he would not be able to
see them amongst the trees. So into the wood they
went, and had hard work to get through it ; but little
Hop brought them out at last and showed them the road
home, at which they were all pleased, and jumped for joy,
and on they trudged again.
When the Giant's wife got up in the morning, she went
to the closet to look for the children ; and as they were not
there, she looked all about the house ; and finding that

G-uitt Q^re in his Seven, I
pu.rsu.Ln4. Ho|> o'n^'TWmlf <fe Ids Bvotkrs.wliolui.'.

AND THE SEVEN-LEAGUE BOOTS. 19
they were gone off, she went and told the Giant, who was a
long time in waking up ; but when he did so, he was in a
great passion, and ran to look at the closet ; and when he
saw the key inside, he at once guessed that Hop had got
under the door and taken the key out of his hand while he
was asleep.
" But never mind," he said ; " give me my Seven-league
Boots, and I'll soon catch 'em ; and I'll gobble up that tiny
little rascal at once, so that he shall not have the chance of
cheating me again ! "
Off went the Giant-Ogre to look for the little boys ; but
as he was not quite sober, the Boots, which had been made
by a fairy, would not obey him, and tripped him up almost
at every step he took, so that he tumbled about at a great
rate, sometimes quite head over heels, and had some very
Heavy falls, so that he was not able to move for a long
time. At last he got sober ; and then he set off, first in
one direction, and then in another, until he came to the
great forest. But the Boots would not take him through or
over the wood, so he was obliged to go round for many
miles to get to the other side ; and by the time he got
there he was so tired that he threw himself down upon the
first bank he came to, arid almost on the instant fell asleep.
Now little Hop and his brothers saw the Giant coming
towards them, but could not make out how he stepped
from one hill to another just as if he were flying. But
little Hop, who was very fond of reading, had read a story
about a pair of Seven-league Boots in a book published by
that capital bookseller and worthy man, Mr. David Bogue,
of 86, Fleet Street ; so he rightly thought that the Giant
had on a pair of those wonderful boots. There was no
time to be lost. Hop-o'my-Thumb looked about and luckily

20 HOP-O'MY-THUMB
espied a small cave, in which he told his brothers to hide,
and had just time to get in himself, when the Ogre, seeing
the bank, which was over this cave, laid himself down, as
we said, and went to sleep ; and as soon as he began to
snore, Hop said to his brothers, —
" Now's your time ! run off home, and I'll follow you ; "
but they did not like to leave him behind. However, they
trusted to his cleverness ; and, as he made a sign to them
to go, they did so. Hop-o'my-Thumb then got hold of
one of the Boots, which he pulled off the Giant's leg with
out much difficulty; he then pulled off the other, and
thought he would try if they would fit a little foot as well
as a big one, as he had read of in the story-book. To his
great delight, as you may suppose, when he pulled them
on they fitted him like a glove.
It was but a "hop, step, and a jump" to his father's hut,
so he got there before his brothers. He found that his
mother had returned home, and that she and his father
were both in tears. They were overjoyed to see him, and
eagerly inquired where his brothers were, upon which he
told them they would be there almost directly. His
mother took him in her arms, and sobbed and cried over
him, but he said, —
" Cheer up, dear father and mother, for I think I have
now made all our fortunes ; " and he then told his father
all about the Giant, and showed him the Seven-league
Boots ; and as he was telling this in came the other boys,
crying —
" O father ! O mother ! " and then they were soon all
crying with joy, and laughing and hugging one another ;
and then they all sat down to breakfast ; and as they were
taking their breakfast, little Hop asked his father if he did

lk^ Giant 0|re falls a.sleejn- Ko-p'omyTkuMik fmlls of
Uu- Sevav League- .Boots whilst ksBrotkirs rat,

AND THE SEVEN-LEAGUE BOOTS. 21
not think it would be best for him to set off to court with
out a moment's delay, to present the Seven-league Boots
to the King, and inform him about the Giant. The Count
and Countess both approved of this plan ; and accordingly,
as soon as he had finished his breakfast— which was not
long, for it did not take much time to fill such a little
stomach as his — Hop took his cap, and they all came out
to the door to see him off. The Count pointed out the
direction of the great city where the King's palace was,
but Hop thought he would try if the Boots knew their way
there ; so, after they had all kissed him and wished him
success, he bade them good-bye, and said to the Boots, —
" To the King's palace ! " Off they set ; and, as it was
only a few leagues distance, he was there before you could
count ten. Well, when he arrived at the palace, he came
down into the courtyard at once, to the astonishment of all
the officers and soldiers in the place ; and he demanded, as
loudly as he could, to be led into the presence of the King
without delay, as he had an important communication to
make to his Majesty. Accordingly, he was led to the
audience-chamber, where the King and Queen were seated
upon a throne, and a young Prince by their side. The
chamberlain having announced this extraordinary visitor,
introduced him to the King and Queen, who were much
surprised and amused at seeing such a tiny little gentle
man. He made a fine bow, and informed his Majesty
about the Giant-Ogre, and also described the wonderful
Boots, which he took off and placed before the throne.
The Boots, which were, of course, so very small when he
had them on, when off expanded themselves into a pair of
good-sized Boots, and they then made most polite bows to
the King and the Queen, and also to the young Prince.

22 HOP-O'MY-THUMB
The King at once saw the importance of possessing such
invaluable Boots, and determining to buy them of the
little fellow, inquired his name. And when Hop told him
whose son he was, the King, who had thought that the
Count was dead, as he had not heard of him for many
years, was delighted to find that he was still alive, for his
Majesty and the Count had been companions in their
youth. He, therefore, desired his Master of the Horse to
forward carriages and an escort to bring the Count and
Countess, with their family, to the palace. Poor little
Hop's heart beat with joy when he heard this order given,
and begged permission of his Majesty to be allowed to step
home and inform his parents of his Majesty's intention.
The King smiled at little Hop's request " to step home," a
distance of some leagues, but said, " Wonders will never
cease ! " and graciously granted the little fellow permission
so to do, who put on the Seven-league boots again, and
away went Hop, with a skip and a jump, and was at home
again in a few minutes, telling the good news ; at which,
of course, they were all overjoyed.
In due time the carriages arrived, with a present of
several boxes of fine clothes, in which they dressed them
selves and left the old wooden hut, which they made a
present of to a poor old woman and her son, and arrived
safely at the palace, where they were received with great
kindness, the King welcoming his old companion, the
Count, with warm friendship ; and, as the King was at that
time in want of a Prime Minister, after having a long
conversation with the Count, he appointed him to that
important office; and also promoted little Hop-o'my-
Thumb to the post of Messenger Extraordinary to the
King, and Director of Telegraphs; and the Queen, who

H.®f® vnyTltjumb J°>res<5rO:in| %e
?eveuLe&i«tf»JI©ets. te Ujt. JCl-rt/J

AND THE SEVEN-LEAGUE BOOTS. 23
took a great liking to the Countess, appointed her Mis
tress of the Robes.
The first act of the Count as Prime Minister was to
advise the sending an army to take all the Giants and
Giant-Ogres in the land prisoners, which was done. And
instead of putting them to death, he turned their enormous
strength to useful purposes, and employed them, under
guards, at different places where great national works and
improvements were required, — such as new roads, draining
marshes, and making harbours of refuge and security for
ships. And he let them have their wives with them, who,
although Giantesses, being of a more gentle nature, soothed
and controlled the fierce and savage nature of their hus
bands ; and thus made them more manageable and useful
to the country. The next thing the Count did, having
suffered so much in himself and family from the scarcity of
food, was to pass a law to admit foreign grain into their
markets, which had not been allowed before. The Count
having experienced the evils arising from gambling and
betting, passed a law that the winner in either of these
cases should always pay to the State for the support of the
poor double the amount of his winnings ; and this soon put
a stop to betting and gambling entirely. Finding that
strong drinks were hurtful to all, and that they created a
great deal of misery and all sorts of wickedness, his next
act was to pass a law to abolish the use of all intoxicating
liquors ; the effect of which law was, that in a short time
there were very few, if any, criminals in the land ; and the
only paupers, or really poor, were those sick or aged per
sons who were unable to do any sort of work, for all the
people in the land were industrious, and the country was
rich.

24 HOP-O'MY-THUMB.
The last great law that he made was that every child in
the land should be educated, either by its parents or the
State ; that all should be taught to read and write, and to
know how to do something that might be useful to them
selves or the State ; and he appointed moral teachers to
those classes who required such assistance ; and compelled
parents to instruct their children in their own religion.
By these good laws and regulations, peace, comfort, health,
and happiness, were felt and enjoyed by all classes in the
kingdom, as well as by the Count and Countess, and their
children ; including, of course, our little hero, Hop-o'my-
Thumb ; who was, indeed, truly happy ! and was so good,
that he was beloved by every one.

THE HISTORY OF JACK AND THE
BEAN-STALK.

SulQiuii i i ¦

THE HISTORY OF
JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK.
| N the reign of King Alfred the Great — so called
because he was very clever and very good —
there lived a poor woman, who had a son and
a daughter ; the little girl's name was Ady,
and the boy's name was Jack. Their home was a very
long way from London, in a deep valley, surrounded by
rocks and mountains, as steep as the side of a house and as
high as the clouds, so that nobody could get to the top of
them ; and the only way into this valley was by the sea
shore : large waterfalls poured down the sides of the rocks,
and formed a river which ran through the valley into the
sea. Their dwelling was a small cottage with a nice
garden, in which they grew vegetables and flowers ; and
they had a cow.
The poor woman worked very hard in spinning yarn
from the distaff, and so did her little daughter, who was a
very pretty girl ; and, what is better than being pretty, she
was also very good, and helped her mother in her work;
and tending the cow and the poultry — for they had some

28 THE HISTORY OF
fowls ; and also she helped her in gardening and in keeping
the hut clean, which was always as bright as a new pin ;
and, although they were poor, they were very clean and
tidy in themselves. It is not poverty which makes people
dirty, but idleness and ignorance.
Now Jack was a fine-looking little fellow, and had a good
heart, but he was a spoiled boy. His mother indulged him
to a fault, and the consequence was, that Jack did not pay
the least attention to anything his mother said to him, and
was indolent, careless, and extravagant. His naughtiness
was not owing to a bad disposition, but because his mother
never checked him properly when he did wrong. Spoiled
children may look very pretty in their parents-' eyes, but to
other people they look very ugly when naughty, however
handsome they may be when they are good.
In the early part of King Alfred's reign the country
used to be attacked by thieves, called pirates, from Den
mark and other countries, who came in ships, landed on
the coast, and pillaged the towns and villages, and killed
all the inhabitants they could get hold of. The only village
in this valley where Jack lived was by the sea-side, inha
bited mostly by fishermen ; and although the little town
was almost hidden amongst the rocks, yet the pirates found
it out and attacked it in the night, plundered the place,
and then set fire to it. The inhabitants fled up the valley
and escaped with their lives, but they were much distressed
afterwards, and Jack's mother could not find anybody to
buy her yarn and thread ; thus Master Jack, his mother
and sister, began to want food. The poor woman bartered
her fowls for bread, but at last, when all the fowls were
gone, and all the bread was eaten, then there was nothing
left but to try and sell the cow. But the poor woman

JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 29
happened to be ill at this time, and therefore she was not
able to take the cow to market herself; and Jack was such
a thoughtless, careless boy, that she was almost afraid to
trust him — but the cow must be sold.
, Master Jack set out to the village with the cow, but,
being too idle to walk, he got up on her back to ride ; and
before he arrived at the village he met with a butcher, who
was one of those idle and dishonest riien that would cheat
anybody, and who tried, by gambling and betting, to live
upon other people's money without doing any work him
self. So, when he saw Jack riding upon the cow, he guessed
that he was going to sell it, and knowing Jack's easy,
simple disposition, he determined to cheat him out of the
cow. These wicked men never care about the misery they
bring upon those they rob, or the worse misery of friends,
who suffer from the folly of those whom they have cheated.
The butcher soon struck a bargain with Jack, but, after he
had paid him the money, he won it all back again by
cheating him at a game of chance.
Jack, finding his money all gone, begged of the butcher
to give him a trifle to buy some bread to take home to his
sick mother and his sister; but the rogue only laughed at
him, and began to drive the cow towards the village, but he
beat her so cruelly that she turned upon him and tossed
him into a pond, out of which he scrambled and made
after the cow, who had run a long way up the valley : but
he had only gone a few yards after her when he tumbled
down on his nose, and hurt himself so much that he went
limping and growling back to his home ; and the next day
the poor cow was found in her shed, which was a great
comfort to Jack's mother, sister, and himself.
Poor, silly, simple Jack, went slowly and sorrowfully

30 THE HISTORY OF
back to his mother's cottage, at the door of which his sister
was looking out for him, as she and her mother began to
fear that he had met with some mishap. He beckoned to
his sister to come to him ; and when she did so, he told her
what had happened. Jack was so afraid to tell his mother
the truth, that he proposed to say that the cow had run
away up into the wood ; which, indeed, she had, but his
sister pointed out to him, that as this would be a falsehood,
he would be adding the crime of lying to his very naughty
and imprudent conduct in not bringing safely back the
money for the cow, which they so very much wanted to
buy food with ; and reminded him that their mother had
always impressed upon them the wickedness of telling any
kind of falsehood, and that she would always forgive them,
even when they had done wrong, if they did but tell the
truth about it.
Jack's mother soon saw that there was something wrong,
and when he told her how foolish and naughty he had
been, she began to cry dreadfully, for fear that her children
and herself should die of hunger. When the children saw
the great grief of their poor mother, they also began to cry
bitterly; but suddenly Jack said, " Don't cry, dear mother
and sister ; I'll go and get some work to do, and bring you
home some food." His mother did cheer up a little, for
this was the first time she had ever heard him talk of
getting any work to do. They then dried up their tears.
The mother gave him her blessing ; and she and his sister
kissing him, and wishing him every success, he set out to
seek for employment.
This was, indeed, the first time that Jack had ever felt
a desire to work in right earnest ; and he was quite
cheerful and happy at the thought of earning something,

JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 31
that he might take home some food to his mother and
sister. »
As Jack was hastening along to the village, he saw a
little old woman, in a hood and cloak, sitting by the road
side, who appeared to be bent down with age and illness.
Now, although Jack was in a great hurry, his heart was too
good to pass by any one who seemed in distress, so he
went to the old woman and asked her if he could do any
thing to help her. At first she only answered by a low,
moaning sort of sound, and kept rocking herself backwards
and forwards ; but Jack stooped down, and, speaking kindly
to her, took her hand, in order to raise her from the ground.
Her cloak and dress were of a dark, dingy brown ; but
as she rose up, it seemed to change to green, mixed with
red, and blue, and yellow ; and her aged, wrinkled face,
seemed also to be changing from a pale yellow to pink ;
and the half-shut grey eyes seemed to open into two bright,
glistening, little blue ones, that fixed their gaze upon him.
And then, slowly, the hood, the cloak, and gown, with the
old pale face, and brown wrinkled hands and arms, all dis
appeared or melted away into the air; and there stood
before him a most charming and graceful little lady, with
light flaxen hair, encircled by a wreath of little tiny flowers.
She had a pair of wings like those of some beautiful
butterfly, to which her dress corresponded. In one hand
she held a thin Hght wand, and in the other a Bean,
speckled with bright purple and gold. Jack started back
with surprise when he beheld this pretty little figure, which
he rightly guessed was a Fairy, and who thus addressed
him : — " Be not afraid, Master Jack ! You came with kind
intentions to help one whom you thought in need, and in
return I intend to help and serve you, and all that belong

32 THE HISTORY OF
to you ; but I require your aid in some things, and we
shall thus mutually assist each other. I have long wished
to employ you in a difficult and important matter, but I
could not trust you whilst you were so careless and idly
disposed ; but now, that you have this day shaken off that
slothful habit, and have determined to be active, diligent,
and trustworthy, I no longer hesitate, and shall therefore
prepare you for the duties you will have to perform, by
first telling you of your father (who still lives), of your
infant years, and how your mother, your sister, and your-
self.came to live in this valley: telling you, indeed, all that
which your mother has concealed from you, and also the
reason why she has done so.
" You must know, then, that your father, Sir Ethelbert,
who is a brave Saxon knight, is still alive, and a prisoner
in his own castle. At the time when your mother and
yourselves were taken from him, your sister was then a
little child, and yourself an infant. Your parents lived in
great happiness and comfort, beloved and respected by all
who knew them.
" But this state of happiness was suddenly destroyed ;
for, one night, a huge and terrible Danish Giant came in a
large ship to the sea-coast, which was near your father's
castle, landed, and, under cover of the darkness of night,
got over the walls, and having killed the porter and the
guards, he made your father a prisoner. On the morning
after he had taken possession of the castle, he brought your
parents and you two children out into the court-yard, and
all your father's surviving relations and retainers, and was
about to slaughter every one ; but his wife, who came with
him from Denmark, and who was a very tender-hearted
woman, and had great influence over him, begged that

JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 33
the lives of your mother and her two children might be
spared. " To this the Giant at last consented ; but said he must
take them off a long way, and that your mother must take
a solemn oath that she would never tell any one of what
had taken place, nor say where she came from, — not even
to her children. This your mother did to save you both ;
but had it not been for you and your sister, she would have
preferred remaining to die with her husband, your father,
whom she now believes to be dead : and this, then, is the
reason why she is so sorrowful when you ask anything
about him. The Giant having shut up your father and all
the others in dungeons, he then placed your mother and
you two little ones in a large basket, into which his wife
put a quantity of provisions, some clothes, and a trifle of
money, and away he went down to his ship, and sailed
round the coast, until he came to this valley, where he put
you a-shore, threatening that if your mother ever said a
word to any one of what had happened, that he would
come and eat you all up alive.
"Your mother wandered up this valley, and having met
with a poor, honest labourer, she employed him to build a
little cottage ; where she has lived ever since, working hard
to maintain you and your sister, and to bring you up to be
good children.
" Now, you must understand that I have two sisters — one
a Fairy Harp, that, plays most beautiful music ; the other
a beautiful Hen, that lays golden eggs : these are domestic
Fairies, and cannot leave home whilst the master is in the
house, who must be a good and honest man ; and they can
only be carried away by the son and heir, or driven away
by the bad conduct of the master, or head of the family ;
F

34 THE HISTORY OF
and whilst it was their business to assist in making the
inside of the house happy and comfortable, it was mine to
attend to the garden, to supply fruit and beautiful flowers
to your mother and the other inmates of the castle. As
you have grown up a good strong boy, and as you are now
ready and willing to make yourself useful, we must try to
restore your parents to their rights and to their happy
home again, and destroy the Giant ; — there is only one
way to effect this, and you are the only one who can do
it, and in doing it you must be very careful to obey my
injunctions. "First, then, take this Bean, and when you go home, dig
a deep hole in the garden, near the side of the steep rock,
and there set it. By the morning it will have grown up to
the top of the cliff, and up this Bean-stalk you must climb,
for that is the only way you can get to your father's castle.
When you reach the top of the rock you will be directed
which way to go, and then mind that you have three things
to accomplish. The first is, to bring away my sister, the
Golden Hen : when you have brought her to the cottage,
you must return to fetch away my sister, the Harp. They
will at first be alarmed at seeing you, but you must cry
quickly ' Adza Padza ! ' and they will then know that it is
I who have sent you. When both are safe under your
mother's care, you must then go back again to the castle to
liberate your father. I shall not see you again until you have
accomplished all this,— the success of which will principally
depend upon your courage and perseverance. I may, per
haps, help you a little ; but remember, that no one can be
served who depends entirely upon others, and who will not
try to help themselves. And now take this piece of money
— go to the village, buy some food and take it home —

JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 35
conceal nothing from your mother, who is the best friend
you can have — tell her to cheer up and hope for better
times — that you have got some work to do, which you must
set about to-morrow morning, and that she must give you
her blessing before you begin, and pray for your success."
As the Fairy ceased speaking, her little voice, which
sounded like a silver bell, became fainter and fainter, and
her bright appearance grew dim and more indistinct, till
she disappeared altogether. Jack stood for some minutes
before he could recover from the effect of this strange story ;
he had undergone a great change, and he now seemed
to possess feelings which he had never known before.
His mind was opened — his faculties and energies aroused.
Jack's mother and sister were, indeed, more than surprised
to hear the account he gave of meeting the Fairy, and the
task she had given him to do ; but the mother's heart sank
at the idea of the dangers which her dear boy would have
to encounter. But, finding that Jack was determined to
venture upon this perilous task, and buoyed up with the
hope of again beholding her dear husband, she gave her
consent. After a hasty meal, Jack took the spade, and
went into the garden to plant the Bean according to the
Fairy's directions, whilst his mother and sister sat at the
cottage door, spinning from their distaffs. Jack felt so
happy and cheerful with the little digging he had done to
set the Bean, that he went on digging part of the vegetable
garden, to the great delight of his mother and sister, who
had never seen him work with such good will before. On
the following morning they were all up long before break
of day, although it was summer time ; and whilst they
were preparing Jack's breakfast he went out to see how
the Bean had got on, and came running in to tell them

36 THE HISTORY OF
that it had grown — oh, such a wonderful size, and higher
than he could see ! And Jack was so impatient to set out
upon his journey that he would hardly take time to get his
breakfast ; so, putting some bread in his pouch, he went
forth, followed by his mother and sister, who, like himself,
were astonished at the growth of the wonderful Bean, at
the foot of which they all knelt down whilst his mother
gave him her blessing, and prayed for his safety and success
in the good work he was about to commence. Then, ten
derly embracing and kissing his dear mother and sister,
Jack boldly sprang upon the Bean-stalk, and up ! up ! he
went, like an expert climber, as he was. Up ! up ! — look
ing upwards — mounting up ! up ! — higher and higher. Up !
up ! — higher still. Then, pausing for a moment to look
down, he was astonished at the distance he had got from
the ground, and could just dimly distinguish the figures of
his mother and sister waving their hands and wafting their
kisses and blessings towards him ; he waved his hand to
them in return cheeringly, and to bid them good-bye.
Then up ! up ! he went, higher and higher. Up ! up ! —
higher and higher still ; then stopped to breathe awhile,
and, looking out towards the coast, he saw the glorious sun
rising from the ocean — the light bursting through gold and
crimson clouds. Up ! up ! again — higher and higher still,
and looking down, he could scarcely see his mother's cot
tage. The whole valley looked like a pretty garden, the
great trees like shrubs, and the bold river that ran through
it reduced in size to a little silver rivulet. Up ! up ! — higher
and higher still, until he reached tlie clouds that floated
below the mountain summit. Jack was impressed with a
feeling of awe at the strange and wonderful scene around
him, and at his perilous situation.

JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 37
The wind now arose, and as the leaves and the very
Bean-stalk itself began to shake, and the mists to dash
around him, he paused awhile before he ventured to pro
ceed further, for even the upper part of the Bean-stalk was
hidden from his view.
He then began to think that, after all, the Fairy might,
perhaps, be some evil spirit that had led him into this
danger : and what a dreadful thing it would be if he were
to fall from such a height, and be dashed to pieces ! and
he hesitated about going on. But, if the Fairy were a true
spirit, then what a disgrace it would be were he to return
without accomplishing his object. That object was a good
one : it was to relieve a father from bondage — perhaps to
save his life ; and thus it was a good, a holy enterprise ;
and as the Bean-stalk rocked to and fro, and shivered in
the breeze, he prayed for succour, for support, and strength,
and he felt his courage and his strength revive. Then up !
up ! through the clouds he went — up ! up ! higher and
higher — till he had passed quite through the floating
vapour — up I up ! he went, cheerily and boldly. An eagle
now dashed out from a crevice in the cliffs, to see what
strange visitor had climbed so near his solitary nest. Jack
heeded him not ; but up ! up ! he went — higher and higher !
— and the eagle, too, whirled, circling — up ! up ! into the
blue and cloudless sky. Up, too, went Jack ; and now he
saw a projecting rock, round which the Bean-stalk seemed
to twine ; it was what the valley folks had named the
Giant's Nose.
Jack at length arrived at the top of the Bean-stalk, and
was glad enough when he got upon the firm rock, where
he sat down to rest awhile, and look about him. The scene
that presented itself was new and strange : the clouds that

38 THE HISTORY OF
rolled below the mountain-tops appeared like fields of
snow, with here and there dark holes or chasms in them ;
and snow lay all around him, on the mountain-tops : but
he must not tarry there, so on he went, but at a loss to
know in which direction, when, as he went along, he espied
a Snow-ball, large and round, which rolled before him down
the mountain-side. As he went forward, the Snow-ball
rolled and jumped along, and he now recollected that the
Fairy had said that the road should be pointed out to him ;
and he laughed outright to think that a snow-ball should
be his guide ; the Snow-ball stopped, and there was now an
open view before him of a beautiful country. Jack could
distinguish, at the distance of two or three miles, a fine
building, towering above the trees that surrounded it. This,
then, must be his father's castle ; so off he set towards it,
and in a short time arrived there, and made his way to
the gate, at which he saw a plain, good-natured-looking
Giantess standing, to whom he went up and humbly begged
of her some food and a night's lodging : she expressed
great surprise at seeing him, and asked if he did not know
that her husband was a great and powerful Giant, who
killed everybody thjit came near his castle. This account
terrified Jack a little, but he hoped "to elude the Giant ;
and, being resolute to go on with what he had begun, he
again entreated her to give him a little food, and hide him
in the oven, or the copper, or somewhere, till the morning ;
and he told her the truth when he said that he was almost
dying of hunger, and almost tired to death. The good
Giantess at last suffered herself to be persuaded, for she
was of a very compassionate disposition. She took him
across the court-yard into the castle, past a large hall, upon
the walls of which hung shields, and spears, and helmets,

JACK AND*" THE BEAN-STALK.

