he door and a woman came to it who said, What do you want? They said, Please let us in and give us something to eat.  They begged hard. Let us stop for a little while said they and we will go away before he comes. So she took them in and set them down before the fire and gave them milk and bread. But just as they had begun to eat a great knock came to the door and a dreadful voice said, Fee, fire, foe, thumb, I smell the blood of some earthly one. Who have you there, wife? Eh, said the wife. It's three poor lassies cold and hungry and they will go away. You won't touch the man.  Now he had three lassies of his own and they were to sleep in the same bed with the three strangers. The youngest of the three strange lassies was called Molly Wappy and she was very clever. She noticed that before they went to bed the giant put straw ropes round her neck and her sisters and round his own lassies' necks he put gold chains. So Molly took care and did not fall asleep but waited till she was sure everyone was sleeping sound. Then she slipped out of the bed and took the straw ropes of her own and her sisters' necks and took the gold chains of the giant's lassies. She then put the straw ropes on the giant's lassies and the gold on herself and her sisters and lay down. And in the middle of the night up rose the giant armed with a great club and he felt for the necks with the straw. It was dark. He took his own lassies out of bed onto the floor and battered them until they were dead and then lay down again thinking he had managed fine. Molly thought at times she and her sisters were out of that so she awakened them and told them to be quiet and they slipped out of the house. They all got out safe and they ran and ran and never stopped until morning when they saw a grand house before them. It turned out to be a king's house so Molly went in and told her story to the king.  Molly said she would try. So she went back and managed to slip it to the giant's house and crept in below the bed. The giant came home and ate up a great supper and went to bed. Molly waited until he was snoring and she crept out and she reached over the giant and got down the sword but just as she got it out over the bed it gave a rattle and up jumped the giant and Molly ran out at the door and the sword with her and she ran and he ran till they came to the bridge of one hair and she got over but he couldn't and he says Well worth you Molly Wuffy, never you come again and she says twice yet Carl quotes she I'll come to Spain so Molly took the sword to the king and her sister was married to his son. Well the king he says you've managed well Molly but if you would manage better and steal the purse that lies below the giant's pillow I would marry your second sister to my second son and Molly said she would try. So she set out for the giant's house and slipped in and hid again below the bed and waited till the giant had eaten his supper and with snoring sound asleep. She slipped out and slipped her hand below the pillow and got out the purse but just as she was going out the giant wakened and ran after her and she ran and he ran till they came to the bridge of one hair and she got over but he couldn't and he said Well worth you Molly Wuffy, never you come again once yet Carl quotes she I'll come to Spain so Molly took the purse to the king and her second sister was married to the king's second son. After that the king says to Molly Molly you are a clever girl but if you would do better yet and steal the giant's ring that he wears on his finger I will give you my younger son for yourself Molly said she would try so back she goes to the giant's house and hides herself below the bed the giant wasn't long yet he came home and after he had eaten a great big supper he went to his bed and shortly was snoring loud Molly crept out and reached over the bed and got hold of the giant's hand and she pulled and she pulled until she got off the ring and she got it off the giant got up and gripped her by the hand and he says now I have catch you Molly Wuffy and if I had done as much ill to you as you have done to me what would you do to me Molly says I would put you into a sack and I'd put the cat inside with you and the dog beside you and a needle and thread and a shears and I'd hang you up upon the wall and choose the thickest stick I could get and I would come home and take you down and bang you till you were dead well Molly says the giant I'll just do that to you so he gets a sack and puts Molly into it and the cat and the dog beside her and a needle and thread and shears and hangs her upon the wall and goes to the wood to choose a stick Molly she sings out you see what I see oh says the giant's wife what do you see Molly but Molly never said a word but oh you see what I see the giant's wife begged that Molly would take her up into the sack till she would see what Molly saw so Molly took the shears and cut a hole in the sack and took out the needle and thread with her and jumped down and helped the giant's wife up into the sack and sewed up the hole the giant's wife saw nothing and began to ask to get down again but Molly never minded and hid herself at the back of the door home came the giant and a great big tree in his hand and he took down the sack and began to batter it his wife cried it's me man but the dog barked and the cat mewed but Molly came out from the back of the door and the giant saw her and he after her and he ran and she ran till they came to the bridge of one hair and she got over but he couldn't and he said woe worth you Molly Wuppie never you come again never more Carl quote she will I come again to Spain so Molly took the ring to the king and she was married to his younger son end of chapter 22 Molly Wuppie this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs chapter 23 The Red Ettin there was once a widow that lived on a small bit of ground which she rented from a farmer and she had two sons and by and by it was time for the wife to send them away to seek their fortune so she told her eldest son one day to take a can and bring her water from the well that she might bake a cake for him and however much or however little he might bring the cake would be great or small accordingly and that cake was to be all that she could give him when he went on his travels the lad went away with the can and filled it well and filled it with water and then came away home again but the can being broken the most part of the water had run out before he got back so his cake was very small yet small as it was his mother asked him if he was willing to take the half of it with her blessing telling him that if he chose rather to take the whole he would only get it with her curse the young man thinking he might have to travel a far way with all the provisions said he would like to have the whole cake come off his mother's mallison what like so she gave him the whole cake and her mallison along with it then he took his brother aside and gave him a knife to keep till he should come back desiring him to look at it every morning and as long as it continued to be clear then he might be sure that the owner of it was well but if it grew dim and rusty then for certain some ill had befallen him so the young man went to seek his fortune and he went all that day and all the next day and on the third day in the afternoon he came up to where shepherd was sitting with a flock of sheep and he went up to the shepherd and asked him who the sheep belonged to and he answered the red Ettin of Ireland once lived in Baligan and stole King Markham's daughter the king of fair Scotland he beat her, he bind her he lays her on a band and strikes her with a bright silver wand like Julian the Roman he's one that fears no man it's said there's one predestinate to be his mortal foe but that man is yet unborn and long may it be so this shepherd also told him to beware of the beasts he should next meet for they were of a very different kind from any he had yet seen so the young man went on and by and by he saw a multitude of very dreadful beasts with two heads and on every head four horns and he was so frightened and ran away from them as fast as he could and glad was he when he came to a castle that stood on a hillock with the door standing wide open to the wall and he went into the castle for shelter and there he saw an old wife sitting beside the kitchen fire he asked the wife if he might stay for the night as he was tired with a long journey and the wife said he might but it was not a good place for him to be in as it belonged to the red Ettin who was a very terrible beast with three heads that spared no living man it could get hold of the young man would have gone away but he was afraid of the beasts on the outside of the castle so he beseeched the old woman to hide him as best she could and not tell the Ettin he was there he thought if he could put over the night he might get away in the morning without meeting with the beasts but he had not been long in his hiding hole before the awful Ettin came in and no sooner was he in than he was heard crying Snock Butt and Snock Ben I find the smell of an earthly man be he living or be he dead his heart this night shall kitchen my bread the monster soon found the poor young man and pulled him from his hole and when he had got him out he told him that if he could answer him three questions his life should be spared so the first head asked a thing without an end what's that but the young man knew not then the second head said the smaller the more dangerous what's that but the young man knew it not and then the third head asked the dead carrying the living riddle me that but the young man had to give it up the lad not being able to answer one of these questions the red Ettin took a mallet and knocked him on the head and turned him into a pillar of stone on the morning after this happened the younger brother took out the knife to look at it and he was grieved to find it all brown with rust he told his mother that the time was now come for him to go away upon his travels also so she requested him to take the can to the well for water that she might make a cake for him and he went to the water a raven over his head cried to him to look and he would see that the water was running out and he was a young man of sense and seeing the water running out he took some clay and patched up the holes so that he brought home enough water to bake a large cake when his mother put it to him to take the half cake with her blessing he took it in preference to having the hole with her mallison and yet the half was bigger than what the other lad had got and after he had travelled a far way he met with an old woman that asked him if he would give her a bit of his Johnny cake and he said I will gladly do that and so he gave her a piece of the Johnny cake and for that she gave him a magical wand that she might yet be of service to him if he took care to use it rightly then the old woman who was a fairy told him a great deal that would happen to him and what he ought to do in all circumstances and after that he went out of his sight he went on a great way farther and then he came up to the old man herding the sheep and when he asked whose sheep these were the answer was the red Ettin of Ireland once lived in Balagon and stole King Malcolm's daughter the king of fair Scotland he beats her, he binds her he lays her on a band and every day he strikes her with a bright silver wand like Julian the Roman he's one that fears no man but now I fear his end is near and destiny at hand and your to be I plainly see the air of all his land when he came to the place where the monstrous beasts were standing he did not stop nor run away but went boldly through amongst them one came up roaring with open mouth to devour him when he struck it with his wand and laid it in an instant dead at his feet he soon came to the Ettin's castle where he knocked and was admitted the old woman who sat by the fire warned him of the terrible Ettin and what had been the fate of his brother but he was knocked to be daunted the monster soon came in saying snock butt and snock ben I find the smell of an earthly man be he living or be he dead his heart shall be kitchen to my bread he quickly aspired the young man and bade him come forth on the floor and then he put the three questions to him that the young man had been told everything by the good fairy so he was able to answer all the questions so when the first head asked what's the thing without an end he said a bowl and when the second head said the smaller the more dangerous what's that he said at once a bridge and last the third head said tell me that then the young man answered up at once and said when a ship sails on the sea with men inside her when the Ettin found this he knew that his power was gone the young man then took up an axe and hewed off the monsters three heads he next asked the old woman to show him where the king's daughter lay and the old woman took him upstairs and opened a great many doors and out of every door came a beautiful lady who had been imprisoned there by the Ettin and one of the ladies was the king's daughter she also took him down into a low room and there stood a stone pillar that he had only to touch with his wand when his brother started into life and the whole of the prisoners were overjoyed at their deliverance for which they thanked the young man next day they all set out for the king's court and a gallant company they made and the king married his daughter to the young man that had delivered her from the noble's daughter to his brother and so they all lived happily all the rest of their days end of chapter 23 the Red Ettin this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs chapter 24 The Golden Arm he was once a man who travelled the land all over in search of a wife he saw young and old, rich and poor pretty and plain and could not meet with one to his mind at last he found a woman young, fair and rich he