39

bows and arrows, battle-axes, surmounted with boars' and
stags' heads ; from the roof hung an immense iron lamp by
a chain, and there was a table as high as a four-post bed
stead, and an immense arm-chair to match : this was the
Giant's table and chair. The mere sight of these made
Jack a little downhearted ; but he followed the Giantess
through a long gallery, on each side of which were iron-
grated doors, leading to cells that were quite dark, and in
which he could hear the sound of moaning and chains
rattling. In one of these dungeons, thought he, my poor
father is confined. And the thought of being, perhaps,
able to rescue him kept his courage up ; otherwise he could
have wished himself at home in his mother's cottage again.
The good woman led him on down a winding staircase,
into a spacious kitchen ; an immensely large fire was
burning on the hearth, and an ox roasting before it upon a
spit as long as the pole of a coach. She cut a large slice
off the ox, put it upon a wooden trencher big enough for
the top of a good-sized round table, and gave him what
she called a " bit of bread," but which was nearly as large
as a peck-loaf ; and, handing him a knife that looked more
like a sabre, told him to make haste, for it was near the
Giant's supper-time, and he would soon be in. Jack, there
fore, ate his bread and meat as fast as he could; and,
having taken a good drink of water, began to feel very
comfortable, and was just falling into a doze, when he
heard a voice, like the roaring of a dozen bulls, shouting
out, " Holloa ! wife ! wife ! where are you ? is my supper
ready?" " Here he is ! " cried the wife ; " come, quick boy, jump
into the oven ! " which Jack did in an instant ; and as she
shut the oven door, she shouted out to the Giant, " Here I

40 THE HISTORY OF
am, dear Swillenbutz," (for that was the Giant's name,)
" and your supper is quite ready." The next moment a
large folding-door was burst open, and in crept the Giant
on his hands and knees— for he was too tall to stand quite
upright in any part of the castle : so he crept in, throwing
into a corner a large quantity of barley and wheat and the
carcase of an ox ; then, squatting himself on the floor
before the fire, he looked at the ox roasting, and cried out,
in his dreadfully strong voice, " Ha ! ha ! dat looks nice ! "
But, suddenly turning his head round towards the oven, he
roared out, "Wife! I smell fresh a' meat." "Well," said
the wife, " I don't know about fresh meat, but the crows
have brought a bit of carrion and laid it on the turret."
" Oh, well," said the Giant, " perhaps 'tis dat." He then
took the ox off the spit and laid it on the hearth, blowing
it all over to cool it a little, his blowing sounding like the
bellows of a large furnace. When he had done that, he
took it up in his hands, as anybody might a roasted rabbit,
and tore it to pieces, giving his wife a leg, with " Here, you
take a' dat ; " and began to devour the rest, making a
terrible smacking and grinding noise with his mouth and
teeth. Mrs. Swillenbutz, who had soon finished the leg of
the ox, took up all the bones to pick which her husband
had thrown to her. "Now to de hall, and give me my
drink and bring me de Golden Hen," cried the Giant ; and
he crept out of the kitchen again, for he had to go into the
court-yard before he could enter the large hall.
When Jack first heard tlie Giant's voice, his heart began
to beat rather fast ; still more so when he found the Giant
was in the same room with him ; and when, in peeping
through a crevice by the oven-door, he saw this immense,
terrific, monster Giant look round towards the oven-door

nfi\s^ti . ^'ciT*^r-' dtu^U"

lack ; ie. ,^oUle^Ketb,M^Ay fron^e (jwit f

JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 41
and talk about smelling fresh meat, Jack then "shook with
fear, and was glad enough when he saw the Giant turn to
devour his supper : but he said to himself, " It will never
do to be so frightened. I shall be quite unfitted for what I
have to do ; " so he kept himself calm and steady, and
ready to act as soon as opportunity offered. By-and-bye
it grew dark, and the Giant's wife came to the oven-door,
and, having opened it, she said, "There is some more
bread for you, young gentleman; and mind and be off
early in the morning, before my husband goes out, and
think yourself very lucky that he hasn't gobbled you up.
You can get out under the castle gate." Jack now crept
out of his hiding-place, and found his way to the hall,
where, passing in, he saw by the light of the great lamp the
Giant lolling in his chair, and, ever and anon, drinking out
of a large can that held some gallons, and which he emptied
at a draught. On the table was the Golden Hen, who
walked up and down, crying, " Cluck, cluck, cluck," and
" Took-a-rook-took-took-took ; " the Giant every now and
then saying to the Hen, " Lay ! " and then the Hen laid a
solid golden egg, in a flat basket that was placed upon the
table. Jack waited for two or three hours, until the Giant had
evidently drunk himself stupid, and then his great head
rolled about, and at last he fell back in his chair in a sound
sleep, snoring at such a rate that it quite shook the ground
where Jack was standing. Now is the moment, thought he ;
and stepping boldly forward, he mounted upon a stool that
stood by the table, when he saw the Golden Hen sitting in
the basket upon her eggs. At the sight of Jack she began
to " cluck " loudly ; but Jack quickly cried " Adza Padza ! "
and the Hen started up and ran to him, fluttered her wings,
G

42 THE HISTORY OF
and jumped upon his hand. He then descended from the
stool, and was making for the hall door, when he heard a
shrill harsh voice cry out, "Master! master! thieves!
thieves ! " Jack stopped, perfectly astounded, for he
thought the Giant was alone, his wife having gone up into
the tower to bed in the early part of the evening, which she
did whenever she saw her husband getting tipsy, as he
always ill-used and beat her when he was intoxicated ; and,
looking round to see who it could be, he discovered a wee
little Dwarf, who grinned at him good-humouredly, and
motioned him to go on, whilst he kept on crying " Master !
master ! " Jack took the hint at once, and was off as fast
as his legs could carry him, having crept under the castle
gate. with the Hen, who cried " Cluck, cluck ;" and, jumping
upon the top of his head, fixed her claws in his hair, so
that as he ran his legs seemed scarcely to touch the ground,
for the Hen appeared to lift him up. He had taken good
notice, when he went in, in which direction he should
return to the Bean-stalk ; so on he ran, imagining he had
quite outwitted the Giant, when, by the clucking of the
Hen, he thought something was wrong, and upon just
turning his head round for a moment, to his great horror
he saw the dreadful Giant running after him with all his
might, and with such long strides that he appeared to clear
a wide field at one step. " Cluck, cluck," went the Hen,
and faster went Jack ; indeed, he seemed to fly more than
run, and when he got a long way up tlie mountain amongst
the snow, there was the large Snow-ball rolling up the hill
before him to show him the way, and, looking round again,
he saw the Giant slipping and sliding amongst the snow,
and at every stride he made forward he slid back again, so
that at last he lay flat on his face, roaring and snorting like

JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 43
a herd of mad bulls. Jack took no further heed of him,
but made his way to the Bean-stalk, and immediately
began to descend, which he found a much easier task than
that of climbing up. It was still early in the morning
when Jack reached his mother's garden, and running to the
cot, he cried out, " Dear mother and sister, here I am."
And oh ! how glad they were to see him — such crying, and
kissing, and thanksgiving. And the Hen was also delighted
to see her old mistress and her dear Ady ; and went cluck
ing about the cottage, and then laid several golden eggs
without being asked, which Jack's mother took to the
village, and exchanged for food and clothing, which .made
them all very comfortable. Jack's mother and sister were
both terrified at the account he gave of his adventure ;
but the mother's fears were lessened by Jack's bold and
courageous bearing. So Jack rose betimes again, and long
before the break of day was half way up the Bean-stalk.
He soon found his way to the castle again. The only fear
he had now of being discovered was from the Dwarf ; and
yet the little creature was evidently well-disposed towards
him. As he lay in ambush in the evening he saw the
Giantess come out of the gate to look for her husband, who
soon returned, loaded as before with a quantity of ripe
grain in sheaves. Some of this the wife ground and made
into bread, but the greater part the Giant made into strong
beer. In those days there were large herds of wild cattle
and deer in this country, so that he got a supply of meat
without injury to the country people ; but in order to make
the strong beer, with which he got tipsy every night, he
robbed the poor country people, to such an extent that,
however much their land seemed blessed by Providence
with fine crops for the purpose of food, the greater part

44 THE HISTORY OF
was always taken from them and destroyed by this monster
to make his intoxicating drink: so that in this respect
alone, besides all his other wicked acts, he was like a blight
upon all the land for many miles round.
The Giant seemed in a very bad temper, and told his
wife to go in, make his supper ready, and see that she shut
the gate and fastened it properly to keep thieves out ;
whilst he, putting one foot on the top of the wall, leaped
over into the court-yard with ease. Jack remained in his
hiding-place until it was dark ; then silently stealing up to
the gate, he crawled under it, and made his way to the
great hall again. And as he approached it, he heard the
most beautiful music — so sweet and powerful was it, that
he seemed spell-bound and transfixed to the spot ; but
recollecting the danger he was in, and the duty he had to
perform, he crept on softly and peeped into the hall, where
the Giant was alone, again drinking away at his great can,
and getting tipsy as fast as he could ; and on the table stood
the wonderful Fairy Harp.giving out its delicious sounds. It
had the face and figure of a beautiful female, and had wings ;
but the figure ended in the form of a stand, like a common
harp. It played so softly and melodiously, that even the
monster Giant seemed charmed with it and fell off to sleep ;
upon seeing which, Jack hastened to the table, but whenever
he came near, the Harp went " Twang! twang ! " so loud, that
the Giant opened his stupid, sleepy eyes, and looked about,
then went off to sleep again. At last Jack got near enough
to the table to whisper out " Adza Padza ! " upon which
the Harp flew off the table into his hands at once. Away
went Jack to the door with his prize ; but before he could
reach it, the Dwarf, as before, cried out, "Master! master !
thieves ! thieves ! " but still motioning Jack to be cone.

JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 45
This time the Giant was on his legs in an instant, and
must have caught Jack, had he been sober ; but he had
drank so much that he could hardly stand, and reeled
about, and knocked his head against the roof of the hall.
Jack, therefore, made the best of his time, and got into the
court-yard ; but the gate was locked, and although Jack
could creep under the gate, the Harp could not : so the
Harp spoke, and said, " Place me on the ground," which
Jack did, and the Harp went " Twang," and with one
bound was over the wall in an instant.
Jack had no sooner got on the outside of the gate, and
taken the Harp up in his arms, than they heard the Giant
snorting, and roaring, and beating about the court-yard
with his great club (which was the trunk of a good-sized
tree). There was no time to be lost, so Jack ran as hard as
he could ; but although the Harp was very light, still it
impeded his progress a little ; and when he looked round,
he could just see the tall figure of the Giant staggering in
pursuit. After a time Jack put down the Harp to rest
a little, and take breath, when the Harp said — " You have
carried me far enough ; I will now carry you, so get up
across my shoulders." Jack thought it a funny thing to
ride upon a Harp, but up he got, placing one leg over each
shoulder, and holding on by the hair ; and as soon as he
was well seated the Harp said, " Hold fast," and then went
" Twang," sprang up into the air, and flew like a bird. By
this time the Giant was getting near, and threw his great
club-tree at them ; but it luckily fell short, so on they
went, and at length came to the edge of the precipice,
when Jack wanted to dismount and look for his Bean
stalk : but the Harp, which was now standing on the
ground said, " Sit still, and fear not ; I will take you d<3wn

46 THE HISTORY OF
in safety : the Giant is near, and will, I expect, throw some
of those pieces of rock at us ; all I want you to do is, to
look round and tell me on which side I am to spring, in
order to avoid them." Up came the Giant, panting and
snorting, thinking that he had caught them at last, when
" Twang " went the Harp, and away she flew over the edge
of the cliff. Such a plunge as that took Jack's breath
away : but when he heard the Giant roar he recollected the
part he had to act, and looking round and seeing a large
piece of rock flying after them, cried out to the Harp, " To
the right ! " " Twang " went the Harp, and sprang on one
side. Again he cried out, as another piece was coming
near, " To the left ! " " Twang " went the Harp ; to the
left they went, and so they went on, until they got quite
out of danger, and then the Harp played a most beautiful
and lively tune, and descended into the valley near to his
mother's hut, who, with his sister, were on the look-out for
him, but who were terribly alarmed when they saw the
huge pieces of rock come tumbling down, and crushing
great trees in their fall. The Golden Hen was perched
upon the roof of the cottage, and clucked away at a
fine rate when she heard and saw the Harp and Jack
descending. Jack's mother and sister, himself, and even the Hen and
the Harp, seemed all happy that day ; but Jack got the
Hen to lay him some golden eggs, with which he went
to the village and bought some strong iron files and other
tools. Jack had one more journey to make up the Bean-stalk,
and now that he was going to try to release his father, his
courage and determination were stronger than ever ; but
his mother's fears increased, yet the thoughts of the possi-

'"^f^Ff|r

JaxK. aud tta Fa.ivy JUt-Js, esca^intf £rom Ike. Ciailh

JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 47
bility of seeing her husband again made her heart beat
with joy and fear : but she prayed for her son's success,
and early in the morning giving him her blessing, Jack
once more, and for the third time, mounted the Bean
stalk. Master Jack was very careful in keeping a good look-out,
lest the Giant might see him on the road ; and when he
got into the neighbourhood of the castle he concealed
himself until it was dark, before he ventured to approach
the gate ; and when he did so, he found that the Giant had
placed large logs of wood against the bottom, so that he
could not get under it as usual. " Oh, oh ! Mr. Giant,"
said Jack, "you think yourself secure now, I suppose?"
So out came the carpenter's tools, and Jack set to work in
right earnest, and had no fear of being heard, as the Giant
was snoring. In an hour or so he had made a hole in the
gate large enough to squeeze himself through, and then he
set to work to remove the logs : having done this, he made
his way to the great hall, and there he again saw the
Giant fast asleep in his chair. He was then proceeding
towards the dungeon in which he believed his father was
confined, when he felt his coat clutched hold of, and a
voice cry out, " Ah, I've got you ! " It was the Dwarf.
Jack was indeed frightened, and was about to beg of the
Dwarf in mercy to let him go, when the little creature
burst into a laugh, and said, " I only did it to frighten you ;
come this way : " and he led him to the iron-grated door of
one of the cells, which was partly open, and said, " I
managed this for you — wait till I fetch you a light," and
when he brought this, he said, " Follow me," and led the way
down a narrow winding staircase to a lower chamber, and
there in a corner upon some straw lay a fine-looking man,

48 THE HISTORY OF
with long white hair, and a long white beard. "This is
the little boy, Sir Knight," said the Dwarf, " that I told
you of." The man then came forward, dragging a heavy
chain after him, and said to Jack, " Who are you, and from
whence do you come ? " Jack told him his name, and of
his mother and sister, and that they both lived. It was Jack's
father, who then embraced him most affectionately, and
said, " My dear, dear boy, is it possible that you have come
to save me ? Can you deliver me from this dungeon, and
restore me to my dear wife and daughter ? " Jack replied
that he hoped so, and instantly brought forth the iron files ;
both father and son then set to work to file off the chains,
whilst the good little Dwarf held the light, and took the
opportunity to explain to Jack why he called out when he
was taking the Hen and the Harp away. He was, he said,
appointed by the Giant to watch those treasures, and to
give the alarm if he saw any one attempting to take them
away : this he had done, but he was glad that Jack had got
clear off; though, he said, it was good fun to see how
frightened they were, and it was also good fun to see the
Giant in such a passion. The chains were removed. Jack
and his father hastened out into the court-yard, and both
succeeded after some difficulty in getting outside the walls.
They wanted the Dwarf to go with them, but he replied
that he must stop to give the alarm ; but told them he
would let them have time enough to have a good start, and
then, said he, " Oh ! won't the Giant be after you in a
rage ! " and chuckled and grinned at what he seemed to
think would be good fun. Father and son set off, but
Jack's father had been a close prisoner for so many years
that he seemed almost to have lost the use of his legs ;
however, on they went, but soon heard the Giant roaring

JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 49
after them. They had now reached the snow-topped hills
— a little more, and they were safe : but the Giant was
close upon them ; it seemed almost impossible to escape.
When at a turn of their road, in looking back, they saw
indeed an extraordinary sight — nothing less than a shower
of snow-balls, pelting away at the Giant's head and face, so
that he could neither see nor get forward, for every instant,
dab, came a snow-ball in one eye — dab, came another in his
mouth — bang, came one upon his nose — then all over his
head and ears — such a shower ! — and he fighting against
them with his hand and his great club. It was a funny
sight, and the little Dwarf would indeed have laughed
outright could he have seen it. Jack and his father could
not help laughing at it themselves, but they did not stop
to see how the fight went on, but hastened to the Bean
stalk. Jack had told his father about this wonderful bean-stalk
ladder, so the father was somewhat prepared ; and when
he saw Jack descending, he did not hesitate to follow.
Down, down, down, they went, and in a short time the
husband was clasping his long-lost wife and daughter in
his arms. Oh, it was a scene of happiness and delight !
The Golden Hen flapped her wings and tried to crow, but
only went " Took-a-rook-took " and " Cluck, cluck ; " but
the Harp struck up a merry tune, and at this moment the
Garden Fairy appeared, and was hailed by them all as
their best and dearest friend. But whilst they were all in
this delightful state, the Garden Fairy said, — " All is not
yet finished ; here comes the Giant ; " and upon their
looking up, sure enough this monster was seen slipping
down the Bean-stalk, which appeared against his great size
to be a mere thread. " Fear not," she said ; " he shall not
H

50 THE HISTORY OF
harm you. Come, sisters, sing a charm around the stalk,
and let us fix him there ! " Accordingly, the Hen, and
the Harp, and the Flower Fairy flew around the Bean
stalk, singing : — " Bean, bean,
All so green,
Though your power
Be not seen —
Use all your might
To serve the Giant right,
Bind him fast by day,
And bind his feet by night."
Down came the Giant, snorting away ; but when he got
near the ground, so that he thought he could jump down,
the Bean-stalk twisted itself round his ankles, and his legs,
and his arms, and his body, and twined into his hair, so that
he found himself as firmly fixed as if he had been bound
with the strongest cords and chains. He fought, and
kicked, and struggled, but all in vain ; his eyes flashed
like two coals of fire — he ground his great, ugly, sharp
teeth together. He shook his great fist at Jack, who was
standing upon a piece of rock, laughing. He roared out at
him, and threatened to kill him and eat him ; but Jack
only laughed the more with a loud " Ha ! ha ! ha ! " and " I
smell fresh meat, ha ! ha ! ha ! " and the Flower Fairy
laughed " Ha 1 ha ! " with her silvery voice ; and the
Golden Hen cried " Took-a-rook-took-a-rook ; " and the
Harp, going almost close to his ear, went " Twang, twang,
twang." They all now retired to the cottage, leaving the Giant to
cool his rage, tied up tight in the Bean-stalk, which had
now covered him up so completely that he looked like
" Jack-in-Green " on May-day.

JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 51
Jack's father sent him to inform the chief man of the
village of what had taken place, namely, his own release
from captivity, and the extraordinary capture of the great
Danish Giant ; begging that he would send a numbed of
men up in the morning to secure him. The news soon
spread about the village and valley, and, early in the
morning, the whole population of the place were up at the
Bean-stalk to behold this wonderful sight. They were all
armed with some kind of weapon — swords, spears, bows
and arrows, scythes, bill-hooks, &c. ; but there was no
occasion to use them, for the Bean-stalk gently let the
Giant down to the ground, holding him fast all the time,
until the people bound his hands behind his back, and tied
strong cords round his ankles. Besides, this great savage
monster not having had any food for very many hours,
and naturally being a great coward — as all cruel people
are — and, besides, being now quite sober, he begged hard
for mercy to himself, though he had never shown it to
others. The next day, Sir Ethelbert having procured a large
ship, there was quite a procession down to the beach ; and
having got the Giant safe on board, and having had him
well secured, Jack's father and mother and sister went on
board also ; and, with a strong body of men to guard the
Giant, they sailed round the coast towards Sir Ethelbert's
Castle, and after a short voyage they landed, and marched
up to take possession of it.
As they drew near, the Knight was surprised to see a
banner waving from the top of the keep, or strong tower ;
which banner he soon discerned to be King Alfred's ! This
was, indeed, a strange circumstance ; but it turned out that
the King had been successful in defeating a Danish army

52 THE HISTORY OF
in that part of the country, and having heard that a Danish
Giant had taken possession of his old friend Sir Ethelbert's
castle, and held him prisoner there, he came to besiege it,
and release his friend ; and was surprised to find the only
inmates to be a Giantess, a Dwarf, and a few of the
knight's relations and retainers, prisoners in the dungeons.
The Knight found King Alfred seated with his warriors in
the great hall ; and having given him the particulars of
this strange history, particularly how bravely, and how
wisely, his son Jack had behaved in rescuing him from
prison, he brought him out into the court-yard to see the
Giant, and also to present little Jack to his Majesty. They
had made the Giant crawl upon his knees through the
gateway, and he now stood up before the entrance of the
great tower ; but to insure the safety of the King, and
every one else, the soldiers, with their spears, were drawn
up all round the yard ; and archers had their bows and
arrows ready to shoot, if they saw the least disposition on
the part of the Giant to break loose. The King's huntsmen
had also large fierce dogs, ready to let slip in case of need.
Jack had hold of a strong cord that was fastened to the
Giant's leg ; and when he saw the King come forth he
knelt down, bowed, and delivered the Giant into the cus
tody of his Majesty's guards.
The King was much pleased with Jack, and surprised
that such a little fellow should have achieved so much and
so well, and giving him a handsome jewel as a mark of his
regard, desired that when he was a little older, he would
come to the Court and be one of his pages. A Council
was then held as to what was to be done with the Giant —
whether he was to be killed or kept prisoner. Jack's
mother, out of gratitude to the Giantess for having saved

JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 53
her life and the lives of her children, and indeed, as it
appeared, her husband's life also, prayed the King to spare
the Giant's life.
King Alfred granted her petition, and being a wise king,
he determined to turn such great strength to some useful
purpose, and therefore placed him under guard in the royal
quarries, to hew out great stones for building royal and
public places. The Giant's wife was allowed to live with
him, and as he never had any intoxicating liquor to get
tipsy with, he never beat or ill-used her any more, and they
lived happily for many years.
After Jack's father and mother got settled, and the castle
was put in order, the Flower Fairy, the Hen, and the Harp,
lent their aid to make it one of the happiest of homes — a
happiness more felt in contrast to the adversity they had
suffered. On the evening of the day before Jack's father, mother,
sister, and himself, left the valley with the Giant, his father
gave a great feast to all the inhabitants of the place, to
pay for which the Golden Hen was so good as to lay, on
that morning, an extraordinary number of golden eggs,
which found a ready market. The Garden Fairy had told
Jack, privately, that she and her sisters were going up the
Bean-stalk that evening, in order to be at the castle to
receive the family; and that, after they had made their
ascent, something would happen to the Bean-stalk, as soon
as it was dark, that would astonish and amuse the family
and their guests. Jack informed his father of this, who
told the people to remain with them till after the close
of day, as he expected something curious and surprising
would happen to the Bean-stalk. Accordingly they all
gathered round it; and, after waiting until it was dark,

54 JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK.
they saw the lower part of the Bean-stalk on fire, showing
all manner of beautiful colours : this extended up the whole
of the stalk ; and, as it was a clear, cloudless night, they
could see up to the very top of it. The beans, which were
growing upon the stalk in great numbers, then exploded
with loud reports, like cannons. After this had gone on
for a considerable time, to the great astonishment and
delight of all the people (more particularly to Master Jack),
there seemed to run up from the root a dazzling, bright
flame, followed by an explosion like thunder, that echoed
amongst the hills far and near, for a long while, accom
panied by a shower of fire that nearly covered the whole of
the valley ; then all was dark, and the BEAN-STALK had
disappeared entirely. Such a wonderful Bean-stalk as this
had never been seen before ; and there has never been one
like it seen since ; and it is not very likely that such a one
will ever be seen again.
And thus ends the story of
Jack and the Bean-stalk.

CINDERELLA AND THE GLASS
SLIPPER.

CINDERELLA AND
THE GLASS SLIPPER.

HERE once lived a gentleman of a high family,
who was very rich, and who had a very amiable
and handsome wife, and a most beautiful little
daughter, so much so, that every one used to
say upon seeing her. " Oh ! what a lovely little girl ! — Oh,
what a sweet little creature!" but although the little girl
heard all these praises, they never made her proud or vain,
for her disposition was even better than her looks. She
was, indeed, one of those natures which cannot be spoiled
by any praise or indulgence ; but she was also well taught.
Her mother was as good and as sensible as she was hand
some; but, poor lady ! her health was delicate, and although
her husband, who loved her dearly, had all the first phy
sicians in the town, and did all he could to save her life, yet
she gradually declined and died, — regretted by every one
who knew her, and deeply mourned for by her husband
and her daughter.
After a few years his lady friends advised him to marry
again ; telling him that he should do so, not only for his
I

58 CINDERELLA
own comfort, but more particularly for the sake of his little
daughter ; and that, although the love and care of her
natural mother could never be replaced, yet that in a
mother-in-law she would have many advantages, and pro
bably a kind and loving relative. Feeling that this advice
was good, and being acquainted with a widow lady who
had two daughters, he thought it would be a proper and
desirable match, as the lady's daughters would be excellent
companions to his own darling child : and he therefore
soon got married.
It is the nature of woman to love children, because the
Almighty has appointed her to bring them up ; and when
little boys or girls are placed at an early age under the
charge of a stepmother, it is very rarely that they feel the
loss of their own mother : but there are exceptions, and it
was so, unfortunately, in this case ; for Cinderella's mother-
in-law was proud, selfish, and extravagant, and these bad
qualities led her to be unjust and cruel.
The marriage was celebrated with great pomp, and the
guests entertained with great liberality, and for some time
after all seemed to go on very pleasantly. But the lady
was so fond of company, that she was constantly giving
grand and expensive parties ; and being very greedy after
money, and very fond of playing at cards, she became quite
a gambler, and this with the hope of winning other people's
money. But in this she was mistaken, for, amongst the
many fine persons who visited the house, many of them
were cheats— characters quite as bad as any common
thieves, although they belonged to what is called genteel
society, and in time she not only got cheated out of nearly
all her own money ; but her husband's also ; for he was an
easy, good-natured man, and always gave her what money

AND THE GLASS SLIPPER. 59
she required, until at last all his property was gone, and he
was so much in debt that he was put into prison.
In consequence of this change of fortune, the lady was
obliged to discharge all the servants ; but as the house and
furniture had been settled upon her at her marriage, she
kept that on, and, by pinching and contriving in various
ways, she managed, with a little property she had left of
her own, to keep up appearances. And now began the
cruel conduct towards, poor Cinderella, whom she compelled
to do all the rough, hard, dirty work of the kitchen and
scullery, whilst she and her daughters did all the light and
clean work required for the best rooms.
It is a very unpleasant thing to speak ill of ladies, but
the truth must be told ; and in this case, we are sorry to
say, that the lady in question got to have a very bad
temper, and used to behave in a very cruel manner to
Cinderella — scolding her without any cause ; and, it is very
painful to add, that the young ladies were so influenced by
their mother's example, that they also behaved very un
kindly to their sister-in-law. But Cinderella was of such a
kind and amiable disposition that she did all this drudgery
and bore all this unkindness without murmuring ; her only
grief was for her poor father, who was in prison ; and this
used so to depress her spirits, that after she had done all
the housework, instead of sitting at the door or the window
with her needle, or going into the garden, she used to
crouch in the corner of the large fireplace and sit amongst
the ashes and cinders ; and thus it was that she got the
nickname of Cinderella.
At this time the King's son happening to come of age,
his Majesty ordered a grand ball and banquet to be given
in honour of the occasion, and directed that all the ladies

60 CINDERELLA
in those parts should be invited, in order that the Prince,
who was a fine, noble, handsome fellow, should choose a
wife out from amongst them. Poor Cinderella, who was
unknown, or looked upon as a poor, dirty drudge, was, of
course, not invited, but her two sisters-in-law were ; and
they were more than delighted, and set to work with their
mother to arrange and settle about their dresses. Such
consultations about fashion, and trimmings, and muslin,
and silks, and satins, and laces, and ribbons, and braids,
and bodices, and flowers, and trains, and dresses, and
feathers, and flowers, and jewels, and ornaments, and shoes,
and buckles, and sashes, and slippers, and all sorts of
finery ! — such cutting, and contriving, and working, that
the day before the ball was to take place the mamma, who
was not very strong, was so fatigued, that she was laid up
in bed, and then the young ladies did not know what to do
for some one to help them ; but they were not long with
out assistance, for Cinderella's kind heart immediately
prompted her to offer her services, which were readily
accepted, as the girls knew that Cinderella had excellent
taste, and was clever every way. But they said, "What
shall we do for a hair-dresser ? — oh ! what shall we do ? —
we can never go to the ball unless we have a hair-dresser."
Well might they say so, for their hair had got dreadfully
tangled and out of order, in consequence of their having
fallen into such idle habits, that they did not comb and
brush their hair night and morning, as they ought to have
done. Now, on account of so many ladies going to the grand
royal fete, all the hair-dressers in the country were in great
request ; so much so, that they raised their charges to a
most extraordinary price, and thus it was only the rich