possessed a right arm of solid gold he married her at once and thought no man so fortunate as he was they lived happily together but though he wished people to think otherwise he was fonder of the golden arm than of all his wife's gifts besides at last she died the husband put on the blackest black and pulled the longest face at the funeral but for all that he got up in the middle of the night dug up the body and cut off the golden arm he hurried home to hide his treasure and thought no one would know the following night he put the golden arm under his pillow and was just falling asleep when the ghost of his dead wife glided into the room stalking out to the bedside it drew the curtain and looked at him reproachfully pretending not to be afraid he spoke to the ghost and said what has thou done with thy cheek so red all withered and wasted away replied the ghost in a hollow tone what has thou done with thy red rosy lips all withered and wasted away what has thou done with thy golden hair all withered and wasted away what has thou done with thy golden arm thou hast it end of chapter 24 the golden arm this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs chapter 25 the history of Tom Thung in the days of the great Prince Arthur the lived a mighty magician called Merlin the most learned and skillful enchanter the world has ever seen this famous magician who could take any form he pleased was travelling about as a poor beggar and being very tired he stopped at the cottage of a plowman to rest himself and asked for some food the countrymen bade him welcome and his wife who was a very good hearted woman soon brought him some milk in a wooden bowl and some coarse brown bread on a platter Merlin was much pleased with the kindness of the plowman and his wife but he could not help noticing that though everything was neat and comfortable in the cottage they seemed both to be very unhappy he therefore asked them why they were so melancholy and learned that they were miserable because they had no children the poor woman said with tears in her eyes I should be the happiest creature in the world if I had a son although he was no bigger than my husband's thumb I would be satisfied Merlin was so much amused with the idea of a boy no bigger than a man's thumb that he determined to grout the poor woman's wish accordingly in a short time after the plowman's wife had a son who, wonderful to relate was not a bit bigger than his father's thumb the queen of the fairies wishing to see the little fellow came in at the window while the mother was sitting up in the bed admiring him the queen kissed the child and giving it the name of Tom Thumb sent for some of the fairies who dressed her little godson according to her orders an oak leaf hat he had for his crown his shirt of web by spider's spun with jacket-wove of thistles down his trousers were feathers done his stockings of apple rind they tie with eyelash from his mother's eye his shoes were made of mouse's skin tanned with the downy hair within Tom never grew any larger than his father's thumb which was only of ordinary size but as he got older he became very cunning and full of tricks when he was old enough to play with the boys and had lost all his own cherry stones he used to creep into the bags of his playfellows fill his pockets and getting out without their noticing him would again join in the game one day however as he was coming out of a bag of cherry stones where he had been stealing as usual the boy to whom it belonged chance to see him aha my little Tommy said the boy so I have caught you stealing my cherry stones at last and you shall be rewarded for your feverish tricks on saying this he drew the string tight around his neck and gave the bag such a hearty shake that poor little Tom's legs, thighs and body were sadly bruised he wrought out with pain and begged to be let out promising never to steal again a short time afterwards his mother was making a batter pudding and Tom being very anxious to see how it was made climbed up to the edge of the bowl but his foot slipped and he plumped overhead and ears into the batter without his mother noticing him who stirred him into the pudding bag and put him in the pot to boil the batter filled Tom's mouth and prevented him from crying but on feeling the hot water he kicked and struggled so much in the pot that his mother thought that the pudding was bewitched and pulling it out of the pot she threw it outside the door a poor tinker who was passing by lifted up the pudding and putting it into his budget he then walked off and had now got his mouth cleared of the batter he then began to cry aloud which so frightened the tinker that he flung down the pudding and ran away the pudding being broke to pieces by the fall Tom crept out covered all over with the batter and walked home his mother who was very sorry to see her darling in such a woeful state put him into a tea cup and soon washed off the batter after which she kissed him and laid him in bed Tom's mother went to milk her cow in the meadow and she took him along with her as the wind was very high for fear of being blown away she tied him to a thistle with a piece of fine thread the cow soon observed Tom's oak leaf hat and liking the appearance of it took poor Tom and the thistle at one mouthful while the cow was chewing the thistle Tom was afraid of her great teeth which threatened to crush him in pieces and he wrought out as loud as he could mother mother where are you Tommy my dear Tommy said his mother hear mother replied he in the red cow's mouth his mother began to cry and wring her hands but the cow surprised at the odd noise in her throat opened her mouth and let Tom drop out fortunately his mother caught him in her apron as he was falling to the ground or he would have been dreadfully hurt she then put Tom in her bosom and ran home with him Tom's father made him a whip of a barley straw to drive the cattle whip and having one day gone into the fields he slipped a foot and rolled into the furrow a raven which was flying over picked him up and flew with him over the sea and there dropped him a large fish swallowed Tom the moment he fell into the sea which was soon after caught and brought for the table of King Arthur when they opened the fish everyone was astonished at finding such a little boy and Tom was quite delighted at being free again they carried him to the king who made Tom his dwarf and he soon grew a great favourite at court for by his tricks and gambles he not only amused the king and queen but also all the nights of the round table it is said that when the king rode out on horseback he often took Tom along with him and if a shower came on he used to creep into his majesty's waistcoat pocket where he slept till the rain was over King Arthur one day asked Tom about his parents wishing to know if they were as small as he was and whether they were well off Tom told the king that his father and mother were as tall as anybody about the court but in rather poor circumstances on hearing this the king carried Tom to his treasury the place where he kept all his money and told him to take as much money as he could carry home to his parents which made the poor little fellow caper with joy Tom went immediately to procure a purse which was made of a water bubble and then returned to the treasury where he received a silver three penny piece to put into it our little hero had some difficulty in lifting the burden upon his back but he at last succeeded in getting it placed to his mind and set forward on his journey however without meeting with any accident and after resting himself for a few times by the way in two days and two nights he reached his father's house in safety Tom had travelled 48 hours with a huge silver piece on his back and was almost tired to death when his mother ran out to meet him and carried him into the house but he soon returned to court as Tom's clothes had suffered much in the better pudding and the inside of the fish his majesty ordered him a new suit of clothes and to be mounted as a knight on a mouse of butterflies wings his shirt was made his boots of chickens hides and by a nimble fairy blade while learned in the tailing trade his clothing was supplied a needle dangled by his side a dapper mouse he used to ride thus strutted Tom in stately pride it was certainly very diverting to see Tom in this dress and mounted on the mouse as he rode out hunting with the king and nobility after at Tom and his fine prancing charger the king was so charmed with his address that he ordered a little chair to be made in order that Tom might sit upon his table and also a palace of gold a span high with a door inch wide to live in he also gave him a coach drawn by six small mice the queen was so enraged at the honors conferred on Sir Thomas that she resolved to ruin him and told the king that the little knight had been saucy to her the king sent for Tom in great haste but being fully aware of the danger of royal anger he crept into an empty snail shell where he lay for a long time until he was almost starved with hunger but at last he ventured to peep out and seeing a fine large butterfly on the ground near the place of his concealment he got close to it and jumping astride on it was carried up into the air the butterfly flew with him from tree to tree and at last returned to the court where the king and nobility all strove to catch him but at last poor Tom fell from his seat into a watering pot in which he was almost drowned when the queen saw him she was in a rage and said he should be beheaded and he was again put into a mousetrap until the time of his execution however a cat observing something alive in the trap patted it about to the wires broke and said Thomas at liberty the king received Tom again into favor which he did not live to enjoy for a large spider one day attacked him and although he drew his sword and fought well yet the spider's poisonous breath at last overcame him he fell dead on the ground where he stood and the spider sucked every drop of his blood King Arthur and his whole court was so sorry at the loss of their little favorite that they went into mourning and raised a fine white marble monument over his grave with the following epitaph here lies Tom Thumb King Arthur's night who died by a spider's cruel bite he was well known in Arthur's court where he afforded gallant sport he rode at tilt and tournament and on a mouse a hunting went alive he filled the court with mirth his death to sorrow soon gave birth wipe wipe your eyes and shake your head and cry unless Tom Thumb is dead Chapter 25 The History of Tom Thumb This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs Chapter 26 Mr Fox Lady Mary was young and Lady Mary was fair she had two brothers and more lovers than she could count but of them all the bravest and most gallant was a Mr Fox whom she met when she was down at her father's country house no one knew who Mr Fox was but he was certainly brave and surely rich and of all her lovers Lady Mary cared for him alone at last it was agreed upon between them that they should be married Lady Mary asked Mr Fox where they should live and he described to her his castle and where it was but strange to say did not ask her or her brothers to come and see it so one day near the wedding day when her brothers were out and Mr Fox was away for a day or two on business as he said Lady Mary set out for Mr Fox's castle and after many searchings she came at last to it and a fine strong house it was with high walls and a deep moat and when she came up to the gateway she saw written on it be bold, be bold but as the gate was open she went through it and found no one there so she went up to the doorway and over it she found written be bold, be bold but not too bold still she went on till she came into the hall and went up the broad stairs till she came to a door in the gallery over which was written be bold, be bold lest that your heart's blood should run cold but Lady Mary was a brave one she was and she opened the door and what do you think she saw why, bodies and skeletons of beautiful young ladies all stained with blood so Lady Mary thought it was high time to get out of that horrid place and she closed the door went through the gallery and was just going down the stairs and out of the hall when who should she see through the window but Mr Fox dragging a beautiful young lady along from the gateway to the door Lady Mary rushed downstairs and hid herself behind a cask just in time as Mr Fox came in with the poor young lady who seemed to have fainted just as he got near Lady Mary Mr Fox saw a diamond ring glittering on the finger of the young lady who was dragging and he tried to pull it off but it was tightly fixed and would not come off so Mr Fox cursed and swore and drew his sword and raised it and brought it down upon the hand of the poor lady the sword cut off the hand which jumped up into the air and fell of all places in the world into Lady Mary's lap Mr Fox looked about a bit but did not think of looking behind the cask so at last he went on dragging the young lady up the stairs into the bloody chamber as soon as she heard him pass through the gallery Lady Mary crept out of the door down through the gateway and ran home as fast as she could now it happened that the very next day the marriage contract of Lady Mary and Mr Fox was to be signed and there was a splendid breakfast before that and when Mr Fox was seated at table opposite Lady Mary he looked at her how pale you are this morning my dear yes said she I had a bad night's rest last night I had horrible dreams dreams go by contraries said Mr Fox but tell us your dream and your sweet voice will make the time pass till the happy hour comes I dreamed said Lady Mary that I went yesterday morning to your castle and I found it in the woods with high walls and a deep moat and over the gateway was written be bold, be bold but it is not so nor it was not so said Mr Fox and when