Cinder elb>. scou-nna- thv Pots And, KleMZts

CirJzrclL hixtpM, hr Sistert te T>rtjs . far t/u, T\oyiL J5&JI

AND THE GLASS SLIPPER. 6i
who could afford to hire them ; and, even then, many of
tne poor hair-dressers and their assistants were so fatigued
that they fainted away whilst dressing the ladies' hair, so
that the ladies and their maids had to recover them with
their smelling-bottles and other restoratives.
But Cinderella bade her sisters rest easy about their hair,
assuring them that she could dress it to their satisfaction ;
and so she did, — a dear, good-natured, darling girl as she
was. Cinderella exerted herself to the uttermost, and
helped to dress and trim them up, even so as to astonish
themselves. But, oh ! there was such a looking in the
glass ! — such a twisting, and turning, and pulling, and
breaking of stay-laces, and trying on, and taking off, and
putting on again ! — such bursts, too, of ill-temper, when
they thought anything was not done exactly as they
wanted, would have tried anybody's temper. But dear
Cinderella did all she could to soothe them, and to please
them ; and at last she pretty well succeeded, for they
seemed to be quite satisfied as they took a last look at
themselves in the glass. They then went and showed
themselves to their mother, who was in her bed-room, and
who declared that her dear girls looked beautiful, and
wished that there were two Princes to captivate instead of
one ! As they had no carriage of their own, they had hired
one of a gentleman who lived in the town, and who was so
good as to lend out carriages upon hire to folks who did
not keep their own ; and having dressed up the driver, and
a poor man who did their gardening, in some of the old
livery suits, they stepped into the coach, and were driven
off to the palace.
Poor Cinderella followed them with her eyes, as long as
they were in sight, and then, when she could see them no

62 CINDERELLA
longer, her beautiful eyes filled with tears, and she then
wished, for the first time, that she also had been going to
the ball ; and, turning from the door, went and took her
usual place in the chimney-corner.
Now you must know that Cinderella had a godmother,
who was a dwarf, and who used to come to see her some
times, and she came into the kitchen just as Cinderella had
taken her seat in the chimney-corner. The little old lady
sat down upon a small log of wood on the opposite side,
and said, —
" Why, Cindy, my darling, you have been crying ? "
" Yes," she replied, with a sweet smile, " I did shed a few
tears when I saw my sisters going to the Royal Ball ; and
I did think that I might have gone also ; and I thought
that I should like, above all things to go ; but the thought
of my poor father came into my mind, and I now feel that
I should not like to go and enjoy myself, and be merry,
whilst my poor father is pining in prison."
" Well, that is spoken like a good, dutiful, feeling daughter.
I like your sentiments, and approve of your conduct Never
theless, I think you ought to go to the ball as well as your
sisters, and, what is more, you shall go."
Cinderella smiled to hear her godmother say she should
go, knowing that she had neither dress nor coach to go in-.
And so she told her godmother (which was the truth) that
she would rather not go.
" But," said the little lady, " if I wish you to go, to oblige
me — particularly when I tell you that, by so doing, you will
make friends at court, and be able to set your father free
from prison — I suppose you will not offer any objection ? "
" Certainly not," said Cinderella.
Her godmother then desired her to do everything she

AND THE GLASS SLIPPER. 63
told her, and not to ask any questions. Cinderella was
always obedient when it was to do good. The dwarf then
said, —
" Run into the, garden and fetch me a pumpkin."
Cinderella brought in immediately the largest she could
find. The dwarf then took a knife, and having cut a large
round hole on each side, scooped out the middle, and placed
it upon the ground, with some of the stem upon which the
pumpkin grows. She then took five mushrooms, which
were lying upon the dresser, and fastened four of them, by
means of the tendrils, to the side of the pumpkin, like
wheels ; and the fifth she placed in the front, as if for a coach
box. She then told her god-daughter to fetch her the
mouse-trap, in which she found six white mice ; and having
taken a little ball of thread out of her little pocket, she
took the mice, one by one, and fastened the thread round
their throats, and placed them one behind the other, like a
team of horses.
" Now, child ! " she said, " run into the garden again, and
behind the water-butt, in a flower-pot, you will find six
green lizards — bring them here."
She did so ; and the dwarf, placing a little bit of straw
in the right claw of each, she placed two behind the pump
kin, one on each side, and the other two in Jront of the
mice. " Now," said the little woman, " we want a coachman ;
and if there is a rat in the trap, we'll mount him on the
box for a driver."
The trap was brought — there were two in it — and the
dwarf, selecting the largest and the fattest, and with the
longest tail and whiskers, placed him sitting upright upon
the mushroom in the front of the pumpkin ; and then,

64 CINDERELLA
putting the end of the threads in one of his claws, and a
long blade of straw in the other, she told Cinderella to
open the kitchen-door that led into the road. Then, taking
up her little walking-stick in her hand, she waved it three
times over the pumpkin, saying, —
" Heigh ho ! presto ! — go ! " and away went the mice,
with the pumpkin rolling after them, and the lizards running
upon their hind legs, out of the door into the road, followed
by the dwarf, who again waved her tiny stick three times,
exclaiming, —
" Now, pumpkin, mushrooms, rat, and mice, and lizards, all,
Change ! to a coach-and-six, with servants strong and tall,
To take my darling daughter to the Royal Ball."
Whilst the dwarf was harnessing the mice to the pump
kin, placing the lizards by the side, and putting the rat
upon the mushroom, Cinderella was much amused ; and
when she saw it all move across the kitchen-floor, like a
little coach and horses, and go out into the road, she was
more than surprised : but, when she saw the pumpkin turned
into a real coach, and the rat into a real coachman, with a
long tail and large moustaches ! the mice into milk-white
steeds ! and the green lizards into tall footmen, with their
green and gold liveries, she was struck with wonder and
astonishment, which was increased, if possible, still more,
when, after her godmother had gently touched her with
her little cane, or wand, she found all her dingy, rough-
working dress changed, in an instant, into one of the most
beautiful dresses that can be imagined ; her stomacher
studded with diamonds, and her neck and arms encircled
with the most costly jewels !
Her godmother then took from her tiny pocket a pair of
beautiful glass shoes or slippers, and bade Cinderella put

fdLrif.irdo i

sSSssSSSKaettaiH"3

°Jkt,Jcu,nj eUaMin^

ZTSSS5^**^ ^ &aJL **

AND THE GLASS SLIPPER. 65
them on. Now the soles and lining of these slippers were
made of an elastic material, and covered on the outside
with delicate spun glass. They were exceedingly small,
but Cinderella put them on without difficulty. Her god
mother then conducted her to the coach, telling her, as she
entered and took her seat upon a beautiful, soft, amber-
coloured cushion, to be sure to leave the palace before the
clock struck Twelve, and that if she disobeyed or neglected
this injunction, the charm would be broken, and she, and
everything else about her, would change back again to
their former condition.
Cinderella promised to attend to this, and the coach
drove on towards the King's palace, Cinderella wondering
more and more at the strange things which had happened,
and began to think — what she had never suspected before
— that her little dwarf godmother was a fairy. And so,
indeed, she was ; for no one else could have done such
wonderful things !
When the coach arrived at the outer gate of the palace,
the guards, porters, and attendants, thought some grand
princess had arrived ; for such a splendid equipage, and
such a beautiful lady, had never been seen before. The
young Prince, upon hearing this, hastened to the inner
gate, and assisted Cinderella to alight. He was at once
struck with her beauty and sweet expression, and fell deeply
in love with her the moment he beheld her. He then con
ducted her to the presence chamber, where the King and
Queen were seated on a throne, and introduced her to his
royal parents, who were amazed at the dazzling beauty of
the young lady, and the novelty and splendour of her
dress, and each secretly wished that their son would choose
her for a bride. It was not only the King and Queen, and
K

66 CINDERELLA
the Prince, who were amazed at the appearance of dear
Cinderella, but the whole of the company assembled,
including her two sisters-in-law, who had not the slightest
idea that it was Cinderella, and all kept on exclaiming, as
the Prince led her out to dance — " Oh, how handsome she
is ! Oh, how beautiful ! What grace ! What elegance !
What a charming creature ! What a beautiful dress ! What
splendid jewels ! " Her appearance, indeed, created quite a
sensation, and her modest demeanour, together with the
sweetness of her expression, charmed every one who be
held her. The Prince, by his marked attention, showed at
once upon whom his choice had fallen ; and as he conversed
with her, he felt his attachment increase, for he found her
mind and disposition were as charming as her person was
beautiful. At the banquet, she was placed on the left of the Queen,
who treated her with the greatest kindness, as well as the
King also. The Prince, of course, was unremitting in his
attentions, and everything was done that was possible to
make Cinderella happy and comfortable. She felt it ;
when, suddenly, the thought of her poor father crossed her
mind, and she inwardly prayed that her godmother's pro
mise of her being able to assist him out of his troubles
might be realised. She then thought of her godmother's
warning to leave before the hour of twelve ; and, watching
the opportunity when the ladies retired, she hastened to
the court-yard, and was on the road home long before the
clock had struck the midnight hour.
When the company re-assembled, the Prince immediately
sought for Cinderella, and as she was not to be found in
any of the rooms, he flew to the gate to inquire if her
carriage was there ; but finding that she had departed, he

AND THE GLASS SLIPPER. 67
became quite distracted, for he had hoped to have found
out who she was and where she lived. He instantly
despatched messengers on horseback after the carriage,
with a polite and earnest request that the lady would return
for a short time ; but they could nowhere find the carriage,
although they had gone several miles in the direction which
the coach had taken.
The Prince, in his distress, consulted the King as to what
course he should pursue. The King, seeing the painful
state of the Prince's mind, immediately had it announced
by his chamberlains that a similar entertainment would be
given the following evening ; and being a kind and feeling
King, and wishing to save his subjects from any increased
expense for dress, they were given to understand that it
was his Majesty's desire that the company should all appear
in the same dresses that they wore that evening, in order,
as he said, that he might recognise them again.
The reason for giving another ball was, as you will guess,
with the expectation that the charming young Princess
would come again, and that then the Prince would ascer
tain who she was, and take an opportunity of declaring his
love and requesting her hand in marriage.
When Cinderella arrived at her father's house, she found
her godmother standing at the garden-gate, who told her
to make haste into the kitchen. As she went in, she found
herself in her working dress again, and as she took her
seat once more amongst the cinders, she tried to collect her
thoughts upon the extraordinary and wonderful events that
had occurred during the evening. One thing was certain, the
noble, manly bearing ofthe handsome young Prince, together
with the intelligence of his mind, had made a great impres
sion upon her. As Cinderella was entering the house, the

68 CINDERELLA
thought struck her, "What will godmother do with the
coach and horses ? " and she was not surprised to see them
gradually diminish until they returned to their original size,
and follow the dwarf into the garden. What the Fairy did
with them Cinderella, nor anyone else, ever knew to this
day, but she supposed they were placed in a little out
house, with plenty of provender. In a short time after
Cinderella had got home her sisters arrived ; and, as she
was lighting their candles in the parlour, they gave her an
account of the grand entertainment and the grand com
pany, but, above all, of the beautiful Princess (for she could
be nothing else, they said) who had been the great attrac
tion of the evening, and with whom the Prince had surely
fallen in love ; that she had gone off, nobody knew where,
and that the King was to give another grand fete the
fellowing evening, and that they and everybody else who
was there had been again invited. Cinderella could have
told the greater part of this herself, but she only smiled,
and said, — " Indeed ! " and " Dear me ! " and so on.
Early the next morning, by break of day, the hair
dressers were in request again, and again they raised their
charges ! It is recorded that it was a most extraordinary
sight, such as had never been witnessed before, to see these
hair-dressers flying about from house to house, and some
that had to go a distance riding on horseback. They had
been refreshed, of course, by a good night's rest, and at
first they got on pretty well, but towards evening they be
came quite exhausted, and were constantly swooning and
fainting away.
Cinderella had again to help her sisters to dress and to
arrange their hair, and saw them depart again, but not with
the same feelings as before, for her godmother had been

The, Irijue., fuikuui up, CjuierdUs Qtxzis SUUur

(j-ruAvrdlcx, teayuio

Strudt, TrteLvt, ' -

AND THE GLASS SLIPPER. 69
with her in the morning, and told her she should go again
to the palace. The fairy kept her word, and soon after
the sisters' carriage had left the door, she came into the
kitchen, changed Cinderella's dress to one even more
beautiful than the first, if that were possible ; had the
coach, as before, ready to convey her to the ball ; bade her
depart, giving her the same strict injunction to be sure and
leave before the clock struck TWELVE.
The Prince had given orders to his pages to let him
know instantly if they saw the beautiful Princess's carriage
approaching ; and when he heard that it was really driving
into the court-yard, he flew down to receive Cinderella
again, and again he conducted her, with a light heart and
a smiling face, to the presence of his royal parents, who
were again delighted to see their beautiful visitor. She
again became the principal object of attraction and con
versation, and the Prince took the first opportunity to
declare himself her admirer, and to ask her to become his
bride. Her reply was, that she must consult her father
and friends ; and he was about to beg that he might be
allowed to pay his respects to them immediately, when the
clock began to strike the hour of Twelve ! She started up,
and hastily quitted the apartment. The Prince, determined
not to lose sight of her this time, followed Cinderella, for
the purpose of escorting her home ; but as he hurried after
her, his attention was attracted by one of her beautiful
glass slippers, which had slipped off her foot in her haste
to gain the outer gate. As he stooped to pick up the glass
slipper, Cinderella turned into one of the passages, and he
lost sight of her. When she got as far as the court-yard
the palace clock struck the last stroke of Twelve! In
stantly her dress was changed again into her kitchen garb,