I came to the doorway over it was written be bold, be bold but not too bold it is not so nor it was not so said Mr Fox and then I went upstairs and came to a gallery at the end of which was a door on which was written be bold, be bold but not too bold should run cold it is not so nor it was not so said Mr Fox and then and then I opened the door and the room was filled with bodies and skeletons of poor dead women all stained with their blood it is not so nor it was not so and God forbid it should be so said Mr Fox I then dreamed that I rushed down the gallery and just as I was going down the stairs Mr Fox coming up to the whole door dragging after you a poor young lady rich and beautiful it is not so nor it was not so and God forbid it should be so said Mr Fox I rushed downstairs just in time to hide myself behind a cask when you Mr Fox came in dragging the young lady by the arm and as you passed me Mr Fox I thought I saw you try and get off her diamond ring and you could not Mr Fox it seemed to me in my dream that you out with your sword and hacked off the poor lady's hand to get the ring it is not so nor it was not so and God forbid it should be so said Mr Fox and was going to say something else as he rose from a seat when Lady Mary cried out but it is so and it was so here's hand and ring I have to show the lady's hand from her dress and pointed it straight at Mr Fox at once her brothers and her friends drew their swords and cut Mr Fox into a thousand pieces end of chapter 26 Mr Fox this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairytales collected by Joseph Jacobs chapter 27 Lazy Jack once upon a time there was a boy whose name was Jack and he lived with his mother on a common they were very poor and the old woman got her living by spinning but Jack was so lazy that he would do nothing but bask in the sun in the hot weather and sit by the corner of the hearth in the winter time so they called him Lazy Jack his mother could not get him to work for her and at last told him one Monday that if he did not begin to work for his porridge she would turn him out to get his living as he could this roused Jack and he went out and hired himself for the next day to a neighbouring farmer for a penny but as he was coming home never having had any money before he lost it in passing over a brook you stupid boy said his mother you should have put it in your pocket and replied Jack on Wednesday Jack went out again and hired himself to a cowkeeper who gave him a jar of milk for his day's work Jack took the jar and put it into the large pocket of his jacket spilling it all long before he got home dear me said the old woman you should have carried it on your head I'll do so another time said Jack so on Thursday the farmer who agreed to give him a cream cheese for his services in the evening Jack took the cheese and went home with it on his head by the time he got home the cheese was all spoilt part of it being lost and part matted with his hair you stupid lout said his mother you should have carried it very carefully in your hands I'll do so another time replied Jack so on Saturday Jack hired himself to a butcher who would give him nothing for his work but a large tomcat Jack took the cat and began carrying it very carefully in his hands but in a short time pussy scratched him so much that he was compelled to let it go when he got home his mother said to him you silly fellow you should have tied it with a string and dragged it along after you I'll do so another time said Jack so he would have supported him by the handsome present of a shoulder of mutton Jack took the mutton tied it to a string and trailed it along after him in the dirt so that by the time he had got home the meat was completely spoilt his mother was this time quite out of patience with him for the next day was Sunday and she was obliged to make do with cabbage for her dinner you niny hammer said she to her son you should have carried it on your shoulder I'll do so another time replied Jack on the next Monday lazy Jack went once more and hired himself to a cattle keeper who gave him a donkey for his trouble Jack found it hard to hoist the donkey on his shoulders but at last he did it and began walking slowly home with his prize now it happened that in the course of his journey they lived a rich man with his only daughter a beautiful girl who had a life and dung now she had never laughed in her life and the doctors said she would never speak till somebody made her laugh this young lady happened to be looking out of the window when Jack was passing with the donkey on his shoulders with the legs sticking up in the air and the sight was so comical and strange that she burst out into a great fit of laughter and immediately recovered her speech and hearing her father was overjoyed and fulfilled his promise to the lazy Jack who was thus made a rich gentleman they lived in a large house and Jack's mother lived with them in great happiness until she died end of chapter 27 lazy Jack this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs Chapter 28 Johnny Cake once upon a time there was an old man and an old woman and a little boy one morning the old woman made a Johnny Cake and put it in the oven to bake you watched the Johnny Cake while your father and I go out to work in the garden so the old man and the old woman went out and began to hoe potatoes and left the little boy to tend the oven to watch it all the time and all of a sudden he heard a noise and he looked up and the oven door popped open and out of the oven jumped Johnny Cake and went rolling along end over end towards the open door of the house the little boy ran to shut the door but Johnny Cake was too quick for him and rolled through the door down the steps and out into the road long before the little boy could catch him the little boy ran after him clipped it crying out to his father and mother who heard the uproar and threw down their hoes and gave chase too but Johnny Cake outran all three a long way and was soon out of sight while they had to sit down all out of breath on a bank to rest on went Johnny Cake and by and by he came to two well diggers who looked up from their work and called out where you going Johnny Cake said they he said I've outrun an old man an old woman and a little boy and I can outrun you too you can can you we'll see about that said they and they threw down their pics and ran after him but couldn't catch up with him and soon they had to sit down by the roadside to rest on ran Johnny Cake and by and by he came to two old man and an old woman and a little boy and two well diggers and I can outrun you too you can can you we'll see about that said they and they threw down their spades and ran after him too but Johnny Cake soon outstripped them also and seeing they could never catch him they gave up the chase and sat down to rest on went Johnny Cake and by and by he came to a bear and Johnny Cake he said I've outrun an old man and an old woman and a little boy and two well diggers and two ditch diggers and I can outrun you too you can can you we'll see about that and trotted as fast as his legs would carry him after Johnny Cake who never stopped to look behind him before long the bear was left at first as last so he stretched himself out by the roadside to rest on went Johnny Cake and by and by he came to a wolf the wolf said where you going Johnny Cake he said I've outrun an old man and an old woman and a little boy and two well diggers and two ditch diggers and a bear and I can outrun you too and he sat in a gallop after Johnny Cake he went on and on so fast that the wolf too saw there was no hope of overtaking him and he too lay down to rest on went Johnny Cake and by and by he came to a fox that lay quietly in a corner of the fence the fox called out in a sharp voice but without getting up where you going Johnny Cake he said I've outrun an old man and an old woman and a little boy and two well diggers and two ditch diggers a bear and a wolf and I can outrun you too the fox said can't quite hear you Johnny Cake won't you come a little closer turning his head a little to one side Johnny Cake stopped his race for the first time and went a little closer and called out in a very loud voice I've outrun an old man and an old woman and a little boy and two well diggers and two ditch diggers and a bear and a wolf and I can outrun you too can't quite hear you won't you come a little closer said the fox in a feeble voice as he stretched out his neck towards Johnny Cake and put one paw behind his ear Johnny Cake came up close and the fox screamed out I've outrun an old man and an old woman and a little boy and two well diggers and two ditch diggers and a bear and a wolf and I can outrun you too you can't can you and he snapped up the Johnny Cake in his sharp teeth in the twinkling of an eye end of chapter 28 Johnny Cake this is a LibriVox recording if you have any information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs Chapter 29 Earl Ma's Daughter One fine summer's day Earl Ma's daughter went into the castle garden dancing and tripping along and as she played and sported she would stop from time to time to listen to the music of the birds in the green oak tree she looked up and spied a sprightly dove sitting high up on one of its branches she looked up and said coo my dove, my dear come down to me and I will give you a golden cage I'll take you home and pit you well as well as any bird of them all scarcely had she said these words when the dove flew down from the branch and settled on her shoulder nestling up against her neck while she smoothed its feathers then she took it home to her own room the day was done and the night came on and Earl Ma's daughter was thinking of going to sleep when turning round she found at her side a handsome young man she was startled for the door had been locked for hours but she was a brave girl and said what are you doing here young man to come and startle me so the door was barred these hours ago however did you come here I was that cooing dove that you coaxed from off the tree but who are you then she said quite low and how came you to be changed into that dear little bird my name is Florentine and my mother is a queen and something more than a queen for she knows magic and spells and because I would not do as she wished she turned me into a dove by day but at night her spells lose their power and I become a man again today I crossed the sea at a time and I was glad to be a bird that I could come near you unless you love me I shall never be happy more but if I love you says she will you not fly away and leave me one of these fine days never never said the prince be my wife and I'll be yours forever by day a bird by night a prince I will always be by your side and everyone knew that every night kumay dove became Prince Florentine and every year a little son came to them as Bonnie as Bonnie could be but as each son was born Prince Florentine carried the little thing away on his back over the sea to where the queen his mother lived and left the little one with her seven years passed thus and then a great trouble came to them for the Earl Ma wished to marry his daughter to a noble of high degree who came wooing her and she said father dear I do not wish to marry I can be quite happy with kumay dove here then her father got into a mighty rage and saw a great big earth and said tomorrow so sure as I live and eat I'll twist that birdie's neck and out he stamped from her room oh oh said kumay dove it's time that I was away and so he jumped upon the windowsill and in a moment was flying away and he flew and he flew till he was over the deep deep sea and yet on he flew until he came to his mother's castle now the queen his mother was taking her walk abroad when she saw the pretty dove flying overhead and a lighting on the castle walls here dancers come and dance your jigs she called and pipers pipe you well for he is my own Florentine come back to me to stay for the time no mother said Florentine no dancers for me and no minstrels for my dear wife the mother of my seven boys is to be wed tomorrow and sad's the day for me what can I do my son said the queen tell me and it shall be done if my magic has the power to do it well then mother dear turn the 24 dancers and pipers into 24 gray herons and let my seven sons become their leader alas alas my son she said that may not be my magic reaches not so far but perhaps my teacher the spay wife of ostry may know better and away she hurries to the cave of ostry and after a while comes out as white as white can be and muttering over some burning herbs she brought out of the cave suddenly koo my dove changed into a gothawk and around him flew 24 gray herons and signets without a word or a goodbye off they flew over the deep blue sea which was tossing and moaning they flew and they flew till they swooped down on earl ma's castle just as the wedding party was setting off for the church first came the men at arms and then the bridegroom's friends and then earl ma's men and then the bridegroom and lastly pale and beautiful earl ma's daughter herself hurriedly to stately music till they came past the trees on which the birds were settling a word from Prince Florentine the gothawk and they all rose into the air herons beneath signets above and gothawk circling above all the wedding ears wandered at the site when swoop the herons were down among them scattering the men at arms the swanlets took charge of the bride while the gothawk dashed down and tied the bridegroom to a tree and the signets placed their mother upon them and suddenly they all rose in the air bearing the bride away with them in safety towards Prince Florentine's home surely a wedding party was never so disturbed in this world what could the wedding ears do they saw their pretty bride carried away and away till she and the herons and the swans and the gothawk disappeared and that very day Prince Florentine brought earl ma's daughter to the castle of the queen his mother and they lived happy ever afterwards end of chapter 29 earl ma's daughter this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairytales collected by Joseph Jacobs Chapter 30 Mr. Miyaka Tommy Grimes was sometimes a good boy and when he was a bad boy he was a very bad boy now his mother used to say to him Tommy Tommy be a good boy and don't go out of the street or else Mr. Miyaka will take you but still when he was a bad boy he would go out of the street and one day sure enough he had scarcely got round the corner when Mr. Miyaka did catch him and popped him into a bag upside down and took him off to his house when Mr. Miyaka got Tommy inside he pulled him out of the bag and set him down and felt his arms and legs you're rather tough says he but you all I've got for supper and you're not taste bad boiled but Boryomia forgot the herbs and it's bitter you'll taste without herbs Sally, here I say Sally and he called Mrs. Miyaka so Mrs. Miyaka came out of another room and said Mrs. Miyaka came out of another room and said what do you want my dear oh here's a little boy for supper said Mr. Miyaka and I forgot the herbs mind him will you while I go for them alright my love says Mrs. Miyaka and off he goes then Tommy Grimes said to Mrs. Miyaka does Mr. Miyaka always have little boys for supper mostly my dear said Mrs. Miyaka if little boys are bad enough and get in his way and don't you have anything else but boy meat no pudding asked Tommy I loves pudding says Mrs. Miyaka but it's not often the likes of me gets pudding why my mother is making a pudding this very day said Tommy Grimes and I'm sure she'd give you some if I ask her shall I run and get some now that's a thoughtful boy Mrs. Miyaka only don't be long and be sure to be back for supper so off Tommy Pelters and right glad he was to get off so cheap and for many a long day he was as good as good could be and never went round the corner of the street but he couldn't always be good and one day he went round the corner and as luck would have it he hadn't scarcely got round it when Mr. Miyaka grabbed him up popped him in his bag and took him home when he got in there and when he saw him he said ah you're the youngster what served me and my Mrs that shabby trick leaving us without any supper well you shan't do it again I'll watch over you myself here get under the sofa and I'll sit on it and watch the pot boil for you so poor Tommy Grimes had to creep under the sofa and Mr. Miyaka sat on it and waited for the pot to boil and they waited and they waited and the pot didn't boil to that last Mr. Miyaka got tired of waiting and he said here you under there I'm not going to wait any longer put out your leg and I'll stop you giving us the slip so Tommy put out a leg and Mr. Miyaka got a chopper and chopped it off and pops it in the pot suddenly he calls out Sally my dear Sally and nobody answered so he went into the next room for Mrs. Miyaka and while he was there Tommy crept out from under the sofa and ran out of the door for it was a leg of the sofa that he had put out so Tommy Grimes ran home and he never went round the corner again till he was old enough to go alone end of chapter 30 Mr. Miyaka this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information about how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs chapter 31 Whittington and his cat in the reign of the famous King Edward III there was a little boy called Dick Whittington whose father and mother died when he was very young as poor Dick was not old enough to work he was very badly off he got that little for his dinner and sometimes nothing at all for his breakfast for the people who lived in the village were very poor indeed and could not spare him much more than the pairings of potatoes and now and then a hard crust of bread now Dick had heard a great many very strange things about the great city called London for the country people at that time thought that folks in London were all fine gentlemen and ladies and that they were singing and music there all day long with gold one day a large wagon and eight horses all with bells at their heads drove through the village while Dick was standing by the signpost he thought that this wagon must be going to the fine town of London so he took courage and asked the Wagoner to let him walk with him by the side of the wagon as soon as the Wagoner heard that poor Dick had no father or mother and saw by his ragged clothes that he could not be worse off so off they set together so Dick got safe to London and was in such a hurry to see the fine streets paved all over with gold that he did not even stay to thank the kind Wagoner but ran off as fast as his legs would carry him through many of the streets thinking every moment to come to those that were paved with gold for Dick had seen a guinea three times in his own little village and remembered what a deal of money it brought in change there was nothing to do but to take up some little bits of the pavement and should then have as much money as he could wish for poor Dick ran till he was tired and had quite forgot his friend the Wagoner but at last finding it grow dark and that every way he turned he saw nothing but dirt instead of gold he sat down in a dark corner and cried himself to sleep little Dick was all night in the streets and next morning being very hungry Dick walked about and asked everybody he met to give him a half penny to keep him from starving but nobody stayed to answer him and only two or three gave him a half penny so that the poor boy was soon quite weak and faint for the want of victuals in this distress he asked charity of several people and one of them said crossly go to work for an idle rogue that I will says Dick I will to go work for you if you will let me but the man only cursed at him and went on at last a good natured looking gentleman saw how hungry he looked why don't you go to work my lad said he to Dick that I would but I do not know how to get any answered Dick if you are willing come along with me said the gentleman and took him to a hay field where Dick worked briskly barely till the hay was made after this he found himself as badly off as before and being almost starved again he laid himself down at the door of Mr Fitzwarren a rich merchant here he was soon seen by the cook maid who was an ill-tempered creature and happened just then to be very busy dressing dinner for her master and mistress so she called out to poor Dick what business have you there you lazy rogue there is nothing else but beggars if you do not take yourself away we will see how you will like a sowsing of some dishwater I have some here hot enough to make you jump just at that time Mr Fitzwarren himself came home to dinner and when he saw a dirty ragged boy lying at the door he said to him why do you lie there my boy you seem old enough to work I'm afraid you are inclined to be lazy no indeed sir said Dick to him I work with all my heart but I do not know anybody and I believe I am very sick for the want of food poor fellow get up let me see what ails you Dick now tried to rise but was obliged to lie down again being too weak to stand for he had not eaten any food for three days and was no longer able to run about and beg a half penny of people in the street so the kind merchant ordered him to be taken into the house and kept to do what work he was able to do for the cook little Dick would have lived very happy in this good family if it had not been for the ill-natured cook she used to say you are under me so look sharp clean the spit and the dripping pan make the fires, wind up the jack and do all the scullery work nimbly or and she would shake the ladle at him besides she was so fond of basting that when she had no meat to bast she would baste poor Dick's head and to fall in her way at last her ill-usage of him was told to Alice Mr. Fitzwarren's daughter who told the cook she should be turned away if she did not treat him kinder the behaviour of the cook was now a little better but besides this Dick had another hardship to get over his bed stood in a garret where there were so many holes in the floor and the walls that every night he was tormented with rats and mice a gentleman having given Dick a chance he thought he would buy a cat with it the next day he saw a girl with a cat and asked her will you let me have that cat for a penny the girl said yes that I will master though she is an excellent mouser Dick hid his cat in the garret and always took care to carry a part of his dinner to her and in a short time he had no more trouble with the rats and mice but slept quite sound every night and he was all ready to sleep ready to sail and as it was the custom that all his servants should have some chance for good fortune as well as himself he called them all into the parlour and asked them what they would send out they all had something that they were willing to venture except poor Dick who had neither money nor goods and therefore could send nothing for this reason he did not come into the parlour with the rest but Miss Alice guessed what was the matter I will lay down some money for him from my own purse but her father told her this will not do for it must be something of his own when poor Dick heard this he said I have nothing but a cat which I bought for a penny some time since of a little girl fetch your cat then my lad said Mr Fitzwarren and let her go Dick went upstairs and brought down poor Puss with tears in his eyes before he said I shall now be kept awake all night by the rats and mice all the company laughed at Dick's odd venture and Miss Alice who felt pity for him gave him some money to buy another cat this and many other marks of kindness shown him by Miss Alice made the ill tempered cook jealous a poor Dick and she began to use him more cruelly than ever and always made game of him for sending his cat to sea she asked him would buy a stick to beat you that last poor Dick could not bear this usage any longer and he thought he would run away from his place so he packed up his few things and started very early in the morning on all Hallows day the first of November he walked as far as Halloway and there sat down on a stone which to this day is called Whittington stone and began to think to himself which road he should take while he was thinking what he should do the bells of Bow Church which at that time were only six began to ring and their sound seemed to say to him turn again Whittington thrice Lord Mayor of London Lord Mayor of London said he to himself why to be sure I would put up with almost anything now to be Lord Mayor of London and ride in a fine coach when I grow to be a man well I will go back and think nothing of the coughing and scolding of the old cook if I am to be Lord Mayor of London Dick went back and was lucky enough to get into the house and set about his work before the old cook came downstairs we must now follow Miss Puss to the coast of Africa the ship with the cat on board was a long time at sea and was at last driven by the winds on a part of the coast of Barbary where the only people were the moors unknown to the English the people came in great numbers to see the sailors they were very colour to themselves and treated them civilly and when they became better acquainted were very eager to buy the fine things that the ship was loaded with when the captain saw this he sent patterns of the best things he had to the king of the country who was so much pleased with them that he sent for the captain to the palace here they were placed as it is the custom of the country on rich carpets flowered with gold and silver the king and queen at the end of the room and a number of dishes were brought in for dinner they had not sat long when a vast number of rats and mice rushed in and devoured all the meat in an instant the captain wandered at this and asked if these vermin were not unpleasant oh yes said they very offensive and the king would give half his treasure to be freed of them for they not only destroy his dinner as you see but they assault him in his chamber so that he is obliged to be watched while he is sleeping for fear of them the captain jumped for joy he remembered Paul Wittington and his cat and told the king he had a creature on board the ship that would dispatch all these vermin immediately the king jumped so high at the joy which the news gave him that his turban dropped off his head bring this creature to me says he vermin are dreadful in a court and if she will perform what you say he will be in a good mood he was very bold and drooled in exchange for her the captain who knew his business took this opportunity to set forth the merits of Miss Puss he told his majesty it is not very convenient to part with her when she is gone the rats and mice may destroy the goods in the ship but to oblige your majesty I will fetch her run run said the queen I am impatient to see the dear creature away went the captain to the ship while another dinner was got ready the ship pushed under his arm and arrived at the place just in time to see the table full of rats when the cat saw them she did not wait for bidding but jumped out of the captain's arms and in a few minutes laid almost all the rats and mice dead at her feet the rest of them in their fright scampered away to their holes the king was quite charmed to get rid so easily of such plagues and the queen desired that the creature who had done them so great a kindness upon which the captain called Pussy Pussy Pussy and she came to him he then presented her to the queen who started back and was afraid to touch a creature who had made such a havoc among the rats and mice however when the captain stroked the cat and called Pussy Pussy the queen also touched her and cried for she had not learned English he then put her down on the queen's lap where she purred and played with her hand and then purred herself to sleep the king having seen the exploits of Mrs. Pussy