70 CINDERELLA
and, as she passed the outer gate, the grand coach and all
were again changed to pumpkin, mushrooms, rat, mice, and
lizards. The Prince, who had taken a wrong turning in the pas
sages in pursuit of Cinderella, was, however, at the gate
soon after she had passed, and inquired of the guards if
they had seen the beautiful Princess pass, and which way
the carriage had gone ; but they all declared that no one,
except a scullery-maid, had passed out, and, upon looking
for her coach, it was nowhere to be seen. The Prince
ordered them to go and seek it in every direction ; and he,
even in his ball-dress, mounted a horse and dashed down
the road the Princess had been seen to come. Poor
Cinderella arrived at home quite out of breath. The
garden-gate was open, but no godmother was there ; she
saw the pumpkin coach roll in, and the gate shut after it,
and had just time to get inside the kitchen-door, as the
Prince galloped furiously past ; and, after a time, she saw
him gallop back towards the palace, with her heart beating
quite as fast as the Prince's horse was galloping. She then
returned to her chimney-corner again, but this time with
no desponding feelings : yet she wondered how it would
all end. The Prince loved her, and she loved the Prince :
that was all so far clear and settled ; but how was it pos
sible that a Royal Prince should marry such a poor girl as
she was ? In the midst of these thoughts her sisters re
turned, and they again described the doings at the palace
and the reappearance of the charming Princess, to all which
Cinderella said, as before, "Indeed!" "Dear me!" and
so on.
On the following morning, at an early hour, the town
was aroused by the blowing of trumpets, and, upon the

AND THE GLASS SLIPPER. 71
people coming out to know the occasion of it, they found
two of the royal herald- trumpeters, with a chamberlain,
guards, and an attendant carrying a crimson velvet cushion,
upon which was placed a glass slipper. When the trum
peters had blown a flourish, the chamberlain read a pro
clamation, to the effect that the Royal Prince requested all
the single ladies would try on this glass slipper, and de
clared that whomsoever it might fit he would make his
bride. Oh ! then immediately followed such a trying on —
such efforts to squeeze in their dear little feet ; but no ! not
one could get the glass slipper on, not even half-way; —
some could not get their toes in, — for the more they tried
the more it seemed to shrink, — and the chamberlain re
quested that they would not use it too roughly, lest they
should break the spun glass covering.
The chamberlain and attendants had gone nearly all
over the town, and were growing weary, when they turned
to where Cinderella lived, which was a little out of the
road, the sisters were standing at the kitchen-door, the
mother at her bed-room window, for she was still unable
to leave her room, and poor Cinderella, in her dingy dress,
was peeping over her sisters' shoulders. The chamberlain
came forward, requesting the sisters to try on the slipper, —
which they did to their uttermost, at the same time feeling
that it was of very little use; after several unsuccessful
efforts they gave back the slipper, but the chamberlain
having caught sight of Cinderella sitting in her old corner,
requested that she also would try on the glass slipper ; but
the sisters set up .a loud laugh, and said the idea was
ridiculous ! and would not allow any such thing ; but the
chamberlain said his orders were imperative that all should
try it on, — besides which, although it was a dark corner

72 CINDERELLA
where Cinderella was, he saw enough to convince him that
those beautiful long ringlets belonged to a beautiful face
and person. He then requested Cinderella to take a seat.
Just before this the dwarf had come in, and had privately
handed the other glass slipper to Cinderella, which she had
put into her pocket. However, she now stepped forward,
took her seat, placed her foot upon the cushion, and the
slipper slipped on in an instant, with the greatest ease.
The sisters could scarcely believe their eyes ; the chamber
lain and the attendants were surprised and startled ; but
they were all much more so when Cinderella quietly drew
forth from her pocket the fellow glass slipper.
When the chamberlain saw that Cinderella was the lady
of whom he was in search, he informed her that, in case
he should be successful in finding the lady whom the slipper
would fit, he had a message to her from the Queen, to beg
that she would be so obliging as to come to her at the palace
without delay. Cinderella looked to her godmother to
know what reply she should make. The dwarf said, " Please
to signify to the Queen that my goddaughter will attend
upon her Majesty immediately."
The chamberlain then despatched a messenger in all
haste to the Prince, to inform him that the lady had been
found who could put on the glass slipper, and who had also
the fellow to it, and that she would soon be at the palace,
agreeably to the request of the Queen. He then most
respectfully informed Cinderella that he awaited her lady
ship's pleasure to accompany her with the guard.
As soon as the sisters had recovered from the amazement
into which this discovery had thrown them, they burst
into tears, and said, "Why, Cinderella, are you indeed the
beautiful lady whom we saw at the palace ? Oh, pray

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/ir0-rtu,c<is its /cww .

AND THE GLASS SLIPPER. 73
forgive us for all the rudeness and unkindness which we
have been guilty of towards you."
Cinderella's tender heart was touched at the repentant
words of her sisters-in-law, and she also, bursting into tears,
threw her arms around their necks, and, kissing them one
after the other, said, —
" Dear sisters, never say another word about it ; I hope
these strange changes will be the means of making us all the
happier." The two girls then ran up to their mother's room to tell
her the wonderful news. Meanwhile, the Fairy retired
into Cinderella's bed-room, followed by her goddaughter,
and then, changing Cinderella's old, shabby, kitchen attire
into an elegant morning dress, in which she looked even
more charming, if possible, than she did in her full dress,
told her to prepare to meet her father, to whom she had
that day restored all his estates and property, and whom
she expected there in a few minutes. Accordingly, almost
before she had done speaking, a great shouting was heard.
Her father had arrived ; and when the people of the
neighbourhood saw their worthy friend again, they wel
comed him home with loud huzzas ! for he was a great
favourite with all the people in the town and country round
about. Cinderella rushed out to welcome him ; and great was
the joy of both father and daughter at this unexpected but
pleasant meeting. He then went up to see his wife — it
was an affectionate meeting. He was glad also to see her
daughters, and they were glad to see him. At this moment
the chamberlain sent to remind Cinderella that the Queen
would be then expecting her. A little explanation sufficed
to make Cinderella's father not only acquainted with the
L

74 CINDERELLA
extraordinary circumstances, but also to give him the
greatest satisfaction at the prospect of his daughter's
elevation and happiness ; and he determined at once to
accompany her to the palace. The Fairy had brought
round Cinderella's grand coach, to the door, into which she
and her goddaughter both entered ; whilst the father
mounted the horse upon which he had returned home ;
and, with the herald, trumpeters, and chamberlain in front,
and the father, followed by the guards in the rear, they
proceeded towards the royal palace, accompanied by a
large concourse of people, who were in a state of great
excitement, and kept on shouting until the cavalcade
reached the palace, at the gates of which the Prince was
waiting to receive Cinderella, which he did with great
delight. He was somewhat surprised at the appearance of
the dwarf ; but when Cinderella informed him that she
was her godmother and her best friend, he saluted the
little lady with great respect, and conducted them both to
the Queen his mother. Cinderella had also presented her
father to the Prince, whom he welcomed most cordially,
desiring his page in waiting to conduct him to his own
apartments, where he soon joined him to say that the
King, his father, wished to have an interview. They
accordingly repaired to the royal library, where they found
his Majesty, attended by his chancellor and other law-
officers. The King was delighted to find an old friend in
the person of Cinderella's father, who, as may be supposed,
readily gave his consent to the marriage of his daughter
to the Prince ; and the lawyers having drawn up the
marriage-contract, they all repaired to the Queen's apart
ments, to have it signed by Cinderella, the Royal Prince,
and the other parties.

AND THE GLASS SLIPPER. 75
The Queen had been in conversation with the dwarf, and
was so much pleased with her wit and good sense, that she
introduced her to the King's especial notice, who received
Cinderella's godmother with great condescension and affa
bility. It was determined that the marriage should take
place as soon as the necessary preparations could be made ;
" That is," his Majesty jocosely said, " if it met with the
approbation of the young people." The Prince smilingly
replied, that they would be guided by his Majesty's
pleasure. The King, who was in the highest flow of spirits, declared
that there should be extraordinary grand doings to cele
brate this wedding; and, amongst other things, ordered
that there should be running " fountains of wine " in the
court-yards of the palace, and also in the streets. Upon
which Cinderella's godmother, who had been conversing
with the King, begged that his Majesty would not carry
out that part of the arrangements.
" Why not ? " said the King ; " it is the custom upon all
great festive occasions, and the people would be disap
pointed were it omitted at a royal wedding."
" It is true," replied the dwarf, " that the people look for
such things, but although there is much boisterous mirth
created by the drink around these wine fountains, yet your
Majesty is aware that this same drink leads also to quar
rels, brutal fights, and violent deaths."
" Well ! I fear it is so," the King replied ; " but this mis
conduct and violence is only committed by those who take
too much, and not by those who take it in moderation,"
" The history of the use of strong drinks," the dwarf said,
" is marked on every page by excess, which follows, as a
matter of course, from the very nature of their composition,

76 CINDERELLA
and is always accompanied by ill-health, misery, and
crime." "Well, but," said the King, "what is to be done? are
not these things intended by Providence for our use?"
" With all deference to your Majesty," said the dwarf in
reply, " most assuredly not ; for such is the POWER OF THE
Creator, that if it had been necessary for man to take
stimulating drinks, the Almighty could have given them
to him free from all intoxicating qualities, as he has done
with all solids and liquids necessary and fit for the support
of man's life ; and as he never intended that any man
should be intoxicated, and as he knows that all men cannot
take these drinks alike, such is his goodness and mercy,
that he would have sent them to us without
THE intoxicating PRINCIPLE ; and when people talk
of these intoxicating drinks, that do so much deadly mis
chief, being sent to us by the ALMIGHTY, we might as well
say that he sends us gunpowder, because man converts
certain materials into such a deadly composition. And as
to moderation, pardon me, your Majesty, but so long as
your Majesty continues to take even half a glass of wine
a-day, so long will the drinking customs of society be con
sidered respectable and kept up ; and it thus follows, as a
necessary consequence, that thousands of your Majesty's
subjects will be constantly falling by excess into vice,
wretchedness, and crime ; and as to people not being able to
do without stimulating drinks, I beg your Majesty to look
at Cinderella, who never has taken any in all her life, and
who never will."
"My dear little lady," exclaimed the King, good-
humouredly, "your arguments have convinced me: there
shall be no more fountains of wine in my dominions."

fAj^Mdrr'ld^f Ct-iulerdldj , to
<^/fi,tx TriTvct, _

AND THE GLASS SLIPPER. 77
And he immediately gave orders that all the wine, beer,
and spirits, in the place, should be collected together and
piled upon the top of a rocky mound in the vicinity of the
palace, and made a great bonfire of on the night of the
wedding ; — which was accordingly done, and a splendid
blaze it made !
An early day was then fixed for the wedding, which was
solemnised in the cathedral with great pomp and splendour,
all the great people in the country being present, including,
of course, Cinderella's father and her mother-in-law. The
King and Queen were seated upon a throne near the altar.
Many beautiful young ladies attended Cinderella as bride-
maids, amongst whom were her two sisters-in-law. The
bride's dress was of the richest white satin, ornamented
with bouquets of orange-blossoms ; a large white lace veil
covered her head ; her brow was encircled with a wreath of
orange-blossoms, mixed with diamonds, whose sparkles
seemed dimmed by the brightness of her beautiful blue
eyes ; and her long, waving, and clustering ringlets shadowed
the rosy blush of her lovely face. A number of beautiful
little girls, dressed in white, carrying baskets containing
flowers, preceded Cinderella and the Royal Prince, her
handsome bridegroom, and who strewed their path with
flowers as they approached the altar.
After the marriage there was a magnificent banquet, and
festivities upon the grandest scale were kept up for several
days. And they all lived to a great age in happiness and
comfort.

PUSS IN BOOTS.

• ¦o',.'.clint- TtUltUstrr. iiU adctn^ knhir ajUoaU kisuit j chtfua

PUSS IN BOOTS.
i N ancient times — that is, a long time ago, and
when this country was divided into many
small kingdoms — there lived in the country, a
very long way from London, a poor miller,
who had three sons, named Araba, Baraba, and Caraba.
The Miller had saved a little money, and as he was grow
ing old he retired from business and went with his wife to
live in a cottage which belonged to him, and which was a
short distance from the mill, and at a convenient distance
for his sons to come to their meals, the sons all sleeping in
the cot at the side of the old windmill.
The Miller told his sons on the day he left the mill that
through life he had had many hardships and difficulties to
encounter, and all he could do for them now was to give
the mill to Araba, his eldest son ; the Ass that carried the
corn to market to his second son, Baraba ; and the Cat
which kept the mill free from rats and mice to his youngest
son, Caraba. He told them that they might have hard-.
ships and difficulties to meet with as they went through
M

82 PUSS IN BOOTS.
life as well as himself; but if they had, they must not
despond or be down-hearted, but pray to God to give
them strength to work on and to persevere in what they
were doing, if what they were doing was right ; and if
they wanted advice they knew that he would be too glad
to give it them.
The youngest son and the cat were very great friends,
which may be accounted for in this way : Caraba was very
kind to animals, and his kindness to Tom Puss (for the
puss was a gentleman cat !) made him very fond of Caraba,
and he used to follow his young master about the mill like
a dog, and when Caraba went from the mill Tom Puss
would go with him for some short distance, and then return
to the mill and take his place just inside the door of the
cot or the granary and watch for his return.
But there was another reason besides the kindness of
Caraba for the cat being fond of him, and that was, because
he had saved his life upon one occasion, and puss seemed
never to have forgotten this, and appeared to be always
grateful for this service, and which happened in this way —
As Caraba was one day standing by the mill he saw
what he at first thought to be a hare or a rabbit chased by
a dog and coming towards the mill ; but as they came
nearer, he discovered that it was a poor cat which the dog
was running after, so he snatched up a large stick that was
lying on the ground, just by him, and ran forward to
defend poor pussy, and drive back the dog, which he suc
ceeded in doing, but with some difficulty, for it was a great
big dog, and a very ugly and very savage one. However,
he pretended to pick up some stones to throw at it, and it
turned tail and ran back the way it had come. Dogs will
always run away if you even pretend to pick up stones to