and being informed that her kittens would stock the whole country and keep it free from rats bargained with the captain for the whole ship's cargo and then gave him ten times as much for the cat as all the rest amounted to the captain then took leave of the royal party and set sail with a fair wind for England and after a happy voyage arrived safe in London one morning early Mr. Fitzwarren had just come to his counting house and seated himself at the desk to count over the cash and settle the business for the day when somebody came tap tap at the door who's there said Mr. Fitzwarren a friend answered the other I come to bring you good news of your ship Unicorn the merchant bustling up in such a hurry that he forgot his gout opened the door and who should he see waiting but the captain and factor with a cabinet of jewels and a bill of lading when he looked at this the merchant lifted up his eyes and thanked heaven for sending him such a prosperous voyage they then told the story of the cat and showed the rich present that the king and queen had sent for her to poor Dick as soon as the merchant heard this he called out to his servants go send him in Mr. Fitzwarren now showed himself to be a good man for when some of his servants said so great a treasure was too much for him he answered God forbid I should deprive him of the value of a single penny it is his own and he shall have it to a farthing he then sent for Dick who at that time was scouring pots for the cook and was quite dirty he would have excused himself from coming into the counting house but the merchant ordered him to come in Mr. Fitzwarren ordered a chair to be set for him and so he began to think they were making game of him at the same time said to them do not play tricks with a poor simple boy but let me go down again if you please to my work indeed Mr. Whittington said the merchant we are all quite in earnest with you and I most heartily rejoice in the news that these gentlemen have brought you Mr. Whittington has sold your cat to the king of Barbary and brought you in return for her more riches than I possess in the whole world and I wish you may long enjoy them Mr. Fitzwarren then told the men to open the great treasure they had brought with them and said Mr. Whittington has nothing to do but to put it in some place of safety poor Dick hardly knew how to behave himself for joy he begged his master to take what part of it he pleased and put it all to his kindness no no answered Mr. Fitzwarren this is all your own and I have no doubt but you will use it well Dick next asked his mistress and then Miss Alice to accept a part of his good fortune but they would not and at the same time told him they felt great joy at his good success but this poor fellow was too kind hearted to keep it all to himself so he made a present to the captain the mate of the Royal Servants and even to the ill-natured old cook after this Mr. Fitzwarren advised him to send for a proper tailor and get himself dressed like a gentleman and told him he was welcome to live in his house so he could provide himself with a better when Whittington's face was washed his hair curled his hat cocked and he was dressed in a nice suit of clothes he was as handsome and genteel as any young man who visited who had once been so kind to him and thought of him with pity now looked upon him as fit to be her sweetheart and the more so no doubt because Whittington was now always thinking what he could do to oblige her and making her the prettiest presence that could be Mr. Fitzwarren soon saw their love for each other and proposed to join them in marriage and to this they both readily agreed a day for the wedding was soon fixed and they were attended to church by the Lord Mayor the Court of Aldermen the Sheriffs and a great number of the richest merchants in London whom they afterwards treated with a very rich feast history tells us that Mr. Whittington and his lady lived in great splendour and were very happy they had several children he was sheriff of London thrice Lord Mayor and received the honour of knighthood by Henry V he entertained this king and his queen at dinner after his conquest of France he said grandly that the king said never had prince such a subject when Sir Richard heard this he said never had subject such a prince the figure of Sir Richard Whittington with his cat and his arms carved in stone was to be seen till the year 1780 over the archway of the old prison of Newgate which he built for criminals end of chapter 31 Whittington and his cat this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairytales collected by Joseph Jacobs chapter 32 The Strange Visitor a woman was sitting at her real one night and still she sat and still she reeled and still she wished for company in came a pair of broad broad soles and sat down at the fireside and still she sat and still she reeled and still she wished for company in came a pair of small small legs and sat down on the broad broad soles and still she sat and still she reeled and still she wished for company in came a pair of thick thick knees and sat down on the small small legs sat down on the small, small legs, and still she sat, and still she reeled, and still she wished for company. In came a pair of thin, thin thighs, and sat down on the thick, thick knees, and still she sat, and still she reeled, and still she wished for company. In came a pair of huge, huge hips, and sat down on the thin, thin thighs, and still Still she sat and still she reeled and still she wished for company. In came a wee, wee waist and sat down on the huge, huge hips. And still she sat and still she reeled and still she wished for company. In came a pair of broad, broad shoulders and sat down on the wee, wee waist. And still she sat and still she reeled and still she wished for company. In came a pair of small, small arms and sat down on the broad, broad shoulders. And still she sat and still she reeled and still she wished for company. In came a pair of huge, huge hands and sat down on the small, small arms. And still she sat and still she reeled and still she wished for company. In came a small, small neck and sat down on the broad, broad shoulders. And still she sat and still she reeled and still she wished for company. In came a huge, huge head and sat down on the small, small neck. How did you get such broad, broad feet? Both the woman. Much tramping, much tramping, gruffly. How did you get such small, small legs? I laid and weep all, whiningly. How did you get such thick, thick knees? Much praying, much praying, piously. How did you get such thin, thin thighs? I laid and weep all. Whiningly. How did you get such big, big hips? Much sitting, much sitting, gruffly. How did you get such a wee, wee waist? I laid and weep all. How did you get such broad, broad shoulders? With carrying broom, with carrying broom, gruffly. How did you get such small, small arms? I laid and weep all. Whiningly. How did you get such huge, huge hands? Threshing with an iron flail, threshing with an iron flail, gruffly. How did you get such a small, small neck? I laid and weep all. Pityfully. How did you get such a huge, huge head? Much knowledge, much knowledge, Keemley. What do you come for? For you! At the top of the voice, with a wave of the arm and a stamp of the feet. End of chapter 32, The Strange Visitor. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. English fairy tales, collected by Joseph Jacobs. Chapter 33, The Lately Worm of Spindleston Hugh. In Bambura Castle once lived a king who had a fair wife and two children, a son named Child Wind and a daughter named Margaret. Child Wind went forth to seek his fortune and soon after he had gone, the queen, his mother, died. The king mourned her long and faithfully, but one day while he was hunting, he came across a lady of great beauty and became so much in love with her that he determined to marry her. So he sent word home that he was going to bring a new queen to Bambura Castle. Princess Margaret was not very glad to hear of her mother's place being taken, but she did not repine, but did her father's bidding. And at the appointed day came down to the castle gate with the keys all ready to hand over to her stepmother. Soon the procession drew near and the new queen came towards Princess Margaret, who bowed low and handed her the keys of the castle. She stood there with blushing cheeks and eye on ground and said, Oh, welcome, Father dear, to your halls and bowers, and welcome to you, my new mother, for all that's here is yours. And again she offered the keys. One of the king's knights who had escorted the queen cried out in admiration. Surely this northern princess is the loveliest of her kind. At that the new queen flushed up and cried out, at least your courtesy might have accepted me. And then she muttered below her breath. I'll soon put an end to her beauty. That same night the queen, who was a noted witch, stole down to a lonely dungeon wherein she did her magic with spells three times three and with parsers nine times nine, she cast Princess Margaret under her spell. And this was her spell.  So Lady Margaret went to bed a beautyous maiden and rose up a ladely worm. And when her maidens came in to dress her in the morning, they found coiled up on the bed a dreadful dragon which uncroiled itself and came towards them. But they ran away shrieking and the ladely worm crawled and crept and crept and quarreled to that reached the hue or rock of the spindle stone round which it coiled itself and lay there basking with its terrible snout in the air. Soon the country round about had reason to know of the ladely worm of spindle stone hue. For hunger drove the monster out from its cave and it used to devour everything it could come across. So at last they went to a mighty warlock and asked him what they should do. Then he consulted his works at his familiar and told them, the ladely worm is really the princess Margaret and it is hunger that drives her forth to do such deeds. Put aside for her seven kind and each days the sun goes down, carry every drop of milk they yield to the stone trough at the foot of the hue and the ladely worm will trouble the country no longer. But if you would that she be borrowed to her natural shape and that she who bespelled her be rightly punished send over the seas for her rather child wind. All was done as the warlock advised the ladely worm lived on the milk of the seven kind and the country was troubled no longer. But when child wind heard the news he swore a mighty earth to rescue his sister and revenge her on her cruel stepmother. And three and 30 of his men took the oath with him. Then they set to work and built a long ship and it's keel they made of the rowan tree. And when all was ready they out with their oars and pulled shear for Bambura Keep. But as they got near the Keep the stepmother felt by her magic power that something was being wrought against her. So she summoned her familiar imps and said, child wind is coming over the seas. He must never land, raise storms or bore the hull but know how must he touch shawl. Then the imps went forth to meet child winds ship but when they got near they found they had no power over the ship for its keel was made of the rowan tree. So back they came to the queen witch who knew not what to do. She ordered her men at arms to resist child wind if he should land near them and by her spells she caused the ladely worm to wait by the entrance of the harbour. As the ship came near the worm unfolded its coils and dipping into the sea caught hold of the ship of child wind and banged it off the shawl. Three times child wind urged his men on to row bravely and strong but each time the ladely worm kept it off the shawl. Then child wind ordered the ship to be put about and the witch queen thought he had given up the attempt. But instead of that he only rounded the next point and landed safe and sound in Beudel Creek and then with sword drawn and bow bent rushed up followed by his men to fight the terrible worm that had kept him from landing. But the moment child wind had landed the witch queen's power over the ladely worm had gone and she went back to her bow all alone not an imp nor a man at arms to help her for she knew her hour was come.  Child wind stayed his hand but he did not know what to think of some witchry were not in it.  Then child wind went up to the ladely worm and kissed it once but no change came over it then child wind kissed it once more but yet no change came over it for a third time he kissed the loathsome thing and with a hiss and a roar the ladely worm reared back and before child wind stood his sister Margaret he wrapped his cloak about her and then went up to the castle with her when he reached the keep he went off to the witch queen's bower and when he saw her he touched her with a twig of a rowan tree no sooner had he touched her than she shriveled up and shriveled up till she became a huge ugly toad with bold staring eyes and a horrible hiss she croaked and she hissed and then hopped away down the castle steps and child wind took his father's place as king and they all lived happy afterwards but to this day the loathsome toad is seen at times haunting the neighborhood of Bambura Keep and the wicked witch queen is a ladely toad end of chapter 33 the ladely worm of spindleston hue this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs chapter 34 the cat and the mouse the cat and the mouse played in the malt house the cat bit the mouse's tail off pray puss give me my tail no says the cat I'll not give you your tail till you go to the cow and fetch me some milk first she leapt and then she ran till she came to the cow and thus began pray cow give me milk that I may give cat milk that cat may give me my own tail again no said the cow I will give you no milk till you go to the farmer and get me some hay first she leapt and then she ran till she came to the farmer and thus began pray farmer give me hay that I may give cow hay that cow may give me milk that I may give cat milk that cat may give me my own tail again no says the farmer I'll give you no hay till you go to the butcher and fetch me some meat first she leapt and then she ran till she came to the butcher and thus began pray butcher give me meat that I may give farmer meat that farmer may give me hay that I may give cow hay that cow may give me milk that I may give cat milk that cat may give me my own tail again no says the butcher I'll give you no meat till you go to the baker and fetch me some bread first she leapt and then she ran till she came to the baker and thus began pray baker give me bread that I may give butcher bread that butcher may give me meat that I may give farmer meat that farmer may give me hay that I may give cow hay that cow may give me milk that I may give cat milk that cat may give me my own tail again yes says the baker I'll give you some bread but if you eat my meal I'll cut off your head then the baker gave mouse bread and mouse gave butcher bread and butcher gave mouse meat and mouse gave farmer meat and farmer gave mouse hay and mouse gave cow hay and cow gave mouse milk and mouse gave cat milk and cat gave mouse her own tail again end of chapter 34 the cat and the mouse this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs chapter 35 the fish and the ring once upon a time there was a mighty baron in the north country who was a great magician that knew everything that would come to pass so one day when his little boy was four years old he looked into the book of fate to see what would happen to him and to his dismay he found that his son would wed a lowly maid that had just been born in a house under the shadow of York Minster now the baron knew the father of the little girl was very very poor and he had five children already so he called for his horse and rode into York and passed by the father's house and sought him sitting by the door sad and dullful so he dismounted and went up to him and said what is the matter my good man and the man said well your honor the fact is I've five children already and now six come a little lass and where to get the bread from to fill their mouths that's more than I can say don't be downhearted my man said the baron if that's your trouble I can help you I'll take away the last little one and you won't have to bother about her thank you kindly sir said the man and he went in and brought out the lass and gave her to the baron who mounted his horse and rode away with her and when he got by the bank of the river else he threw the little thing into the river and rode off to his castle but the little lass didn't sink her clothes kept her up for a time and she floated and she floated till she was cast ashore just in front of a fisherman's hut there the fisherman found her and took pity on the poor little thing and took her into his house and she lived there till she was 15 years old and a fine handsome girl one day it happened that the baron rent out hunting with some companions along the banks of the river else and stopped at the fisherman's hut to get a drink and the girl came out to give it to them they all noticed her beauty and one of them said to the baron you can read fates baron whom will she marry do you think oh that's easy to guess said the baron some yokel or other but I'll cast her horoscope come here girl and tell me on what day you were born I don't know sir said the girl I was picked up just here after having been brought down by the river about 15 years ago then the baron knew who she was and when they went away he rode back and said to the girl Hark ye girl I will make your fortune take this letter to my brother and Scarborough and you'll be settled for life and the girl took the letter and said she would go now this was what he had written in the letter dear brother take the bearer and put her to death immediately yours affectionately albert so soon after the girl set out for Scarborough and slept for the night at a little inn now that very night a band of robbers broke into the inn and searched the girl who had no money and only the letter so they opened this and read it and thought it a shame the captain of the robbers took a pen and paper and wrote this letter dear brother take the bearer and marry her to my son immediately yours affectionately albert and then he gave it to the girl bidding her be gone so she went on to the baron's brother at Scarborough a noble night with whom the baron's son was staying when she gave the letter to his brother he gave orders for the wedding to be prepared at once and they were married that very day soon after the baron himself came to his brother's castle and what was his surprise to find that the very thing he had plotted against had come to pass but he was not to be put off that way and he took out the girl for a walk as he said along the cliffs and when he got her all alone he took her by the arms and was going to throw her over but she begged hard for her life I have not done anything she said if you will only spare me I will do whatever you wish I will never see you or your son again till you desire it then the baron took off his gold ring and threw it into the sea saying never let me see your face till you can show me that ring and he let her go the poor girl wandered on and on till at last she came to a great noble's castle and she asked to have some work given to her and they made her the scullion girl of the castle for she had been used to such work in the fisherman's hut now one day who should she see coming up to the noble's house but the baron and his brother and his son her husband she didn't know what to do but thought they would not see her in the castle kitchen so she went back to her work with a sigh and set to cleaning a huge big fish that was to be boiled for their dinner and as she was cleaning it she saw something shine inside it and what do you think she found why there was the baron's ring the very one he had thrown over the cliff at Scarborough she was right glad to see it he may be sure then she cooked the fish as nicely as she could and served it up well when the fish came on the table the guests liked it so well that they asked the noble who cooked it he said he didn't know but called to his servants oh there send up the cook that cooked that fine fish so they went down to the kitchen and told the girl she was wanted in the hall then she washed and tidied herself and put the baron's gold ring on her thumb and went up into the hall when the banqueters saw such a young and beautiful cook they were surprised but the baron was in a tower of a temper and started up as if he would do her some violence so the girl went up to him with her hand before her with the ring on it and she put it down before him on the table then at last the baron saw that no one could fight against fate and he handed her to a seat and announced to all the company that this was his son's true wife and he took her and his son home to his castle and they all lived as happy as could be ever afterwards end of chapter 35 the fish and the ring this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs chapter 36 the magpie's nest once upon a time when pigs spelt rhyme and monkeys chewed tobacco and hens took snuff to make them tough and ducks went quack quack quack-o all the birds of the air came to the magpie and asked her to teach them how to build nests for the magpie is the cleverest bird of all at building nests so she put all the birds around her and began to show them how to do it first of all she took some mud and made a sort of round cake with it oh that's how it's done set the thrush and away it flew and so that's how thrushes build their nests then the magpie took some twigs and arranged them round in the mud now I know all about it says the black bird and off he flew and that's how the black birds make their nests to this very day then the magpie put another layer of mud over the twigs oh that's quite obvious said the wise owl and the way it flew and owls have never made better nests since after this the magpie took some twigs and twined them round the outside the very thing said the sparrow and off he went so sparrows make rather slowly nests to this day well then madge magpie took some feathers and stuff and lined the nest very comfortably with it that suits me cried the starling and off it flew and very comfortable nests have starlings so it went on every bird taking away some knowledge of how to build nests but none of them waiting to the end meanwhile madge magpie went on working and working without looking up till the only bird that remained was the turtle dove and that hadn't paid any attention all along but only kept on saying it silly cry take two taffy take two at last the magpie heard this just as she was putting a twig across so she said one's enough but the turtle dove kept on saying take two taffy take two then the magpie got angry and said one's enough I tell you you still the turtle dove cried take two taffy take two at last and at last the magpie looked up and saw nobody near her but the silly turtle dove and then she got very angry and flew away and refused to tell the birds how to build nests again and that is why different birds build their nests differently end of chapter 36 the magpie's nest this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs Chapter 37 Kate Krakenuts once upon a time there was a king and a queen as in many lands have been the king had a daughter Anne and the queen had one named Kate but Anne was far bonnier than the queen's daughter though they loved one another like real sisters the queen was jealous of the king's daughter being bonnier than her own and cast about to spoil her beauty so she took counsel of the henwife who told her to send the lassie to her next morning fasting so next morning early the queen said to Anne go my dear to the henwife in the glen and ask her for some eggs so Anne set out but as she passed through the kitchen she saw a crust and she took and munched it as she went along when she came to the henwifes she asked for eggs as she had been told to do the henwife said to her lift the lid off that pot there and see the lassie did so but nothing happened go home to your mini and tell her to keep her lada door better locked said the henwife so she went home to the queen and told her what the henwife had said the queen knew from this that the lassie had had something to eat so watched the next morning and sent her away fasting but the princess saw some country folk picking peas by the roadside and being very kind she spoke to them and took a handful of the peas which she ate by the way when she came to the henwifes she said lift the lid off that pot and you'll see so Anne lifted the lid but nothing happened then the henwife was rare angry and said to Anne tell your mini the pot won't boil if the fire's away so Anne went home and told the queen the third day the queen goes along with the girl herself to the henwife now this time when Anne lifted the lid off the pot off falls her own pretty head and on jumps a sheep's head so the queen was now quite satisfied and went home her own daughter Kate however took a fine linen cloth and wrapped it around her sister's head and took her by the hand and they both went out to seek their fortune they went on and they went on and they went on till they came to a castle Kate knocked at the door and asked for a night's lodging for herself and a sick sister they went in and found it was a king's castle who had two sons and one of them was sickening away to death and no one could find out what ailed him and the curious thing was that whoever watched him at night was never seen anymore so the king had offered a peck of silver to anyone who would stop up with him now Katey was a very brave girl so she offered to sit up with him till midnight all goes well as 12 o'clock rings however the sick prince rises dresses himself and slips downstairs Kate followed but he didn't seem to notice her the prince went to the stable saddled his horse caught his hound jumped into the saddle and Kate leapt lightly up behind him away rode the prince and Kate threw the green wood Kate as they passed plucking nuts from the trees and filling her apron with them they rode on and on till they came to a green hill the prince here drew bridal and spoke open open green hill and let the young prince in with his horse and his hound and Kate added and his lady him behind immediately the green hill opened and they passed in the prince entered a magnificent hall brightly lighted up and many beautiful fairies surrounded the prince and led him off to the dance meanwhile Kate without being noticed hid herself behind the door there she sees the prince dancing and dancing and dancing till he could dance no longer and fell upon a couch then the fairies would fan him till he could rise again and go on dancing at last the crop crew and the prince made all haste to get on horseback Kate jumped up behind and home they rode when the morning sun rose they came in and found Kate sitting down by the fire and cracking her nuts Kate said the prince had a good night but she would not sit up another night unless she was to get a peck of gold the second night passed as the first had done the prince got up at midnight and rode away to the green hill and the fairy ball and Kate went with him gathering nuts as they rode through the forest this time she did not watch the prince while she knew he would dance and dance and dance but she sees a fairy baby playing with a wand and overhears one of the fairies say three strokes of that wand would make Kate's six sisters bonnie as ever she was so Kate rolled nuts to the fairy baby and rolled nuts to the baby totalled after the nuts and let fall the wand and Kate took it up and put it in her apron and at Cock Crow they rode home as before and the moment Kate got home to her room she rushed and touched Anne three times with the wand and the nasty sheep's head fell off and she was her own pretty self again the third night Kate consented to watch only if she should marry the sick prince all went on as on the first two nights this time the fairy baby was playing with a birdie Kate heard one of the fairies say three bites of that birdie would make the sick prince as well as ever he was Kate rolled all the nuts she had to the fairy baby till the birdie was dropped and Kate put it in her apron at Cock Crow they set off again but instead of cracking her nuts as she used to do this time Kate plucked the feathers off and cooked the birdie soon there rose a very savory smell oh said the sick prince I wish I had a bite of that birdie so Kate gave him a bite of the birdie and he rose up on his elbow by and by he cried out again oh if I had another bite of that birdie so Kate gave him another bite and he sat off on his bed that he said again oh if only I had a third bite of that birdie so Kate gave him a third bite and he rose quite well dressed himself and sat down by the fire and when the folk came in next morning they found Kate and the young prince cracking nuts together meanwhile his brother had seen Annie and had fallen in love with her as everybody did who saw her sweet pretty face so the sick son married the well sister and the well son married the sick sister and they all lived happy and died happy and never drank out of a dry cappy end of chapter 37 Kate cracker nuts this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs chapter 38 the cold lad of Hilton at Hilton Hall long years ago they lived a brownie that was the contrarious brownie you ever knew at night after the servants had gone to bed it would turn everything toxy-turvy put sugar in the salt cellars pepper into the beer and it was up to all kinds of pranks it would throw the chairs down put tables on their backs break out fires and do as much mischief as could be but sometimes it would be in a good temper and then what's a brownie you say oh it's a kind of a sort of a bogal but it isn't so cruel as a red cap what you don't know what's a bogal or a red cap me what's the world are coming to of course a brownie is a funny little thing half man half goblin with pointed ears and hairy hide when you bury a treasure you scatter over it blood drops of a newly slain kid or lamb or better still bury the animal with the treasure and a brownie will watch over it for you and frighten everybody else away where was I well as I was a saint the brownie at hilton hall would play at mischief but if the servants laid out for it a bowl of cream or a knuckle cake spread with honey it would clear away things for them and to make everything tidy in the kitchen one night however when the servants had stopped up late they heard a noise in the kitchen and peeping in saw the brownie swing to and fro in the jack chain and saying woes me woes me the acorns not yet fallen from the tree that's to grow the wood that's to make the cradle that's to rock the band that's to grow to the man that's to lay me woes me woes me so they took pity on the poor brownie and asked the nearest henwife what they should do to send it away that's easy enough said the henwife and told them that a brownie that's paid for its service in ought that's not perishable goes away at once so they made a cloak of lincoln green with a hood to it and put it by the hearth and watched they saw the brownie come up and seeing the hood and cloak put them on and frisk about dancing on one leg and saying I've taken your cloak I've taken your hood the cold lad of hilton will do no more good and with that it vanished and was never seen or heard of afterwards end of chapter 38 the cold lad of hilton this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit libravox.org recording by joy chan english fairy tales collected by joseph jacob's chapter 39 the ass the table and the stick a lad named jack was once so unhappy at home through his father's ill treatment that he made up his mind to run away and seek his fortune in the wide world he ran and he ran till he could run no longer and then he ran right up against a little old woman who was gathering sticks he was too much out of breath to beg pardon but the woman was good-natured and she said he seemed to be a likely lad so she would take him to be her servant and would pay him well he agreed for he was very hungry and she brought him to her house in the wood where he served her for a 12 months and a day when the year had passed she called him to her and said she had good wages for him so she presented him with an ass out of the stable and he had but to pull net his ears to make him begin at once to ear and when he braided they dropped from his mouth silver sixpences and half crowns and golden guineas the lad was well pleased with the wage he had received and the way he rode till he reached an inn there he ordered the best of everything and when the innkeeper refused to serve him without being paid beforehand the boy went off to the stable pulled the ass's ears and obtained his pocket full of money the host had watched all this through a crack in the door and when night came on he put an ass of his own for the precious nitty of the poor youth so jack without knowing that any change had been made rode away next morning to his father's house now i must tell you that near his home dwelt a poor widow with an only daughter the lad and the maiden were fast friends and true loves but when jack asked his father's leave to marry the girl never till you have the money to keep her was the reply i have that father said the lad and going to the ass he pulled his long ears well he pulled and he pulled to one of them came off in his hands but nearly though he he whored and he he whored let fall no half crowns or guineas the father picked up a hayfork and beat his son out of the house i promise you he ran ah he ran and ran till he came bang against the door and burst it open and there he was in a joiner's shop your unlikely lad said the joiner served me for 12 months in a day and i will pay you well so he agreed and served the carpenter for a year and a day now said the master i will give you your wage and he presented him with a table telling him he had but to say table be covered and at once it would be spread with lots to eat and drink jack hitched the table on his back and away he went with it till he came to the inn well host shouted he my dinner today and that of the best very sorry but there is nothing in the house but ham and eggs ham and eggs for me exclaimed jack i can do better than that come my table be covered at once the table was spread with turkey and sausages roast mutton potatoes and greens the public and opened his eyes but he said nothing not he that night he fetched down from his attic a table very like that of jack and exchanged the two jack none the wiser next morning hitched the worthless table onto his back and carried it home now father may marry my lass he asked not unless you can keep her reply the father look here exclaimed jack father i have a table which does all my bidding let me see it said the old man the lads set it in the middle of the room and bade it be covered but all in vain the table remained bare in a rage the father caught the warming pan down from the wall and warmed his son back with it so that the boy fled howling from the house and ran and ran till he came to a river and tumbled in a man picked him out and bait him assist him in making a bridge over the river and how do you think he was doing it why by casting a tree across so jack climbed up to the top of the tree and threw his weight on it so that when the man had rooted the tree up jack and the tree had dropped on the father bank thank you said the man and now for what you have done i will pay you so say he tore a branch from the tree and fettled it up into a club with his knife there exclaimed he take this stick and when you say to it up stick and bang him it will knock anyone down who angers you the lad was overjoyed to get this stick so away he went with it to the inn and as soon as the publican appeared up stick and bang him was his cry at the word the cudgel flew from his hand and battered the old publican on the back wrapped his head bruised his arms tickled his ribs till he fell groaning on the floor still the stick belabored the prostrate man nor would jack call it off till he had got back the stolen ass and table then he galloped home on the ass with the table on his shoulders and the stick in his hand when he arrived there he found his father was dead so he brought his ass into the stable and pulled its ears till he had filled the manger with money it was soon known through the town that jack had returned rolling in wealth and accordingly all the girls in the place set their caps at him now said jack i shall marry the richest lass in the place so tomorrow do you all come in front of my house with your money and your aprons next morning the street was full of girls with aprons held out and gold and silver in them but jack's own sweetheart was among them and she had neither gold nor silver not but two copper pennies that was all she had stand aside lass said jack to her speaking roughly thou hast no silver nor gold stand off from the rest she obeyed and the tears ran down her cheeks and filled her apron with diamonds upstick and bang them exclaimed jack whereupon the cudgel leapt up and running along the line of girls knocked them all on the heads and left them senseless on the pavement jack took all their money and poured it into his true love's lap now lass he exclaimed thou art the richest and i shall marry thee end of chapter 39 the ass the table and the stick this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs chapter 40 fairy ointment Dame Goodie was a nurse that looked after sick people and minded babies one night she was woke up at midnight and when she went downstairs she saw a strange squinny-eyed little ugly old fellow who asked her to come to his wife who was too ill to mind her baby. Dame Goodie didn't like the look of the old fellow but business is business so she popped on her things and went down to him and when she got down to him he whisked her up onto a large coal-black horse with fiery eyes that stood at the door and soon they were going at a rare pace Dame Goodie holding on to the old fellow like grim death they rode and they rode till at last they stopped before a cottage door so they got down and went in and found the good woman a bed with the children playing about and the babe a fine bouncing boy beside her. Dame Goodie took the babe which was as fine a baby boy's you'd wish to see the mother when she handed the baby to Dame Goodie to mind gave her a box of ointment and told her to stroke the baby's eyes with it as soon as it opened them after a while it began to open its eyes. Dame Goodie saw that it had squinny eyes just like its father so she took the box of ointment and stroked its two eyelids with it but she couldn't help wondering what it was for as she had never seen such a thing done before so she looked to see if the others were looking and when they were not noticing she stroked her own right eyelid with the ointment. No sooner had she done so than everything seemed to change about her the cottage became elegantly furnished the mother in the bed was a beautiful lady dressed up in white silk the little baby was still more beautiful than before and its clothes were made of a sort of silvery gauze its little brothers and sisters around the bed were flat-nosed imps with pointed ears who made faces at one another and scratched their poles sometimes they would pull the sick lady's ears with their long and hairy paws in fact they were up to all kinds of mischief and Dame Goodie knew that she had got into a house of pixies but she said nothing to nobody and as soon as the lady was well enough to mind the baby she asked the old fellow to take her back home so he came round to the door with the cold black horse with eyes of fire and off they went as fast as before or perhaps a little faster till they came to Dame Goodie's cottage where the squinny-eyed old fellow lifted her down and left her thanking her civilly enough and paying her more than she had ever been paid before for such service now next day happened to be market day and as Dame Goodie had been away from home she wanted many things in the house and trudged off to get them at the market as she was buying the things she wanted who should she see but the squinny-eyed old fellow who had taken her on the cold black horse and what do you think he was doing why he went about from stall to stall taking up things from each here's some fruit and there's some eggs and so on and no one seemed to take any notice now Dame Goodie did not think at her business to interfere but she thought she ought not to let so good a customer pass without speaking so she ups to him and bobs a curtain says good and sir I hope it's how your good lady and little one up as well as but she couldn't finish what she was a saying for the funny old fellow started back in surprise and he says to her says he what do you see me today see you says she well of course I do as plain as the sun in the skies and what's more says she I see you are busy too into the bargain ah you see too much said he now pray with which eye do you see all this with the right eye to be sure said she as proud as can be to find him out the ointment the ointment cried the old pixie thief take that for meddling with what don't concern you you shall see me no more and with that he struck her on her right eye and she couldn't see him anymore and what was worse she was blind on the right side from that hour to the day of her death end of chapter 40 fairy ointment this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information on to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs chapter 41 the well of the world's end once upon a time and a very good time it was though it wasn't in my time nor in your time nor anyone else's time there was a girl whose mother had died and her father had married again and her stepmother hated her because she was more beautiful than herself and she was very cruel to her she used to make her do all the servants work and never let her have any peace at last one day the stepmother thought to get rid of her all together so she handed her a sieve and said to her go fill it at the well of the world's end and bring it home to me full or woe betide you for she thought she would never be able to find the well of the world's end and if she did how could she bring home a sieve full of water well the girl started off and asked everyone she met to tell her where was the well of the world's end but nobody knew and she didn't know what to do when a queer little old woman all bent double told her where it was and how she could get to it so she did what the old woman told her and at last arrived at the well of the world's end but when she dipped the sieve in the cold cold water it all ran out again she tried and she tried again but every time it was the same and at last she sat down and cried as if her heart would break suddenly she heard a croaking voice and she looked up and saw a great frog with goggle eyes looking at her and speaking to her what's the matter dearie it said oh dear oh dear she said my stepmother has sent me all this long way to fill the sieve with water from the well of the world's end and i can't fill it know how at all well said the frog if you promise me to do whatever i bid you for a whole night long i'll tell you how to fill it so the girl agreed and then the frog said stop it with moss and dob it with clay and then it will carry the water away and then it gave a hop skip and jump and went flop into the well of the world's end so the girl looked about for some moss and lined the bottom of the sieve with it and over that she put some clay and then she dipped it once again into the well of the world's end and this time the water didn't run out and she turned to go away just then the frog popped up its head out of the well of the world's end and said remember your promise all right said the girl for thought she what harm can a frog do me so she went back to her stepmother and brought the sieve full of water from the well of the world's end the stepmother was fine and angry but she said nothing at all that very evening they heard something tap tapping at the door low down and a voice cried out open the door my hini my heart open the door my own darling mind you the words that you and i spoke down in the meadow at the world's end well whatever can that be cried out to the stepmother and the girl had to tell her all about it and what she had promised the frog girls must keep their promises said the stepmother go and open the door this instant for she was glad the girl would have to obey a nasty frog so the girl went and opened the door and there was the frog from the well of the world's end and it hopped and it skipped and it jumped till it reached the girl and then it said lift me to your knee my hini my heart lift me to your knee my own darling remember the words you and i spoke down in the meadow by the world's end well but the girl didn't like to tell her stepmother said lift it up this instant you hussy girls must keep their promises so at last she lifted the frog up onto her lap and it lay there for a time till at last it said give me some supper my hini my heart give me some supper my darling remember the words you and i spoke in the meadow by the well of the world's end well she didn't mind doing that so she got at a bowl of milk and bread and fed it well and when the frog had finished it said go with me to bed my hini my heart go with me to bed my own darling mind you the words you spoke to me down by the cold well so weary but that the girl wouldn't do till her stepmother said do what you promised girl girls must keep their promises do what your bid or out you go you and your froggy so the girl took the frog with her to bed and kept it as far away from her as she could well just as the day was beginning to break what should the frog say but chop off my head my hini my heart chop off my head my own darling remember the promise you made to me down by the cold well so weary at first the girl wouldn't for she thought of what the frog had done for her at the well of the world's end but when the frog said the words over again she went and took an axe and chopped off its head and lo and behold there stood before her a handsome young prince he told her that he had been enchanted by a wicked magician and he could never be unspelled till some girl would do his bidding for a whole night and chop off his head at the end of it the stepmother was that surprised when she found the young prince instead of the nasty frog and she wasn't best pleased you may be sure when the prince told her that he was going to marry his stepdaughter because she had unspelled him so they were married and went away to live in the castle of the king his father and all the stepmother had to console her was that it was all through her that her stepdaughter was married to a prince end of chapter 41 the well of the world's end this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs chapter 42 master of all masters a girl once went to the fair to hire herself for servant at last a funny looking old gentleman engaged her and took her home to his house when she got there he told her that he had something to teach her for that in his house he had his own names for things he said to her what will you call me master or mister whatever you please sir says she he said you must call me master of all masters and what would you call this pointing to his bed bed or couch or whatever you please sir no that's my barnacle and what do you call these said he pointing to his pantaloons breaches or trousers or whatever you please sir you must call them squibs and crackers and what would you call her pointing to the cat cat or kit or whatever you please sir you must call her white faced simony and this now showing the fire what would you call this fire or flame or whatever you please sir you must call it hot coccolorum and what's this he went on pointing to the water water or wet or whatever you please sir no pondolorum is its name and what do you call all this asked he as he pointed to the house house or cottage or whatever you please sir you must call it high topper mountain that very night the servant woke her master up in a fright and said master of all masters get out of your barnacle and put on your squibs and crackers for white faced simony has got a spark of hot coccolorum on its tail and unless you get some pondolorum high topper mountain will be all on hot coccolorum that's all end of chapter 42 master of all masters this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs chapter 43 the three heads of the well long before Arthur and the knights of the round table they reigned in the eastern part of England a king who kept his court at Colchester in the midst of all his glory his queen died leaving behind her an only daughter about 15 years of age who for her beauty and kindness was the wonder of all that knew her but the king hearing of a lady who had likewise an only daughter had a mind to marry her for the sake of her riches though she was old ugly hooked nose and humpbacked her daughter was a yellow dowdy full of envy and ill nature and in short was much of the same mold as her mother but in a few weeks the king attended by the nobility and gentry brought his deformed bride to the palace where the marriage rights were performed they had not been long in the court before they set the king against his own beautiful daughter by false reports the young princess having lost her father's love grew weary of the court and one day meeting with her father in the garden she begged him with tears in her eyes to let her go and seek her fortune to which the king consented and ordered her mother-in-law to give her what she pleased she went to the queen who gave her a canvas bag of brown bread and hard cheese with a bottle of beer though this was but a pitiful dowry for a king's daughter she took it with thanks and proceeded on her journey passing through groves woods and valleys to that length she saw an old man sitting on a stone at the mouth of a cave who said good morrow fair maiden we're away so fast aged father says she i'm going to seek my fortune what have you got in your bag and bottle in my bag i have got bread and cheese and in my bottle good small beer would you like to have some yes said he with all my heart with that the lady pulled out her provisions and bade him eat and welcome he did so and gave her many thanks and said there's a thick thorny hedge before you which you cannot get through but take this wand in your hand strike it three times and say pray hedge let me come through and it will open immediately then a little further you will find a well sit down on the brink of it and there will come up three golden heads which will speak and whatever they require that do promising she would she took her leave of him coming to the hedge and using the old man's wand it divided and let her through then coming to the well she had no sooner sat down than a golden head came up singing wash me and comb me and lay me down softly and lay me on a bank to dry that i may look pretty when somebody passes by yes said she and taking it in her lap combed it with a silver comb and then placed it upon a primrose bank then up came a second and a third head saying the same as the former so she did the same for them and then pulling out her provisions sat down to eat her dinner then said the heads once another what shall we weird for this damsel who has used us so kindly the first said i weird her to be so beautiful that she shall charm the most powerful prince in the world the second said i weird her such a sweet voice as shall far exceed the nightingale the third said my gift shall be none of the least as she is a king's daughter i'll weird her so fortunate that she shall become queen to the greatest prince that reigns she then let them down into the well again and so went on her journey she had not traveled long before she saw a king hunting in the park with his nobles she would have avoided him but the king having caught a sight of her approached and what with her beauty and sweet voice fell desperately in love with her and soon induced her to marry him this king finding that she was the king of colkis's daughter ordered some chariots to be got ready that he might pay the king his father-in-law a visit the chariot in which the king and queen rode was adorned with rich gems of gold the king her father was at first astonished that his daughter had been so fortunate till the young king let him know of all that had happened great was the joy at court amongst all with the exception of the queen and her clubfooted daughter who were ready to burst with envy the rejoicings with feasting and dancing continued many days then at length they returned home with the dowry her father gave her the humpbacked princess perceiving that her sister had been so lucky in seeking her fortune wanted to do the same so she told her mother and all preparations were made and she was furnished with rich dresses and with sugar almonds and sweet meats in great quantities and a large bottle of malaga sack with these she went the same road as her sister and coming near the cave the old man said young woman with her so fast what's that to you said she then said he what have you in your bag and bottle she answered good things with you shall not be troubled with won't you give me some said he no not a bit nor a drop unless it would choke you the old man frown saying evil fortune attend ye going on she came to the hedge through which she aspired a gap and thought to pass through it but the hedge closed and the thorns ran into her flesh so that it was with great difficulty that she got through being now all over blood she searched for water to wash herself and looking round she saw the well she sat down on the brink of it and one of the heads came up saying wash me comb me and lay me down softly as before but she banged it with her bottle saying take that for your washing so the second and third heads came up and met with no better treatment than the first we upon the heads consulted among themselves what evils to plague her with for such usage the first said let her be struck with leprosy in her face the second let her voice be as harsh as a corn crakes the third said let her have for husband but a poor country cobbler well she goes on till she came to a town and it being market day the people looked at her and seeing such a mangy face and hearing such a squeaky voice all fled but a poor country cobbler now he not long before had mended the shoes of an old hermit who having no money gave him a box of ointment for the cure of leprosy and a bottle of spirits for a harsh voice so the cobbler having a mind to do an act of charity was induced to go up to her and ask her who she was I am said she the king of colkister's daughter-in-law well said the cobbler if I restore you to your natural complexion and make a sound cure both in face and voice will you and reward take me for husband yes friend she replied with all my heart with this the cobbler applied the remedies and they made her well in a few weeks after which they were married and so set forward for the court at colkister when the queen found that her daughter had married nothing but a poor cobbler she hanged herself in wrath the death of the queen so pleased the king who was glad to get rid of her so soon that he gave the cobbler a hundred pounds to quit the court with his lady and take to a remote part of the kingdom where he lived many years mending shoes his wife spinning the thread for him end of chapter 43 the three heads of the well end of english fairy tales