PUSS IN BOOTS. 83
throw at them. Tom Puss had run and hid himself behind
some sacks in the granary ; but when Caraba went in, and
in a kind tone called, " Puss, puss," puss came creeping out
slowly, and then Caraba stroked him gently over the head
and shoulders, and then gave him something to eat, and
ever after that they were the best of friends, and puss
became a great favourite with Caraba's parents and brothers,
and gave great satisfaction by keeping all rats and mice
away from the cot and the mill, and from eating the corn.
Caraba was a very dutiful son — a very handsome and a
very good young man, and very industrious — doing all he
could to help his elder brothers. Sometimes he had to go
with flour to the market-town near, in which resided the
king of those parts, in a castle near the town. All the
kings and great barons lived in castles in those days ; and
it so happened, upon one occasion, as Caraba was leaving
the market to return home, that the king and his daughter,
a most beautiful young princess, were passing that way in
their open carriage, and Caraba was so struck with the
beauty of the young lady that he fell in love with her, and
looked after the carriage as long as it was in sight, and
then turned and thoughtfully went on his way to the mill,
reflecting to himself that however much he might love the
princess and desire to have her fbr a bride, the difference of
their positions in life made it impossible that he could ever
marry her ; and so he went to his humble home downcast
and sorrowful. Tom Puss as usual came out to meet his
master, and as Caraba approached Tom stopped and looked
at him in a way that he had never done before, and it was*
quite evident to puss that something was the matter.
Caraba put the ass into the stable, or shed, and gave it a
feed ; he then gave" his elder brother the money he had

84 PUSS IN BOOTS.
sold the flour for, and then went and sat himself down by
the side of the door and looked in the direction of the
king's castle. At the same moment, puss came purring
and rubbing his side against his master's leg, as if to
attract his attention, as much as to say, " Have you for
gotten me, master ? " The young man turned and heaving
a deep sigh, said, " Ah ! my poor puss, I went out this
morning happy and comfortable ; but happy I never shall
be again, for I can never forget the beautiful princess, and
I can never have her for a wife." As he said this, Tom
Puss stood up on his hind legs, and speaking like a human
being, said, " Do not be too sure of that." Caraba started
with wonder to hear the cat speak, who, however, went on
to say, " Dear master, you once did me a great service, you
saved me from a horrible death ; and I have always been
grateful to you for that act ; but the time is now come
when I can repay this kindness, and all I require of you is
to do whatever I tell you, to ask no questions, and leave
me to manage matters in my own way ; and if all goes
well, the end will be happiness to you and to many others,
including the dear, the good, the beautiful princess." Caraba
rubbed his eyes to make sure that he was not dreaming,
and kept looking at puss with great surprise, and seemed
lost in thought, from which he was roused by Tom Puss
exclaiming, " Now, let's to work. In the first place,
master, I must have a dress with a cap and feather, and
though last, not least, a pair of Boots ! " " Where am I to
get these things ? " said Caraba. " Go look in the little
old oak box in the lumber cupboard under the mill, where
I sleep, and you will find all I want." Caraba did as he
was told, and sure enough there were the clothes, and a
little pair of boots that fitted puss like a pair of gloves.

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PUSS IN BOOTS. 85
The cat, with the assistance of his master, was soon
dressed. " And now," said puss, " hand me that little bag
that hangs up there behind the door, and give me that
little bit of a stick that you tickle the donkey's ribs with
when you want him to go faster, and I am off ; " and going
to the door said, " Good-bye, master, say nothing to nobody
about this, but keep your spirits up till I come back."
Caraba was lost in wonder, as he saw puss walking along
just like a little man, and wondered what he could be going
to do with the bag ; but he could not form a guess. So,
having watched Master Tom Puss out of sight, and having
duties to attend to, he went to his work.
Between the mill and the king's castle there was a wood,
and one part of it was so thick with trees and bushes that
no one could pass through it ; and although the woodmen
had often tried to clear this part, it appears they found
that what they cut down in the day time, always grew up
again in the night, and so they gave it up ; but Tom found
his way through this thicket, and not only that, but also
found some rabbits inside. Yes, there was a large rabbit
warren in the centre, with thousands of " bunnies " playing
about in all directions. Puss crept in very gently, placed
the bag on the ground, propped the mouth of it open with
a bit of stick, to which was tied a string, and having put
some nice cabbage-leaves at the end, thus made a sort of
trap of it, then lying down upon the ground with the end of
the string in his paw, watched to see if any of the rabbits
would be tempted to go into the bag after the cabbage-
leaves, which one soon did. Tom pulled the string, down
came the stick, and puss had thus, as the sportsmen say,
" bagged '' a fine rabbit ! And having trapped another one,
puss came out of the warren, not to take the rabbits to his

86 PUSS IN BOOTS.
master ; no, Tom Puss not only knew his way through the
thicket, and that there was a rabbit warren inside of it, but
he also knew that the king was extremely fond of that sort
of food, and, although always wanting it, could never get
any, for not one of those little creatures had been seen in
his kingdom for many years. It was found out afterwards
that a wicked Ogre, who was a sorcerer, had shut in all the
rabbits in this warren, out of spite to the king, because he
was a very good man, and because no one should have any
rabbits but himself.
Puss set off with a sort of a "hop, skip, and a jump"
to the castle, or king's palace, and astonished the guard at
the gate by telling them that he had brought a message
with a present to the king, and wished to see his majesty.
The chamberlain was informed of this, who led Tom into
the presence of the king and his daughter. Tom Puss
made a very graceful bow to the papa and daughter, and
said that his master, the " Marquis of Carabas," having
heard that his majesty was very fond of rabbits, had taken
the liberty of sending a brace to his majesty, which he
hoped his majesty would accept ; and as there were a great
number on his estate, he would send a supply daily if his
majesty would allow him to do so. The king was not only
very greatly surprised to see such an extraordinary-looking
gamekeeper (as puss said he was), but also most highly
delighted at the prospect of getting a supply of his favourite
food again ; and he told Tom to convey his best thanks to
his master, and that he would accept his present and his kind
offer of a further supply. The king then asked puss where
his master's estate was. Tom pointed out the direction
where the Marquis of Carabas' castle was situated. " Why,"
said the king, " that castle seems to have been shut up for

PUSS IN BOOTS. 87
many years." " Yes," replied Tom, " it has so, for the
family have been kept out of their estate. For a long time
it has been in Chancery, your majesty ; but I expect that
the marquis will be in possession of his castle to-morrow."
" Oh, indeed," said the king ; " then I'll take my morning
ride that way, and perhaps I may have the pleasure of
seeing the marquis." " I am not quite sure," said Tom,
" that the marquis will be there to-morrow, but if I see him
to-day I will inform him of your majesty's intention." The
king then waved his han'd, as much as to say you may
retire ; and Tom Puss stepped backwards from the pre
sence of his majesty, in doing which he nearly/*?// back
wards, having trod upon his tail.
Upon leaving the castle, Tom made the best of his way
back to the mill, where seated at the entrance sat his
master waiting Tom's return. Puss was soon at his side,
and informed him where he -had been and what he had
been doing, and that he had seen the beautiful princess,
and how pleased she was that her father had got such nice
rabbits for his dinner, and seemed delighted at the idea of
seeing the young gentleman who had sent them, and to
thank him for his kindness.
Caraba was much pleased and excited when he heard all
this, and still more so, when puss told him that he must
prepare to see the king and the princess the following
morning, and for this end he should require his master to
go with him to a particular spot at a certain hour.
Caraba had been cautioned not to ask any questions,
and therefore, like a sensible man, refrained from doing so.
On the following morning Caraba and Tom were seated
by the side of a small river close to the high road. It was
a fine warm summer's morning, or forenoon, and Tom told

88 PUSS IN BOOTS.
his master to strip and have a bathe, which order he obeyed,
and accordingly put his clothes on the bank and jumped
into the water. Now Caraba's father, the old miller, was
one of those persons who thought that all girls and boys
should be taught to swim, and so Caraba was a good
swimmer, as was also his two brothers. Whilst Caraba
was enjoying his bath Tom pulled off his boots and climbed
up a tree that grew by the side of the stream, and after
remaining there a short time came down quickly, got hold
of his master's clothes, rolled them up with a large heavy
stone, tied up the bundle with a piece of cord, and threw
them into a deep part of the river, and cried out to his
master that the king's coach was coming that way. His
master swam to the side and looking about said, " Where
are my clothes ? " " Oh, master, never mind your old clothes,
they are at the bottom of the river, but I'll take care that
you shall have a new suit. Caraba did not much like the
idea of being up to his neck in the water when the princess
was coming there, but being obliged to submit, remained
quiet. In a few minutes the "running footmen." came
running on before the king's carriage. (In those days
foot-men with long staffs or spears in their hands always
ran before the horses of the carriages.) Puss stopped these
men and told them that whilst his master, the Marquis of
Carabas, was bathing in the river some one had taken
away his clothes, and that he wished to tell the king of it.
The foot-men told this to the guards, the king was informed
of it, and the carriage stopped. Puss then came forward
and told his majesty that a most extraordinary thing had
happened, which was, that whilst his master was bathing,
some sly thief had taken away his clothes, and that he was
now close by in the river, and could not, of course, present

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PUSS IN BOOTS. 89
himself to his majesty until he had got another suit of
clothes. " Well," said the king, " it is an extraordinary
circumstance, and what is very curious and most fortunate,
I have brought several new suits of clothes with me, in
tending to present a suit to the marquis in return for his
very nice present of the rabbits." The king then ordered
his servants to get the box of clothes out of the " boot " of
the carriage, and then ordered the coachman to drive about
for a short time so as to give the marquis an opportunity
of dressing himself — which he was not long in doing, after
the carriage left. (Tom had taken care to provide towels
for his master.)
The marquis — for so we may call him as far as appear
ances went, for when dressed in one of these Court dresses,
he looked very handsome, and had all the appearance of a
noble prince — when the carriage returned, Puss, acting the
part of a chamberlain, introduced his master to the king
and the princess, who seemed pleased to make his ac
quaintance ; and the king invited him into the carriage and
introduced him to his daughter, who smiled most graciously,
and also seemed much pleased. But if the king and the
princess were pleased with the appearance of Caraba, they
were still more pleased, nay delighted, by his manner and
his sensible and manly observations about the weather, the
state of the crops, and so on. The king adverted to the
extraordinary circumstance of the marquis having a Tom
cat for a gamekeeper. Caraba admitted that it was so, but
said that he had found him to be a faithful and most
invaluable servant.
Tom Puss had set off in the direction of the Ogre's castle
before the carriage begun to move, so that he got some
distance in advance of the Royal cavalcade, and, as he
N

90 PUSS IN BOOTS.
passed through the corn-fields where the reapers were at
work, he told them that something was going to happen
that day for their good, but to insure the good, they must
do as he bid them. He then told them that the king was
coming that way, and that if he asked them who all these
lands belonged to, they must all say, to the Marquis of
Carabas. Having arranged all this, on he went to the
castle where the Ogre already spoken of resided, and who
held all these lands, and was a hard taskmaster over all
these peasants, who may be said to have been his slaves,
for they had no power to resist his orders in whatever he
told them to do ; and they very readily obeyed Tom Puss,
for they thought it was by their master's orders that they
were to say what he told them. Accordingly, when the
king came amongst the reapers, field after field, all along
on each side of the road, and asked them, " Who do these
fields belong to ? " and was answered, " To the most noble
the Marquis of Carabas, please your majesty," he seemed
more than pleased, and congratulated the marquis upon
having such a large and fine estate, and the princess also
expressed herself quite delighted with the beautiful pro
spect and the charming scenery. The marquis assented to
these observations, and said that doubtless the estate was
valuable, and the prospect charming ; but for himself, his
happiness would mainly be, by being allowed the honour
and the pleasure of associating with his majesty and his
Royal daughter. The king smiled and bowed, and seemed
struck with an idea. The princess also smiled and bowed,
as a slight blush came over her beautiful face ; but the
conversation was here brought to a close, for they had
arrived at the outer gate of the Ogre's castle, at which Tom
Puss had arrived some time before, and having found his

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PUSS IN BOOTS. 91
way to the room in which the Ogre was sitting, apologised
for intruding; but having heard that he possessed the
wonderful power of changing himself into any animal, and
that being a thing which it was almost impossible to be
lieve, he had taken the liberty of calling, in the hope that
his honour would kindly let him see some of these won
derful changes, in order that seeing might be believing.
The Ogre, who was, as before stated, a magician, or sorcerer,
and a very artful, wicked man, immediately consented to
oblige his visitor, having an object in doing so. It appears
that if the Ogre did change himself into the form of some
animal he was obliged to do so three times, and that if any
one asked him to change into any particular animal the
third time, he was compelled to comply with the request,
before he could exercise his wicked art against any one
who might have come into, or that he had trapped into his
power. Tom Puss was aware of this, and acted accordingly.
" Now," said Tom, " let me see you change into some large
animal." " I'll change into an elephant," said the Ogre,
and instantly he appeared to be enveloped in a cloud of
thick smoke, out of which arose what appeared to be a
large elephant. Puss started with surprise and alarm, and
begged that he would assume the shape of a smaller animal ;
then came the cloud of smoke again, in the midst of which
his disagreeable voice was heard, " I'll change myself into a
lion," and, at the same instant, there stood the fierce " king
of the forest." " Oh ! " said puss, " you frighten me so ;
take the form of something smaller ; take the form of a
mouse." Again came the cloud of smoke, in the midst of
which was heard a voice like the growl of a lion, " I'll
change into the form of a mouse," and, " in the twinkling
of an eye," a mouse was seen running across the floor as if

92 PUSS IN BOOTS.
to hide itself under the table (upon which hung a cloth that
came down to the ground) ; but quick as Mr. Ogre Mouse
might be, Tom Puss was too quick for him, for Tom sprang
upon the wicked creature like a flash of lightning, and
killed him before he had time to change himself, as he
intended to do, into a great dog, and then worry poor Tom
Puss to death. But Tom had won the victory ! and had
put an end to a horrible and wicked man ; and not liking
to venture upon making a meal of such stuff as this mock
mouse was made of, jumped up to the window with the
dead mouse in his mouth, and dropped it into the castle
moat, or piece of water that was under the window.
An end had no sooner been put to the art and the life of
the Ogre sorcerer, than a great change seemed to take
place all over the castle ; from its being a dark dingy place
when Tom entered, it now seemed to be light and cheerful ;
and instead of the old ugly-looking cripples of servants
who were creeping about the hall, and the half-starved
looking hounds and cats, and instead of bats and ravens,
there were beautiful birds singing sweetly, the animals all
well-fed, and the servants of all ages healthy, cheerful, and
happy ; and there was a delicious savoury odour as if some
very nice food was being prepared for a lunch or dinner.
Tom hastened to the entrance, calling out as he went
along, " Look sharp, my friends, the king and the princess
and the marquis are at the gate," and as Tom Puss took
his stand at the entrance of the hall, his majesty ap
proached, to whom Tom, making a profound bow, said,
" Welcome, your majesty, to the Castle of Carabas." The
king entered, followed by the marquis and the princess,
who both now seemed to be upon the most friendly terms.
The king was attended and waited upon by a number of

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PUSS IN BOOTS. 93
the men-servants of the castle, and the princess by maids
in waiting ; and Tom taking his master aside, said, " No
doubt, master, you are surprised at all this, and therefore,
just to make your mind easy for the present, I will tell you
that you are now in the castle of your ancestors, and that
you are the rightful owner of this estate, for according to
the laws of this kingdom, you, being the youngest son,
inherit the title and estate. I will give you the full par
ticulars at another time." Tom Puss then showed him into
the grand dining-hall, where a dinner-table was laid out for
three, and he told his master to ask the king and the
princess to stop to dinner. The marquis was delighted with
what he had heard ; but as he had been told not to ask any
questions, did not, and, what is more, was so perfectly
satisfied with what had been done, in every way, that he
did not want to ask any questions, so he invited his majesty
to do him the honour and the pleasure of dining with him ;
and as he said this he led him into the dining-room. The
king seemed at first to hesitate ; but when he smelt the
savoury fumes that rose from the table, and saw " stewed
rabbit," " rabbit pie," "' roast rabbit," and rabbits cooked in
every nice and possible way upon the table, he hesitated no
longer, but accepted the invitation, ordered one of the
horsemen to go back to the palace to say that he should
not return to dinner, told Caraba to fetch the princess from
the drawing-room, sat down, and seemed to enjoy his meal
exceedingly. After the dinner the princess retired to the
" withdrawing-room." His majesty had a conversation
with the Marquis of Carabas upon various matters, and before
rising to go away, said, " Marquis, I am very desirous to
have my daughter married, and from what I have seen of
you I think you are the man that would suit in every

94 PUSS IN BOOTS.
respect ; and as I suspect, from what I have observed, that
you are both very likely to become attached to each other
upon being better acquainted, I therefore invite you to
come to my castle on a visit for a week." The Marquis
Carabas was quite overcome by the king's kindness, and
expressed a hope that his good conduct would make him
acceptable to the lady, and worthy of his majesty's con
fidence. The carriage was then ordered, and the king, the
princess, and the Marquis Carabas got into it, to return to
the palace. When they came to the outer gate, all the
country people were assembled, and gave them most hearty
cheers as they passed along. The Royal cavalcade was
followed by Tom Puss mounted on a horse, and leading
another very fine horse for his master, who, in the midst of
all these extraordinary events, and animated with feelings
of pleasure and delight, did not forget his dear father and
mother and his dear brothers, and had arranged with Tom
Puss that so soon as he had seen his majesty and the princess
to the palace that he would mount his steed and ride to their
humble home to tell them what had happened, and make, if
possible, their hearts as cheerful and as happy as his own.
The father, and mother, and the brothers of Caraba were
highly delighted at the good news which he brought them,
as well as very pleased to see him in his grand court-dress.
Araba and Baraba were more than astonished at the
appearance of Tom Puss-in-Boots, in a regular dress just
like a little man. The father and mother did not appear
so much surprised, but were very kind to him ; and the old
miller said that, with respect to his extraordinary appear
ance, and most praiseworthy and valuable assistance, there
was a mystery which no doubt Tom Puss would explain
at a fitting opportunity.

PUSS IN BOOTS. 95
It being decided by the family, that the mill and cottage
should be given to a distant and poor relation, and all the
necessary matters being arranged for the father, mother,
and brothers to go to the Castle of Carabas on the fol
lowing day, the marquis and Puss returned to the king's
palace, where the marquis was received by the king and
the princess in the most kind and friendly manner, and the
time passed away most pleasantly : — in the morning, riding
out with the princess on horseback, dining most sump
tuously every day at noon (upon which occasion Tom
Puss always took care to have a plentiful supply of rabbits),
and then, after dinner, chatting and amusing the king, and
in the evening walking in the beautiful gardens of the
palace with the beautiful princess ; and by the third day
the princess consented to become the bride of the marquis,
provided her consent met with the approbation of her papa,
which, of course, it did, and the day was fixed for the
wedding) for which important and interesting occasion
great preparations were immediately set on foot.
The fact of there being such a thing as a cat dressed up,
and walking about in a pair of boots, having got abroad in
the town, a great many persons came about the palace and
into the park in the hope of getting a peep at Tom Puss ;
but he kept himself as much out of sight as possible, and
the king's servants, and even the soldiers, seemed almost
afraid of him, and the cats about the palace (and there
were a good many of them) seemed to treat him with great
respect ; but they held meetings at night upon the lawn
to talk about Master Tom and his Boots, and at last
they made such a noise that it quite annoyed the good
folks in the castle. Tom Puss observed this, so he went
out one night amongst them, gave them a good talking

96 PUSS IN BOO VS.
to, and they were very quiet after this, and very shy of
him. The wedding-day arrived, and the whole kingdom was
in a bustle. Even in the distant and remote parts the
rejoicings, the feastings, and the sports were carried on
throughout the day — morning, noon, and night. The
principal town, near the royal castle, was a constant scene
of gaiety. Drums, trumpets, and all sorts of musical in
struments were being played in every direction, and the
bells ringing their merry peals. In the royal castle it was
one scene of happiness and delight, every one dressed in
their best, with a cheerful smile upon their faces. The
halls, the stairs, and all the chambers, were decorated with
flowers, flags, shields, etc., and in the midst of all this, Tom
Puss was seen strutting about in a bran-new pair of boots,
acting as an assistant-master of the ceremonies.
All the great people of the country were invited to the
wedding and to the wedding dinner, and a grand set-out
this " wedding dinner " was, and the cooks did their best to
make it one of the best dinners ever given in that country ;
and amongst the abundance of everything that was good,
Tom had taken care to have a plentiful supply of rabbits,
cooked in every possible way ; and curiously enough Tom
Puss had discovered that a French cook of great talent had
come over to that part of the country to visit a relation,
and Tom induced Monsieur le Chef to assist in making
some of the dishes and ornaments for the table. One of
these dishes was an immense rabbit-pie, so made as to
resemble a " rabbit-warren," with models of little rabbits
peeping out of holes in the crust, and little rabbits around
the edge, and also on the top of the pie. To give an idea
of the size of this rabbit-pie, the cooks had to go to the

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PUSS IN BOOTS. 97
potteries to get a dish made on purpose, and when the pie
was made it was so large, and so heavy, that it took six
strong men to carry it, and place it on the table.
The marriage ceremony took place in the royal chapel
(and a grand affair it was), and the dinner hour having
anived, the king, the princess, and her husband the mar
quis, were ushered into the great hall by the sound of
trumpets. There were three chairs placed in the centre of
the cross table, on the "dais," as the raised platform is
called, at the upper end of all the grand halls. The king
took the right-hand seat, placing the princess in the centre
chair, not only to do her honour, but also that her husband
might sit by her side. Caraba 's brothers were placed at
this table, one on each side the centre. Their father and
mother were placed at the other end of the hall, in order
that they might preside at the end of the centre table.
The dinner passed off merrily, every one seeming to
enjoy it exceedingly. The great rabbit-pie gave great
satisfaction, his majesty being helped to it a second time.
As soon as the dessert was placed upon the table, the
marquis rose and said, " May it please your majesty, the
circumstances which have placed me in my present high
and happy position are so extraordinary, and the extra
ordinary changes have been brought about by such an
extraordinary agent, and in such an apparently unaccount
able manner, that to satisfy the very great, but very natural
curiosity — I may say of every one — I have to beg that
your majesty will allow Tom Puss to explain, as he wishes
to do, the mystery, and to account for the way in which all
these things have come to pass."
There was a loud and general applause when his majesty
bowed assent to this request ; and Tom Puss, who had sat
o

98 PUSS IN BOOTS.
by the side of his master's chair all the dinner time, imme
diately jumped upon the table with his little staff in his
paw (for he seemed to require some little help when
standing upright), and first bowing to the king, then to
the princess and his master, and speaking in a loud voice,
said : —
" May it please your majesty, — Strange as it may appear,
I was once a man, and was head gamekeeper to the grand
father of the present Marquis of Carabas. I had a kind
and good master and mistress ; but I am sorry to say that
I was dissatisfied, and used to repine at my lot, envying
others, and thinking that I deserved a better fate. One
night, as I sat before the fire, looking at the cat who sat
comfortably in the corner of the fireplace, I said to myself,
' Why, I would rather be that cat than what I am,' when
immediately I felt a change come over me — a strange feel
ing — and in an instant I found myself changed to what I
am now, and seated in the chimney-corner where the cat
had been, but with the sense and feeling of a man. I was
struck with shame and sorrow for my ingratitude and for
my unnatural wish ; and the only hope I had was, that
some day I might, even as a cat, do some good deed, or
render some great service to my master or his family, that
might break the spell, and restore me to my proper self.
Soon after this had happened, a wicked Ogre sorcerer came
on the Caraba estate, and with his diabolical art drove my
master and his family out of the castle, and placed the
whole estate in Chancery.1 My master (the old marquis)
went with his family and resided at the mill, where the
1 A law-court, in which, in those early times, they took perhaps ten
years to do as much as they do now in ten days.

PUSS IN BOOTS. 99
present marquis's father carried on, with the assistance of
his three sons, the trade of a miller ; and although the mill,
being on high ground, was in a high position, it may be
thought that the trade of a miller was not so ; but let me
observe that if any one in trade is not considered in a high
position in society, he must, nevertheless, be highly re
spectable, if useful and honest.
" The Ogre held out such threats against the health and
life of my master and his family if he interfered or went to
the king about the lawsuit, that my master, and his son
afterwards, thought it best for all their sakes to remain
quiet, and be content with their humble cot and mode of
life. " Well had it been for me had I been content with my
position ; but, finding that I had the shape of a common
animal, I became desperate, took to the woods, and became
' a wild cat,' until one day being out of the wood, and in
the open fields, a savage dog attacked me. No tree being
near up which I could climb, I ran towards the windmill
for protection. My old master's grandson, Caraba, was at
the door, drove away the dog, and saved my life. I, had
always, from the first, a belief that some charm some day
would restore me to my natural state, and my master's
family to their estate. The charms of the charming prin
cess charmed my present master; his being charmed by
such innocence and beauty seemed to break the charm or
spell that kept me tongue-tied for so many years ; and my
speech being restored, with my knowledge of all the facts
and circumstances, has enabled me to rid the land of a
wicked Ogre, to open the rabbit-warren to the country, and
giving to his majesty his favourite food again, and being
the means, I trust, of rendering happy for life the noble

ioo PUSS IN BOOTS.
marquis and his royal bride ; and I am not without a hope
that, at no very distant time, I may be restored to what I
was ; and, if so, I shall certainly be not a sadder, but most
assuredly a wiser man."
Whilst Tom Puss was making this explanatory speech,
or telling this extraordinary tale, the marquis and his lovely
bride and the king, and indeed the whole of the company,
were deeply affected, even to tears ; and when he had done
speaking and made his bow, and was leaning on the elbow
of his master's chair, there was a solemn silence for more
than a minute, when one of the company, a rather queer
sort of fellow (who, although his legs were remarkably
straight, was called Crooked Shanks) broke the silence by
jumping on the table and crying out, with a tremendously
loud voice, " Three cheers for the king ! Hip, hip, hip,
hurrah ! " This was responded to with thunders of cheers
and applause ; then he gave three cheers for the bride and
bridegroom — responded to with uproarious cheers ; and he
then proposed three cheers for Tom Puss, which was also re
sponded to with hearty goodwill. The king then ordered
the band to strike up a merry tune, which they did, whilst
the company ate up all the apples and pears, nuts, and
sugar-plums. In the evening the whole of the company, including the
king, danced upon the green, and towards the close of the
evening, Tom Puss was seen dancing, and people exclaimed,
" Well, I've seen dancing dogs, but I never before saw a
dancing cat ; " but it could hardly be called dancing, it was
merely turning or whirling round and round ; and it is
supposed that this dance of Tom Puss's gave the first idea
of what is called the waltz. However, it very much amused
the company, and Tom whirled about until he whirled

PUSS IN BOOTS. 101
himself into a bush or thicket of evergreens, and was thus
lost sight of, and nothing more was seen of Tom Puss that
night; but on the following morning a very respectable-
looking man, with a beard rather grey, and dressed exactly
in the same fashion as Tom Puss had been, and with boots
on, was seen walking on the lawn in deep conversation
with the marquis, who suddenly turned and said, " Give me
your hand," which he shook very heartily, and then said,
" Come, let me introduce you to the king and the princess,"
and in they went to the palace; and this was the old
gamekeeper, Thomas, who once was
PUSS IN BOOTS.

CHISWICK PRESS!— C. WHITTINGHAM AND CO., TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE.