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. How to get into this book? Knock at the knocker on the door. Pull the bell at the side. Then, if you are very quiet, you'll hear a teeny, tiny voice say through the grating, take down the key. This you'll find at the back. You cannot mistake it, for it has JJ in the wards. Put the key in the keyhole, which it fits exactly. Unlock the door and walk in. To my dear little May, preface. Who says that English folk have no fairytales of their own? The present volume contains only a selection out of some 140, of which I have found traces in this country. It is probable that many more exist. A quarter of the tales in this volume have been collected during the last ten years or so, and some of them have not been hitherto published. Up to 1870, it was equally said of France and of Italy that they possessed no folk tales. Yet within 15 years from that date, over 1000 tales had been collected in each country. I am hoping that the present volume may lead to equal activity in this country and would earnestly beg any reader of this book who knows of similar tales to communicate them, written down as they are told, to me, care of Mr. Nut. The only reason I imagine why such tales have not hitherto been brought to light is the lamentable gap between the governing and recording classes and the dumb working classes of this country, dumb to others but eloquent among themselves. It would be no unpatriotic task to help to bridge over this gulf by giving a common fund of nursery literature to all classes of the English people and, in any case, it can do no harm to add to the innocent gaiety of the nation. A word or two as to our title seems necessary. We have called our stories fairy tales, though few of them speak of fairies. The same remark applies to the collection of the Brothers Grimm and to all the other European collections which contain exactly the same classes of tales as ours. Yet our stories are what the little ones mean when they clamor for fairy tales and this is the only name which they give to them. One cannot imagine a child saying, tell us a folktale nurse or another nursery tale, please, Grandma. As our book is intended for the little ones, we have indicated its contents by the name they use. The words fairy tales must accordingly be taken to include tales in which occurs something fairy, something extraordinary, fairies, giants, dwarfs, speaking animals. It must be taken also to cover tales in which what is extraordinary is the stupidity of some of the actors. Many of the tales in this volume, as in similar collections for other European countries, are what the folklorists call drolls. They serve to justify the title of Mary England, which used to be given to this country of ours and indicate unsuspected capacity for fun and humour among the unlettered classes. The story of Tom Tit Tot, which opens our collection, is unequalled among all other folktales I am acquainted with for its combined sense of humour and dramatic power. The first adjective of our title also needs a similar extension of its meaning. I have acted on Mollier's principle and have taken what was good wherever I could find it. Thus, a couple of these stories have been found among descendants of English immigrants in America. A couple of others I tell as I heard them myself in my youth in Australia. One of the best was taken down from the mouth of an English gypsy. I have also included some stories that have only been found in Lowland Scotch. I have felt justified in doing this as of the 21 folktales contained in chambers popular rhymes of Scotland. No less than 16 are also to be found in an English form. With the folktale as with the ballad, Lowland Scotch may be regarded as simply a dialect of English and it is a mere chance whether a tale is extant in one or other or both. I have also rescued and retold a few fairy tales that only exist nowadays in the form of ballads. There are certain indications that the common form of the English fairy tale was the cantes fables, a mixture of narrative and verse of which the most illustrious example in literature is Au Cassin and L'Écolette. In one case I have endeavoured to retain this form as the tale in which it occurs, Child Rowland, is mentioned by Shakespeare and King Lear and is probably, as I have shown, the source of Milton's comas. Late, as they have been collected, some dozen of the tales can be traced back to the 16th century, two of them being quoted by Shakespeare himself. In the majority of instances I have had largely to rewrite these fairy tales, especially those in dialect, including the Lowland Scotch. Children and sometimes those of larger growth will not read dialect. I have also had to reduce the flatulent phraseology of the 18th century chapbooks and to rewrite in simpler style the stories only extant in literary English. I have, however, left a few vulgarisms in the mouths of vulgar people. Children appreciate the dramatic propriety of this as much as their elders. Generally speaking, it has been my ambition to write as a good old nurse will speak when she tells fairy tales. I am doubtful as to my success in catching the colloquial romantic tone appropriate for such narratives, but the thing had to be done or else my main object, to give a book of English fairy tales which English children will listen to, would have been unachieved. This book is meant to be read aloud and not merely taken in by the eye. In a few instances I have introduced or changed an incident. I have never done so, however, without mentioning the fact in the notes. These have been relegated to the obscurity of small print and a back place, while the little ones have been, perhaps unnecessarily, warned off them. They indicate my sources and give a few references to parallels and variants which may be of interest to fellow students of folklore. It is perhaps not necessary to inform readers who are not fellow students that the study of folk tales has pretensions to be a science. It has its special terminology and its own methods of investigation by which it is hoped, one of these days, to gain fuller knowledge of the workings of the popular mind as well as traces of archaic modes of thought and custom. I hope on some future occasion to treat the subject of the English folk tale on a larger scale and with all the necessary paraphernalia of prologomina and excursus. I shall then, of course, reproduce my originals with literary accuracy and have therefore felt the more at liberty on the present occasion to make the necessary deviations from this in order to make the tales readable for children. Finally, I have to thank those by whose kindness in waving their rights to some of these stories I have been enabled to compile this book. My friends, Mr. E. Claude, Mr. F. Heinz Groom and Mr. Andrew Lang have thus yielded up to me some of the most attractive stories in the following pages. The councils of the English and of the American Folklore Societies and Mr. Longmans have also been equally generous. Nor can I close these remarks without a word of thanks and praise to the artistic skill with which my friend, Mr. J. D. Batten, has made the romance and humour of these stories live again in the brilliant designs with which he has adorned these pages. It should be added that the dainty headpieces to Henny Penny and Mr. Fox are due to my old friend, Mr. Henry Rylund. Joseph Jacobs End of the preface. Recording by Joy Chan English fairytales Collected by Joseph Jacobs Chapter 1 Tom Tit Tot Once upon a time there was a woman and she baked five pies and when they came out of the oven they were that over baked the crusts were too hard to eat. So she says to a daughter Daughter says she Put you them their pies on the shelf and leave them there a little and they'll come again. She meant you know the crust would get soft but the girl she says to herself Well if they'll come again I'll eat them now and she said to work and ate them all first and last. Well come supper time the woman said Go you and get one of them their pies and say they've come again now The girl went and she looked and there was nothing but the dishes So back she came and says she No they ain't come again Not one of them says the mother Not one of them says she Well come again or not come again said the woman I'll have one for supper But you can't if they ain't come said the girl But I can says she Go you and bring the best of them Best or worst says the girl I've ate them all and you can't have one till that's come again Well the woman she was done and she took a spinning to the door to spin and as she span she sang My daughter ate five five pies today My daughter ate five five pies today The king was coming down the street and he heard her sing But what she sang he couldn't hear So he stopped and said What was that you were singing my good woman The woman was ashamed to let him hear what her daughter had been doing So she sang instead of that My daughter has spun five five skeins today My daughter has spun five five skeins today Stars of mine said the king I never heard tell of anyone that could do that Then he said Look you here I want a wife And I'll marry your daughter But look you here says he Eleven months out of the year She shall have all she likes to eat And all the gowns she likes to get And all the company she likes to keep But the last month of the year She'll have to spin five skeins every day And if she don't I shall kill her Alright says the woman For she thought what a grand marriage that was And as for the five skeins When the time came There'd be plenty of ways of getting out of it And likely as he'd have forgotten all about it Well so they were married And for eleven months The girl had all she liked to eat And all the gowns she liked to get And all the company she liked to keep But when the time was getting over She began to think about the skeins And to wonder if he had them in mind But not one word did he say about them And she thought he'd wholly forgotten them However, the last day of the last month He takes her to a room she'd never set eyes on before There was nothing in it but a spinning wheel And a stool And says he Now my dear Here you'll be shut in tomorrow With some victuals and some flax And if you haven't spun five skeins by the night Your head'll go off And away he went about his business Well, she was that frightened She'd always been such a gatless girl That she didn't so much as know how to spin And what was she to do tomorrow With no one to come nigh her to help her She sat down on a stool in the kitchen And law how she did cry However, all of a sudden She heard a sort of a knocking Low down on the door She upped and hoped it What should she see but a small little black thing With a long tail That looked up at her right curious And that said What are you crying for? What's that to you? says she Never you mind that said But tell me what you're crying for That won't do me no good if I do Says she You don't know that, that said And twirled that's tail round Well, says she That won't do no harm if that don't do no good And she upped and told about the pies And the skeins and everything This is what I'll do Says the little black thing I'll come to your window every morning And take the flax And bring it spun at night What's your pay? says she That looked out of the corner of that's eyes And that said I'll give you three guesses every night To guess my name I haven't guessed it before the month's up You shall be mine Well, she thought she'd be sure To guess that's name before the month was up All right, says she I agree All right, that says And know how that twirled that's tail Well, the next day Her husband took her into the room And there was the flax and the day's food Now there's the flax, says he And if that ain't spun up this night Off goes your head And then he went out and locked the door He'd hardly gone When there was a knocking against the window She upped and she upped it And there sure enough Was the little old thing sitting on the ledge Where's the flax, says he Here it be, says she And she gave it to him Well, come the evening And knocking came again to the window She upped and she upped it And there was the little old thing With five skeins of flax on his arm Here it be, says he And he gave it to her Now what's my name, says he What is that bill, says she No, that ain't, says he And he twirled his tail Is that Ned, says she No, that ain't, says he And he twirled his tail Well, is that Mark, says she No, that ain't, says he And he twirled his tail harder And away he flew Well, when her husband came in There were the five skeins ready for him I see I shan't have to kill you tonight, my dear, says he You'll have your food and your flax in the morning, says he And away he goes Well, every day the flax and the food were brought And every day that their little black input Used to come mornings and evenings And all the day the girl sat trying to think of names To say to it when it came at night But she never hit on the right one And as it got towards the end of the month The input began to look so maliceful And that twirled that's tail faster and faster Each time she gave a guess At last it came to the last day but one The input came at night Along with the five skeins And that said, what, ain't you got my name yet? Is that Nicodemus, says she No, Taint, that says Is that Samuel, says she No, Taint, that says Oh well, is that Methuselum, says she No, Taint, that neither, that says Then that looks at her with that's eyes like a coal of fire And that says, woman, there's only tomorrow night And then you'll be mine, and away it flew Well, she felt that horrid However, she heard the king coming along the passage In he came, and when he sees the five skeins He says, says he Well my dear, says he I don't see but what you'll have Your skeins ready tomorrow night as well And as I reckon I shan't have to kill you I'll have supper in here tonight So they brought supper and another stool for him And down the two sat Well, he had an eaton but a mouthful or so When he stops and begins to laugh What is it, says she A why, says he I was out hunting today And I got away to a place in the wood I'd never seen before And there was an old chalk pit And I heard a kind of a sort of a humming So I got off my hobby And I went right quiet to the pit And I looked down Well what should there be But the funniest little black thing you ever set eyes on And what was that doing But that had a little spinning wheel And that was spinning wonderful fast And twirling that tail And as that spanned that sang Nimme, nimme not My name's Tom Tit Tot Well, when the girl heard this She felt as if she could have jumped out of a skin for joy But she didn't say a word Next day That there little thing looked so maliceful When he came for the flax And when night came She heard that knocking against the window panes She opened the window And that come right in on the ledge That was grinning from ear to ear And ooh, that tail was twirling round so fast What's my name, that says As that gave her the skeins Is that Solomon, she says Pretending to be a feared No Taint, that says And that came further into the room Well, is that Zebedee, says she again No Taint, says the input And then that laughed and twirled that tail So you couldn't hardly see it Take Time Woman, that says Next guess and you're mine And that stretched out that's black hands at her Well, she backed a step or two And she looked at it And then she laughed out and says she Pointing her finger at it Nimmie, nimmie not, your name's Tom Tit Tot Well, when that heard her That gave an awful shriek And away that flew into the dark And she never saw it anymore End Chapter One Tom Tit Tot 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 Two The Three Sillies Once upon a time There was a farmer and his wife Who had one daughter And she was courted by a gentleman Every evening he used to come and see her And stop to supper at the farmhouse And the daughter used to be sent down into the cellar To draw the beer for supper So one evening she had gone down to draw the beer And she happened to look up at the ceiling While she was drawing And she saw a mallet stuck in one of the beans It must have been there a long, long time But somehow or other she had never noticed it before And she began a thinking And she thought it was very dangerous To have that mallet there For she said to herself Suppose him and me was to be married And we was to have a son And he was to grow up to be a man And come down into the cellar to draw the beer Like as I'm doing now And the mallet was to fall on his head And kill him What a dreadful thing it would be And she put down the candle and the jug And sat herself down and began a crying Well, they began to wonder upstairs how it was That she was so long drawing the beer And her mother went down to see after her And she found her sitting on the set all crying And the beer running over the floor Why, whatever is the matter, said her mother Oh mother, says she Look at that horrid mallet Suppose me was to be married And was to have a son And he was to grow up And was to come down to the cellar to draw the beer And the mallet was to fall on his head And kill him What a dreadful thing it would be Dear, dear, what a dreadful thing it would be Said the mother And she sat her down the side of the daughter And started a crying too Then after a bit the father began to wonder That they didn't come back And he went down into the cellar to look after them himself And there they too sat crying And the beer running all over the floor Whatever is the matter, says he Why, says the mother Look at that horrid mallet Just suppose if our daughter and her sweetheart Was to be married and was to have a son And he was to grow up And was to come down into the cellar to draw the beer And the mallet was to fall on his head and kill him What a dreadful thing it would be Dear, dear, dear, so it would Said the father And he sat himself down the side of the other two And started a crying Now the gentleman got tired of stopping up in the kitchen by himself And at last he went down into the cellar too To see what they were after And there they three sat crying side by side And the beer running all over the floor And he ran straight and turned the tap Then he said Whatever are you three doing sitting there crying And letting the beer run all over the floor Oh, says the father Look at that horrid mallet Suppose you and our daughter was to be married And was to have a son And he was to grow up And was to come down into the cellar to draw the beer And the mallet was to fall on his head and kill him And then they all started a crying worse than before But the gentleman burst out a laughing And reached up and pulled out the mallet And then he said I've travelled many miles And I never met three such big sillies as you three before And now I shall start out on my travels again And when I can find three bigger sillies than you three Then I'll come back and marry your daughter So he wished them goodbye And started off on his travels And left them all crying because the girl had lost her sweetheart Well, he set out and he travelled a long way And at last he came to a woman's cottage That had some grass growing on the roof The woman was trying to get her cow to go up a ladder to the grass And the poor thing does not go So the gentleman asked the woman what she was doing Why, look ye, she said Look at all that beautiful grass I'm going to get the cow onto the roof to eat it She'll be quite safe For I shall tie a string round her neck And pass it down the chimney And tie it to my wrist as I go about the house I can't fall off without my knowing it Oh, you poor silly said the gentleman You should cut the grass and throw it down to the cow But the woman thought it was easier to get the cow up the ladder Than to get the grass down So she pushed her and coaxed her and got her up And tied a string round her neck And passed it down the chimney And fastened it to her own wrist And the gentleman went on his way But he hadn't gone far when the cow tumbled off the roof And hung by the string tied round her neck And it strangled her And the weight of the cow tied to her wrist Pulled the woman up the chimney And she stuck fast half way And was smothered in soot Well, that was one big silly And the gentleman went on and on And he went to an inn to stop the night And they were so full at the inn They had to put him in a double bedded room And another traveller was to sleep in the other bed The other man was a very pleasant fellow And they got very friendly together But in the morning, when they were both getting up The gentleman was surprised to see the other Hang his trousers on the knobs of the chest of drawers And run across the room And try to jump into them And he tried over and over again And couldn't manage it And the gentleman wondered whatever he was doing it for At last he stopped and wiped his face with his handkerchief Oh dear, he says I do think trousers are the most awkwardest kind of clothes that ever were I can't think who could have invented such things It takes me the best part of an hour To get into mine every morning And I get so hot How do you manage yours?  Oh, give me Nix, Nought, Nothing And I will carry you Over the water on my back The king had never heard That his son was called Nix, Nought, Nothing And so he said Oh, I'll give you that and my thanks into the bargain When the king got home again He was very happy to see his wife again And his young son She told him that she had not given The child any name But just Nix, Nought, Nothing Until he should come home again himself The poor king was in a terrible case He said What have I done? I promised to give the giant Who carried me over the river on his back Nix, Nought, Nothing The king and the queen were sad and sorry But they said When the giant comes We will give him the henwife's boy He will never know the difference The next day The giant came to claim the king's promise And he sent for the henwife's boy And the giant went away With the boy on his back He travelled Till he came to a big stone And there he sat down to rest He said Hedge, hodge on my back What time of day is that?   Nick's nought nothing said It is the time that my father The king will be sitting down to supper The giant said I've got the right one now And took Nick's nought nothing to his own house And brought him up till he was a man The giant had a bonny daughter And she and the land Grew very fond of each other The giant said one day To Nick's nought nothing I've worked for you tomorrow There is a stable seven miles long And seven miles broad And it has not been cleaned for seven years And you must clean it tomorrow Or I will have you for my supper The giant's daughter went out next morning With the lads breakfast And found him in a terrible state For always as he cleaned out a bit It just fell in again The giant's daughter said She would help him And she cried all the beasts in the field And all the files of the air And in a minute they all came And carried away everything that was in the stable And made it all clean Before the giant came home He said Shame on the wit that helped you But I have a worse job for you tomorrow Then he said to Nick's nought nothing There's a lake seven miles long And seven miles deep And seven miles broad And you must drain it tomorrow by nightfall Or else I'll have you for my supper Nick's nought nothing began early next morning And tried to lave the water with his pail But the giant came home He said He'd drained the water with his pail But the lake was never getting any less And he didn't know what to do But the giant's daughter Caught on all the fish in the sea To come and drink the water And very soon they drank it dry When the giant saw the work done He was in a rage and said I have a worse job for you tomorrow There is a tree Seven miles high And no branch on it Till you get to the top There are eggs in it And you must bring down all the eggs Without breaking one Or else I'll have you for my supper At first the giant's daughter did not know How to help Nick's nought nothing She cut off first her fingers And then her toes And made steps of them And he cloned the tree And got all the eggs safe Till he came just to the bottom And then one was broken So they determined to run away together But the giant's daughter had tidied up her hair a bit And got her magic flask They set out together as fast as they could run And they hadn't got But three fields away When they looked back and saw the giant Walking along at top speed after them Quick, quick Called out the giant's daughter Take my comb from my hair And throw it down Nick's nought nothing Took her comb from her hair And threw it down They sprung up a fine thick briar In the way of the giant You may be sure It took him a long time to work his way Through the briar bush And by the time he was well through Nick's nought nothing and his sweetheart Had run on a tidy step away from him But he soon came along After them And was just like to catch him up When the giant's daughter called out to Nick's nought nothing Take my hair dagger And throw it down Quick, quick So Nick's nought nothing Threw down the hair dagger And out of it grew as quick as lightning A thick hedge of sharp razors Placed crisscross The giant had to tread Very cautiously to get through all this And meanwhile the young lovers ran on And on and on Till they were nearly out of sight But at last the giant was through And it wasn't long before he was Like to catch them up But just as he was stretching out his hand To catch Nick's nought nothing His daughter took out her magic flask And dashed it on the ground And as it broke Out of it welled a big, big wave That grew and that grew Till it reached the giant's waist And then his neck And when it got to his head He was drowned dead and dead And dead indeed So he goes out of the story But Nick's nought nothing Led on till where do you think they came to? Why, to near the castle Of Nick's nought nothing's father and mother But the giant's daughter Was so weary That she couldn't move a step further So Nick's nought nothing Told her to wait there While he went and found out a lodging for the night And he went On towards the lights of the castle And on the way He came to the cottage of the henwife Whose boy had had his brains Washed out by the giant Now she knew Nick's nought nothing In a moment and hated him Because he was the cause of her son's death So when he asked his way to the castle She put a spell upon him And when he got to the castle No sooner was he let in Then he fell down dead asleep Upon a bench in the hall The king and queen tried all They couldn't do to wake him up But all in vain So the king promised that If any lady could wake him up She should marry him Meanwhile The giant's daughter was waiting And waiting for him to come back And she went up into a tree to watch for him The gardener's daughter Going to draw water in the well Saw the shadow of the lady in the water And thought it was herself and said If I'm so bonny If I'm so brave Send me to draw water So she threw down her pail And went to see if she could wed the sleeping stranger And she went to the hen-wife Who taught her an unspelling catch Which would keep Nick's nought nothing awake As long as the gardener's daughter liked So she went up to the castle And sang her catch And Nick's nought nothing was wakened for a bit And they promised to wed him to the gardener's daughter Meanwhile The gardener went down to draw water from the well And saw the shadow of the lady in the water So he looks up and finds her And he brought the lady from the tree And led her into his house And he told her that a stranger Was to marry his daughter And took her up to the castle And showed her the man And it was Nick's nought nothing Asleep in a chair And she saw him And cried to him Waken, waken and speak to me But he would not waken And soon she cried I cleaned the stable I laid the lake And I cloned the tree And all for the love of thee And thou wilt not waken and speak to me The king and the queen heard this And came to the Bonnie young lady And she said I cannot get Nick's nought nothing to speak to me For all that I can do Then were they greatly astonished When she spoke of Nick's nought nothing And asked where he was And she said He that sits there in the chair Then they ran to him And kissed him And called him their own dear son So they called for the gardener's daughter And made her sing her charm And he wakened and told them All that the giant's daughter had done for him And of all her kindness Then they took her in their arms And kissed her And said she should now be their daughter For their son should marry her But they sent for the henwife And put her to death And they lived happy all their days End of chapter 7 Nick's nought nothing Recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales Collected by Joseph Jacobs Chapter 8 Jack Hannaford There was an old soldier who had been long in the wars So long that he was quite out at elbows And he did not know where to go To find a living So he walked up moors Down glens Till at last he came to a farm From which the good man had gone away to market The wife of the farmer was a very foolish woman Who had been a widow when he married her The farmer was foolish enough too And it is hard to say which of the two Was the more foolish When you've heard my tale You may decide Now before the farmer goes to market Says he to his wife Here is ten pounds all in gold Take care of it till I come home If the man had not been a fool He would never have given the money To his wife to keep Well, off he went in his cart to market And the wife said to herself I will keep the ten pounds Quite safe from thieves So she tidied up in a rag And she put the rag up the parlour chimney There said she No thieves will ever find it now That is quite sure Jack Hannaford, the old soldier Came and wrapped at the door Who was there? Asked the wife Jack Hannaford Where do you come from? Paradise Lord of mercy And maybe you've seen my old man there Alluding to her former husband Yes I have And how was he a-doing Asked the goodie But middling He cobbles old shoes And he has nothing but cabbage for victuals Jewelry me exclaimed the woman Didn't he send a message to me Yes he did reply Jack Hannaford He said that he was out of leather And his pockets were empty So you were to send him a few shinnings To buy a fresh stock of leather He shall have them bless his poor soul And away went the wife to the parlour chimney And she pulled the rag with the ten pounds In it from the chimney And she gave the whole sum to the soldier Telling him that her old man Was to use as much as he wanted And to send back the rest It was not long that Jack waited After receiving the money He went off as fast as he could Presently the farmer came home And asked his wife for his money The wife told him that she had sent it By a soldier to her former husband In paradise To buy him leather for cobbling The shoes of the saints and angels of heaven The farmer was very angry And he saw that he had never met With such a fool as his wife But the wife said that her husband Was a greater fool for letting her have the money There was no time to waste words So the farmer mounted his horse And rode off after Jack Haniford The old soldier heard the horse's hooves Clattering on the road behind him So he knew it must be the farmer pursuing him He lay down on the ground And shading his eyes with one hand Looked up into the sky And pointed heavenwards with the other hand What are you about there? Asked the farmer Lord, save you, exclaimed Jack I've seen a rear sight What was that? A man going straight up into the sky As if he were walking on a road Can you see him still? Yes, I can Where? Get off your horse and lie down If you will hold the horse I will hold the horse I will hold the horse I will hold the horse I will hold the horse If you will hold the horse Jack did so readily I cannot see him Said the farmer Shade your eyes with your hand And you'll soon see a man flying away from you Sure enough he did so For Jack leapt on the horse and rode away with it The farmer walked home without his horse You are bigger fool than I am Said the wife For I did only one foolish thing And you End of Chapter 8 Jack Hannaford 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 9 Benore On a time there were two king's daughters Lived in a bower Near the Bonnie mill dams of Benore And Sir William came wooing the eldest And won her love And plighted droid with glove And with ring But after a time He looked upon the youngest With her cherry cheeks and golden hair And his love grew to water Till he cared no longer for the eldest one So she hated her sister For taking away Sir William's love And day by day Her hate grew upon her And she plotted and she planned How to get rid of her So one fine morning fair and clear She said to her sister Let us go and see our father's boats Come in at the Bonnie mill stream Of Benore So they went there hand in hand And when they got to the river's bank The youngest got upon a stone To watch for the coming of the boats And her sister's boat And her sister coming behind her Caught her round the waist And dashed her into the rushing Meal stream of Benore Oh sister, sister Reach me your hand, she cried As she floated away And you shall have half Of all I've got or shall get No, sister, I'll reach you No hand of mine For I am the heir to all your land Shame on me if I touch the hand on me if I touch the hand that has come, twixed me, and my own heart's love. Oh, sister! Oh, sister! Then reach me your glove!" she cried, as she floated further away, and you shall have your William again. "'Sink on!' cried the cruel princess. No hand or glove of mine you'll touch, so William will be all mine when you are sunk beneath the Bonnie millstream of Benore.' As she turned and went home to the king's castle, and the princess floated down the millstream, sometimes swimming and sometimes sinking, till she came near the mill. Now the miller's daughter was cooking that day, and needed water for her cooking. And as she went to draw it from the stream, she saw something floating towards the mill dam, and she cried out, "'Father, Father, draw your dam! There's something white, a merry-maid, or a milk-white swan, coming down the stream.' So the miller hastened to the dam, and stopped the heavy, cruel mill-wheels. And then they took out the princess and laid her on the bank. Fair and beautiful she looked as she lay there. In her golden hair were pearls and precious stones. You could not see her waist for her golden girdle. And the golden fringe of a white dress came down over her lily feet. But she was drowned, drowned. As she lay there in her beauty, a famous harper passed by the mill dam of Benore, and saw her sweet pale face. And though he travelled on far way, he never forgot that face, and after many days he came back to the Bonnie millstream of Benore. But then all he could find of her, where they had put her to rest, were her bones and her golden hair. So he made a harp out of her breastbone and her hair, and travelled on up the hill from the mill dam of Benore, till he came to the castle of the king, her father. That night they were all gathered in the castle hall to hear the great harper, king and queen, their daughter and son Sir William, and all their court. And first the harper sang to his old harp, making them joy and be glad or sorrow and weep just as he liked. And while he sang he put the harp he had made that day on a stone in the hall. And presently it began to sing by itself, low and clear. And the harper stopped, and all were hushed. And this was what the harp sung. O Yonder sits my father, the king, Benore, O Benore. And Yonder sits my mother, the queen, by the Bonnie mill dams of Benore. And Yonder stands my brother Hugh, Benore, O Benore. And by him my William, false and true, by the Bonnie mill dams of Benore. Then they all wondered, and the harper told them how he had seen the princess lying drowned on the bank near the Bonnie mill dams of Benore, and how he had afterwards made this harp out of her hair and breastbone. Just then the harp began singing again, and this was what it sang, out loud and clear. And there sits my sister, who drowned me, by the Bonnie mill dams of Benore. Then the harp snapped and broke, and never sang more. End of Chapter 9, Benore. 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 10, Mouse and Mouser. The mouse went to visit the cat, and found her sitting behind the hall door spinning. Mouse, what are you doing, my lady, my lady? What are you doing, my lady? Cat, sharply. I'm spinning old breeches, good body, good body. I'm spinning old breeches, good body. Mouse, long may you wear them, my lady, my lady. Long may you wear them, my lady. Cat, roughly. I'll wear them and tear them, good body, good body. I'll wear them and tear them, good body. Mouse, I was sweeping my room, my lady, my lady. I was sweeping my room, my lady. Cat, the cleaner you'd be, good body, good body. The cleaner you'd be, good body. Mouse, I found a silver sixpence, my lady, my lady. I found a silver sixpence, my lady. Cat, the richer you were, good body, good body. The richer you were, good body. Mouse, I went to the market, my lady, my lady. I went to the market, my lady. Cat, the further you went, good body, good body. The further you went, good body. Mouse, I bought me a pudding, my lady, my lady. I bought me a pudding, my lady. Cat, starling. The more meat you had, good body, good body. The more meat you had, good body. Mouse, I put it in the window to cool, my lady. I put it in the window to cool. Cat, sharply. The faster you'd eat it, good body, good body. The faster you'd eat it, good body. Mouse, timidly. The cat came and ate it, my lady, my lady. The cat came and ate it, my lady. Cat, pouncingly. An arly you, good body, good body. An arly you, good body. Springs upon the mouse and kills it. End of chapter 10, Mouse and Mouser. 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 11, Kappa Rushes. Well, there was once a very rich gentleman and he'd three daughters. And he thought he'd see how fond they were of him. So he says to the first, how much do you love me, my dear? Why, says she, as I love my life. That's good, says he. So he says to the second, how much do you love me, my dear? Why, says she, better know all the world. That's good, says he. So he says to the third, how much do you love me, my dear? Why, I love you as fresh meat loves salt, says she. Well, he was that angry. You don't love me at all, says he. And in my house you stay no more.  Well, she went away on and on till she came to a fin and there she gathered a lot of rushes and made them into a kind of a sort of a cloak with a hood to cover her from head to foot and to hide her fine clothes. And then she went on and on till she came to a great house. Do you want a maid, says she. No, we don't, said they. I haven't nowhere to go, says she. And I ask no wages and do any sort of work, says she. Well, says they. If you like to wash the pots and scrape the saucepans, you may stay, said they. So she stayed there and washed the pots and scrapped the saucepans and did all the dirty work. And because she gave no name, they called her Kappa rushes. Well, one day there was to be a great dance, a little way off. And the servants were allowed to go and look on at the grand people. Kappa rushes said she was too tired to go, so she stayed at home. But when they were gone, she offed with her Kappa rushes and cleaned herself and went to the dance. And no one there was so finely dressed as her. Well, who should be there but her master's son? And what should he do but fall in love with her the minute he set eyes on her? He wouldn't dance with anyone else. But before the dance was done, Kappa rushes slipped off and away she went home. And when the other maids came back, she was pretending to be asleep with her Kappa rushes on. Well, next morning they said to her, you did miss a sight, Kappa rushes? What was that, says she.  The young master, he never took his eyes off her. Well, I should have liked to have seen her, says Kappa rushes. Well, there's to be another dance this evening and perhaps she'll be there. But come the evening, Kappa rushes said she was too tired to go with them. How so ever when they were gone, she off with her Kappa rushes and cleaned herself and away she went to the dance. The master's son had been reckoning on seeing her and he danced with no one else and never took his eyes off her. But before the dance was over, she slipped off and home she went. And when the maids came back, she pretended to be asleep with her Kappa rushes on. Next day they said to her again, well, Kappa rushes, you should have been there to see the lady.  Well, there, says she, I should have liked to have seen her. Well, says they, there's a dance again this evening and you must go with us for she's sure to be there. Well, come this evening. Kappa rushes said she was too tired to go and do what they would, she stayed at home. But when they were gone, she off with her Kappa rushes and cleaned herself and away she went to the dance. The master's son was really glad when he saw her. He danced with none but her and never took his eyes off her. When she wouldn't tell him her name nor where she came from, he gave her a ring and told her if he didn't see her again, he should die. Well, before the dance was over, off she slipped and home she went and when the maids came home, she was pretending to sleep with her Kappa rushes on. Well, next day they says to her, there Kappa rushes, you didn't come last night and now you won't see the lady for there's no more dancers. Well, I should have rarely liked to have seen her, says she. The master's son, he tried every way to find out where the lady was gone. But go where he might and ask whom he might. He never heard anything about her and he got worse and worse for the love of her till he had to keep his bed. Make some gruel for the young master, they said to the cook. He's dying for the love of the lady. The cook she set about making it when Kappa rushes came in. What are you doing off, says she. I'm going to make some gruel for the young master, says the cook, for he's dying for love of the lady. Let me make it, says Kappa rushes. Well, the cook wouldn't at first, but at last she said yes and Kappa rushes made the gruel. And when she had made it, she slipped the ring into it on the sly before the cook took it upstairs. The young man he drank it and then he saw the ring at the bottom. Send for the cook, says he. So up she comes. Who made this gruel here, says he. I did, says the cook, for she was frightened. And he looked at her. No, you didn't, says he. Say who did it and you shan't be harmed. Well then, to us Kappa rushes, says she. Send Kappa rushes here, says he. Said Kappa rushes came. Did you make my gruel, says he. Yes, I did, says she. Where did you get this ring, says he. From him that gave it me, says she. Who are you then, says the young man. I'll show you, says she. And she offed with her Kappa rushes and there she was in her beautiful clothes. Well, the master son he got well very soon and they were to be married in a little time. It was to be a very grand wedding and everyone was asked far and near. And Kappa rushes' father was asked, but she never told anybody who she was. But before the wedding, she went to the cook and says she. I want you to dress every dish without a mite of salt. That'll be rare nasty, says the cook. That doesn't signify, says she. Very well, says the cook. Well, the wedding day came and they were married. And after they were married, all the company sat down to the dinner.  But Kappa rushes' father, he tried first one dish and then another and then he burst out crying. What is the matter, said the master son to him. Oh, says he, I had a daughter and I asked her how much she loved me and she said as much as fresh meat love salt and I turned her from my door for I thought she didn't love me and now I see she loved me best of all and she may be dead for all I know. No father, here she is, says Kappa rushes as she goes up to him and puts her arms round him and so they were happy ever after. End of chapter 11, Kappa rushes. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are 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 12, Teeny Tiny.    So the teeny tiny woman put the teeny tiny bone into her teeny tiny pocket and went home to her teeny tiny house. Now when the teeny tiny woman got home to her teeny tiny house, she was a teeny tiny bit tired.    So she hid her teeny tiny head under the teeny tiny clothes and went to sleep again.  This made the teeny tiny woman a teeny tiny more frightened.  And this teeny tiny woman was a teeny tiny bit more frightened.  End of chapter 12, teeny tiny. 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 13, Jack and the Beanstalk. There was once upon a time a poor widow who had an only son named Jack and a cow named Milky White. And all they had to live on was the milk the cow gave every morning which they carried to the market and sold. But one morning, Milky White gave no milk and they didn't know what to do. What shall we do? What shall we do? said the widow, ringing her hands. Cheer up, mother. I'll go and get work somewhere, said Jack. We've tried that before and nobody would take you, said his mother. We must sell Milky White and with the money do something, start shop or something. All right, mother, says Jack. It's market day today and I'll soon sell Milky White and then we'll see what we can do.  He hadn't gone far when he met a funny-looking old man who said to him, Good morning, Jack. Good morning to you, said Jack and wondered how he knew his name. Well, Jack, and where are you off to, said the man. I'm going to market to sell our cow here. Oh, you look the proper sort of chap to sell cows, said the man. I wonder if you know how many beans make five. Two in each hand and one in your mouth, says Jack, as sharp as a needle. Right you are, said the man, and here they are, the very beans themselves. He went on pulling out of his pocket a number of strange-looking beans.  Walker, says Jack, wouldn't you like it? Ah, you don't know what these beans are, said the man. If you plant them overnight, by morning they grow right up to the sky. Really, says Jack, you don't say so. Yes, that is so, and if it doesn't turn out to be true, you can have your cow back. Right, says Jack, and hands him over milky white halter and pockets the beans. Back goes Jack home, and as he hadn't gone very far, it wasn't dusk by the time he got to his door. What, back Jack, said his mother. I see you haven't got milky white, so you've sold her. How much did you get for her? You'll never guess, mother, says Jack. No, you don't say so. Good boy, five pounds, 10? 15. No, it can't be 20. I told you you couldn't guess. What do you say to these beans? They're magical. Plant them overnight and... What, says Jack's mother.  Take that! Take that! Take that!  So Jack went upstairs to his little room in the attic, and sad and sorry he was to be sure, as much for his mother's sake is for the loss of his supper. At last he dropped off to sleep. When he woke up, the room looked so funny. The sun was shining into part of it, and yet all the rest was quite dark and shady. So Jack jumped up and dressed himself and went to the window. And what do you think he saw? Why, the beans his mother had thrown out of the window into the garden, had sprung up into a big beanstalk which went up and up and up till it reached the sky. So the man spoke truth after all. The beanstalk grew up quite close past Jack's window.  So Jack climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed till at last he reached the sky. And when he got there he found a long broad road going as straight as a dart. So he walked along and he walked along and he walked along till he came to a great big tall house. And on the doorstep there was a great big tall woman. Good morning mum, says Jack, quite polite like. Should you be so kind as to give me some breakfast? For he hadn't had anything to eat you know the night before and was as hungry as a hunter. It's breakfast you want is it? Says the great big tall woman. It's breakfast you'll be if you don't move off from here.  You'd better be moving on or he'll soon be coming.  I've had nothing to eat since yesterday morning really and truly mum says Jack. I may as well be broiled as die of hunger. Well the ogre's wife wasn't such a bad sort after all. So she took Jack into the kitchen and gave him a junk of bread and cheese and a jug of milk. But Jack hadn't half finished these when thump, thump, thump. The whole house began to tremble with the noise of someone coming. Goodness gracious me it's my old man said the ogre's wife. What on earth shall I do? Here come quick and jump in here. And she bundled Jack into the oven just as the ogre came in. He was a big one to be sure. At his belt he had three calves strung up by the heels and he unhooked them and threw them down on the table and said here wife broil me a couple of these for breakfast. Ah what's this I smell? Fee five foe thump. I smell the blood of an Englishman. Be here in your lie or be he dead I'll have his bones to grind my bread.   So the ogre went off and Jack was just going to jump out of the oven and run off when the woman told him not. Wait till he's asleep says she. He always has a snooze after breakfast. Well the ogre had his breakfast and after that he goes to a big chest and takes out of it a couple of bags of gold and sits down counting them to that last his head began to nod and he began to snore till the whole house shook again. Then Jack crept out on tiptoe from his oven and as he was passing the ogre he took one of the bags of gold under his arm and off he pelters till he came to the beanstalk and then he threw down the bag of gold which of course fell into his mother's garden and then he climbed down and climbed down till at last he got home and told his mother and showed her the gold and said well mother wasn't I right about the beans they are really magical you see so they lived on the bag of gold for some time but at last they came to the end of that so Jack made up his mind to try his luck once more up at the top of the beanstalk so one fine morning he got up early and got onto the beanstalk and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed till at last he had got on the road again and came to the great big tall house he had been to before there sure enough was the great big tall woman standing on the doorstep good morning mom says jack as bold as brass could you be so good as to give me something to eat go away my boy said the big tall woman or else my man will eat you up for breakfast but aren't you the youngster who came here once before do you know that very day my man missed one of his bags of gold that's strange mom says jack I dare say I could tell you something about that but I'm so hungry I can't speak till I've had something to eat well the big tall woman was that curious that she took him in and gave him something to eat but he had scarcely began munching it as slowly as he could when thump thump thump they heard the giant's footstep and his wife he'd jack away in the oven all happened as it did before in came the ogre as he did before said three five four thumb and had his breakfast of three broiled oxen then he said wife bring me the hen that lays the golden eggs so she brought it and the ogre said lay and it laid an egg all of gold and then the ogre began to nod his head and to snore till the house shook then jack crept out of the oven on tiptoe and caught hold of the golden hen and was off before you could say jack Robinson but this time the hen gave a cackle which woke the ogre and just as jack got out of the house he heard him calling wife wife what have you done with my golden hen and the wife said why my dear but that was all jack heard for he rushed off to the beanstalk and climbed down like a house on fire and when he got home he showed his mother the wonderful hen and said lay to it and it laid a golden egg every time he said lay well jack was not content and it wasn't very long before he determined to have another try at his luck up there at the top of the beanstalk so one fine morning he got up early and went on to the beanstalk and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed till he got to the top but this time he knew better than to go straight to the ogre's house and when he got near it he waited behind a bush till he saw the ogre's wife come out with a pail to get some water and then he crept into the house and got into the copper he hadn't been there long when he heard thump thump thump as before and then come the ogre his wife fee five four thumb i smell the blood of an englishman cried out the ogre i smell him wife i smell him do you my dearie says the ogre's wife then if it's that little rogue that stole your gold and the hen that laid the golden eggs he's sure to have gotten to the oven and they both rushed to the oven but jack wasn't there luckily and the ogre's wife said there you are again with your fee five four thumb well of course it's the laddie you caught last night that i've broiled for your breakfast how forgetful i am and how careless you are not to tell the difference between a liven and a deadone so the ogre sat down to the breakfast and ate it but every now and then he would mutter well i could have sawn and he'd get up and search the ladder and the cupboards and everything only luckily he didn't think of the copper after breakfast was over the ogre called out wife wife bring me my golden harp so she brought it and put it on the table before him then he said sing and the golden harp sang most beautifully and it went on singing to the ogre fell asleep and commenced to snore like thunder then jack lifted up the copper lid very quietly and got down like a mouse and crept on hands and knees till he got to the table when he got up and caught hold of the golden harp and dashed with it towards the door but the harp called out quite loud master master and the ogre woke up just in time to see jack running off with his harp jack ran as fast as he could and the ogre came rushing after and would soon have caught him only jack had a start and dodged him a bit and knew where he was going when he got to the beanstalk the ogre was not more than 20 yards away when suddenly he saw jack disappear like and when he got up to the end of the road he saw jack underneath climbing down for dear life well the ogre didn't like trusting himself to such a ladder and he stood and waited so jack got another start but just then the harp cried out master master and the ogre swung himself down to the beanstalk which shook with his weight down climbs jack and after him climbed the ogre by this time jack had climbed down and climbed down and climbed down till he was very nearly home so he called out mother mother bring me an axe bring me an axe and his mother came rushing out with the axe in her hand but when she came to the beanstalk she stood stock still with fright for there she saw the ogre just coming down below the clouds but jack jumped down and got hold of the axe and gave a chop at the beanstalk which cut it half in two the ogre felt the beanstalk shake and quiver so he stopped to see what was the matter then jack gave another chop with the axe and the beanstalk was cut in two and began to topple over then the ogre fell down and broke his crown and the beanstalk came toppling after then jack showed his mother his golden harp and what was showing that in selling the golden eggs jack and his mother became very rich and he married a great princess and they lived happy ever after end of chapter 13 jack and the beanstalk 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 14 the story of the three little pigs once upon a time when pigs spoke lion and monkeys chewed tobacco and hens took snuff to make them tough and ducks went quack quack quack there was an old sow with three little pigs and as she had not enough to keep them she sent them out to seek their fortune the first that went off met a man with a bundle of straw and said to him please man give me that straw to build me a house which the man did and the little pig built a house with it presently came along a wolf and knocked at the door and said little pig little pig let me come in to which the pig answered no no by the hair of my chinny chin chin the wolf then answered to that then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in so he huffed and he puffed and he blew his house in and ate up the little pig the second little pig met a man with a bundle of furs and said please man give me that furs to build a house which the man did and the pig built his house then along came the wolf and said little pig little pig let me come in no no by the hair of my chinny chin chin then I'll puff and I'll huff and I'll blow your house in so he huffed and he puffed and he puffed and he huffed and at last he blew the house down and he ate up the little pig the third little pig met a man with a load of bricks and said please man give me those bricks to build a house with so the man gave him the bricks and he built his house with them so the wolf came as he did to the other little pigs and said little pig little pig let me come in no no by the hair of my chinny chin chin then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in well he huffed and he puffed and he huffed and he puffed and he puffed and he huffed but he could not get the house down when he found that he could not with all his huffing and puffing blow the house down he said little pig I know where there is a nice field of termites where said the little pig oh and mr smith's home field and if you will be ready tomorrow morning I will call for you and we will go together and get some for dinner very well said the little pig I will be ready what time do you mean to go oh at six o'clock well the little pig got up at five and got the termites before the wolf came which he did about six and he said little pig are you ready the little pig said ready I have been and come back again and got a nice potful for dinner the wolf thought very angry at this but thought that he would be up to the little pig somehow or other so he said little pig I know where there is a nice apple tree where said the pig down at Mary Garden replied the wolf and if you will not deceive me I will come for you at five o'clock tomorrow and get some apples well the little pig bustles up the next morning at four o'clock and went off for the apples and took it back before the wolf came but he had further to go and had to climb the tree so that just as he was coming down from it he saw the wolf coming which as you may suppose frightened him very much when the wolf came up he said little pig what are you here before me are they nice apples yes very said the little pig I will throw you down one and he threw it so far that while the wolf was gone to pick it up the little pig jumped down and ran home the next day the wolf came again and said to the little pig little pig there is a fair shanklin this afternoon will you go oh yes said the pig I will go what time shall you be ready at three said the wolf so the little pig went off before the time as usual and got to the fair and bought a butter churn which he was going home with and he saw the wolf coming then he could not tell what to do so he got into the churn to hide and by so doing turn it round and it rolled down the hill with the pig in it which frightened the wolf so much that he ran home without going to the fair he went to the little pig's house and told him how frightened he had been by a great round thing which came down the hill past him then the little pig said huh I frightened you then I had been to the fair and bought a butter churn and when I saw you I got into it and rolled down the hill then the wolf was very angry indeed and declared he would eat up the little pig and that he would get down the chimney after him when the little pig saw what he was about he hung on the pot full of water and made up a blazing fire and just as the wolf was coming down took off the cover and in fell the wolf so the little pig put on the cover again in an instant bought him up and ate him for supper and lived happy ever afterwards end of chapter 14 the story of the three little pigs this is the LibriBox recording all LibriBox 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 15 the master and his pupil there was once a very learned man in the north country he knew all the languages under the sun and he was acquainted with all the mysteries of creation he had one big book bound in black calf and clasped with iron and with iron corners and chained to a table which was made fast to the floor and when he read out of this book he unlocked it with an iron key and none but he read from it for it contained all the secrets of the spiritual world it told how many angels they were in heaven and how they marched in their ranks and sang in their choirs and what were their several functions and what was the name of each great angel of might and it told of the demons how many of them there were and what were their several powers and their labors and their names and how they might be summoned and how tasks might be imposed on them and how they might be chained to be a slaves to man now the master had a pupil who was but a foolish lad and he acted as servant to the great master but never was he suffered to look into the black book hardly to enter the private room one day the master was out and then the lad as curious as could be hurried to the chamber where his master kept his wondrous apparatus for changing copper into gold and led into silver and where was his mirror in which he could see all that was passing in the world and where was the shell which when held to the ear whispered all the words that were being spoken by anyone that the master desired to know the lad tried in vain with the cruciples to turn copper and led into gold and silver he looked long and vainly into the mirror smoke and clouds passed over it but he saw nothing plain and the shell to his ear produced only indistinct memories like the breaking of distant seas on an unknown shore i can do nothing he said as i don't know the right words to utter and they are locked up in young book he looked round and see the book was unfastened the master had forgotten to lock it before he went out the boy rushed to it and unclosed the volume it was written with red and black ink and much of it he could not understand but he put his finger on a line and spelled it through at once the room was darkened and the house trembled a clap of thunder rolled through the passage in the old room and there stood before him a horrible horrible form breathing fire and with eyes like burning lamps it was the demon beelzebub whom he had called up to serve him set me a task said he with a voice like the roaring of an iron furnace the boy only trembled and his hair stood up set me a task or i shall strangle thee but the land could not speak then the evil spirit stepped towards him and putting forth his hand touched his throat the fingers burned his flesh set me a task watering on flower cried the boy in despair pointing to a geranium which stood in a pot on the floor instantly the spirit left the room but in another instant he returned with a barrel on his back and poured its contents over the flower and again and again he went and came and poured more and more water till the floor of the room was ankle deep enough enough gasped the lad but the demon heeded him not the lad didn't know the words by which to send him away and still he fetched water it rose to the boys knees and still more water was poured it mounted to his waist and beelzebub still kept on bringing barrels full it rose to his armpits and he scrambled to the tabletop and now the water in the room stood up to the window and washed against the glass and swelled around his feet on the table it still rose it reached his breast in vain he cried the evil spirit would not be dismissed and to this day he would have been pouring water and would have drowned all yorkshire but the master remembered on his journey that he had not locked his book and therefore returned and at the moment when the water was bubbling about the pupil's chin rushed into the room and spoke the words which cast beelzebub back into his fiery home end of chapter 15 the master and his pupil 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 16 titty mouse and tatty mouse titty mouse and tatty mouse both lived in a house titty mouse went to leasing and tatty mouse went to leasing so they both went to leasing titty mouse leased an ear of corn and tatty mouse leased an ear of corn so they both leased an ear of corn titty mouse made a pudding and tatty mouse made a pudding so they both made a pudding and tatty mouse put her pudding into the pot to boil but when titty went to put hers in the pot tumbled over and scolded hers death Then Tattie sat down and wept. Then a three-legged stool said, Tattie, why do you weep? Titties dead, said Tattie, and so I weep. Then, said the stool, I'll hop. So the stool hopped. Then a broom in the corner of the room said, Stool, why do you hop? Oh, said the stool. Titties dead and Tattie weeps and so I hop. Then, said the broom, I'll sweep. So the broom began to sweep. Then, said the door. Broom, why do you sweep? Oh, said the broom. Titties dead and Tattie weeps, and the stool hops, and so I sweep. Then, said the door, I'll jar. So the door jarred. Then, said the window. Door, why do you jar? Oh, said the door. Titties dead and Tattie weeps, and the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, and so I jar. Then, said the window, I'll creak. So the window creaked. Now there was an old form outside the house, and when the window creaked the form said, Window, why do you creak? Oh, said the window. Titties dead and Tattie weeps, and the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and so I creak. Then, said the old form, I'll run round the house. Then the old form ran round the house. Now there was a fine large walnut tree growing by the cottage, and the tree said to the form, Form, why do you run round the house? Oh, said the form. Titties dead and Tattie weeps, and the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, and so I run round the house. Then, said the walnut tree, I'll shed my leaves. So the walnut tree shed all its beautiful green leaves. Now there was a little bird perched on one of the bows of the tree, and when all the leaves fell it said, Walnut tree, why do you shed your leaves? Oh, said the tree. Titties dead and Tattie weeps, the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form runs round the house, and so I shed my leaves. Then, said the little bird, I'll molt all my feathers. So he molted all his pretty feathers. Now there was a little girl walking below, carrying a jug of milk for her brothers and sisters supper, and when she saw the poor little bird molt all its feathers, she said, Little bird, why do you molt all your feathers? Oh, said the little bird. Titties dead and Tattie weeps, the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars and the window creaks, the old form runs round the house, the walnut tree sheds its leaves, and so I molt all my feathers. Then, said the little girl, I'll spill the milk. So she dropped the pitcher and spilt the milk. Now there was an old man just by on the top of a ladder, thatching a rick, and when he saw the little girl spill the milk he said, Little girl, what do you mean by spilling the milk?  Then, said the little girl. Titties dead and Tattie weeps, the stool hops and the broom sweeps, the door jars and the window creaks, the old form runs round the house, the walnut tree sheds all its leaves, the little bird molts all its feathers, and so I spill the milk. Oh! said the old man, then I'll tumble off the ladder and break my neck. So he tumbled off the ladder and broke his neck, and when the old man broke his neck, the great walnut tree fell down with a crash, and upset the old form and house, and the house falling knocked the window out, and the window knocked the door down, and the door upset the broom, and the broom upset the stool, and poor little Tattie Mouse was buried beneath the ruins. End of Chapter 16. Tittie Mouse and Tattie Mouse. 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 17. Jack and his Golden Snuff Box. Once upon a time, and a very good time it was, though it was neither in my time nor in your time, nor in anyone else's time, there was an old man and an old woman, and they had one son, and they lived in a great forest, and their son never saw any other people in his life. But he knew that there was some more in the world besides his own father and mother, because he had lots of books, and he used to read every day about them. And when he read about some pretty young women, he used to go mad to see some of them. Till one day, when his father was out cutting wood, he told his mother that he wished to go away, to look for his living in some other country, and to see some other people besides them too. And he said, I see nothing at all here but great trees around me, and if I stay here, maybe I shall go mad before I see anything. The young man's father was out all this time, when this talk was going on between him and his poor old mother. The old woman begins by saying to her son before leaving, well well my poor boy, if you want to go, it's better for you to go, and God be with you. The old woman thought for the best when she said that.  Dear dear said he, make me a big cake, maybe I shall be hungry on the road. The old woman made the big cake, and she went on top of the house, and she cursed him as far as she could see him. Presently meets with his father, and the old man says to him, where are you going my poor boy? When the son told the father the same tale as he told his mother. Well, says his father, I'm sorry to see you going away, but if you've made your mind to go it's better for you to go. The poor lad had not gone far when his father called him back. Then the old man drew out of his pocket a golden snuff box and said to him, here take this little box and put it in your pocket, and be sure not to open it till you are near your death. And away went poor Jack upon his road, and walked till he was tired and hungry, for he had eaten all his cake upon the road, and by this time night was upon him, so he could hardly see his way before him. He could see some light a long way before him, and he made up to it, and found the back door and knocked at it, till one of the maid servants came and asked him what he wanted. He said that night was on him, and he wanted to get some place to sleep. The maid servant called him into the fire and gave him plenty to eat, good meat and bread and beer, and as he was eating his food by the fire, there came the young lady to look at him, and she loved him well, and he loved her. And the young lady ran to tell her father, and said there was a pretty young man in the back kitchen, and immediately the gentleman came to him, and questioned him, and asked what work he could do. Jack said, the silly fellow, that he could do anything. He meant that he could do any foolish bit of work that would be wanted about the house. Well, says the gentleman to him, if you can do anything, at eight o'clock in the morning, I must have a great lake and some of the largest man-of-war vessels sailing before my mansion, and one of the largest vessels must fire a royal salute, and the last round must break the leg of the bed where my young daughter is sleeping, and if you don't do that, you will have to forfeit your life. All right, said Jack, and away he went to his bed, and said his prayers quietly, and slept till it was near eight o'clock, and he had hardly any time to think what he was to do, till all of a sudden he remembered about the little golden box that his father gave him, and he said to himself, Well, well, I never was so near my death as I am now, and then he felt in his pocket, and drew the little box out, and when he opened it, out there hopped three little red men, and asked Jack, What is your will with us? Well, said Jack, I want a great lake and some of the largest man-of-war vessels in the world before this mansion, and one of the largest vessels to fire a royal salute, and the last round to break one of the legs of the bed where this young lady is sleeping. All right, said the little men, go to sleep. Jack had hardly time to bring the words out of his mouth to tell the little men what to do, but when it struck eight o'clock, when bang, bang, went one of the largest man-of-war vessels, and it made Jack jump out of bed to look through the window, and I can assure you it was a wonderful sight for him to see, after being so long with his father and mother living in a wood. By this time Jack dressed himself and said his prayers, and came down laughing, for he was proud he was because the thing was done so well. The gentleman comes to him and says to him, Well, my young man, I must say that you are very clever indeed. Come and have some breakfast. And the gentleman tells him, Now there are two more things you have to do, and then you shall have my daughter in marriage. Jack gets his breakfast and has a good squint at the young lady, and also she at him. The other thing that the gentleman told him to do was to fell all the great trees for miles around by eight o'clock in the morning, and, to make my long story short, it was done, and it pleased the gentleman well. The gentleman said to him, The other thing you have to do, and it was the last thing, you must get me a great castle standing on twelve golden pillars, and there must come regiments of soldiers, and go through their drill. At eight o'clock the commanding officer must say, Shoulder up. All right, said Jack. When the third and last morning came, the third great feat was finished, and he had the young daughter in marriage. But, oh dear, there is worse to come yet. The gentleman now makes a large hunting party, and invites all the gentlemen around the country to it, and to see the castle as well. And by this time Jack has a beautiful horse and a scarlet dress to go with them. On that morning his valet, when putting Jack's clothes by, after changing them to go hunting, put his hand in one of Jack's waistcoat pockets, and pulled out the little golden snuff box, as poor Jack left behind in a mistake. And that man opened the little box, and there hopped the three little red men out, and asked him what he wanted with them. Well, said the valet to them, I want this castle to be moved from this place far and far across the sea. All right, said the little red men to him, do you wish to go with it? Yes, said he. Well, get up, said they to him, and away they went, far and far over the great sea. Now the grand hunting party comes back, and the castle upon the twelve golden pillars had disappeared, to the great disappointment of those gentlemen as did not see it before. That poor silly Jack is threatened by taking his beautiful young wife from him, for taking them in in the way he did. But the gentleman at last made an agreement with him, and he is to have a twelve months and a day to look for it, and off he goes with a good horse and money in his pocket. Now poor Jack goes in search of his missing castle over hills, dales, valleys and mountains, through woolly woods and sheep walks, further than I can tell you or ever intend to tell you, until at last he comes up to the place where lives the king of all the little mice in the world. There was one of the little mice on sentry at the front gate going up to the palace, and did try to stop Jack from going in. He asked the little mouse, Where does the king live? I should like to see him. This one sent another with him to show him the place, and when the king saw him he called him in, and the king questioned him, and asked him where he was going that way. Well, Jack told him all the truth, that he had lost the great castle, and was going to look for it, and he had a whole twelve months and a day to find it out. And Jack asked him whether he knew anything about it, and the king said, No, but I am the king of all the little mice in the world, and I will call them all up in the morning, and maybe they have seen something of it. Then Jack got a good meal and bed, and in the morning he and the king went on to the fields, and the king called all the mice together, and asked them whether they had seen the great beautiful castle standing on golden pillars, and all the little mice said, No, there was none of them had seen it. The old king said to him that he had two other brothers, one is the king of all the frogs, and my other brother who was the oldest, he is the king of all the birds in the world, and if you go there, maybe they know something about the missing castle. The king said to him, Leave your horse here with me till you come back, and take one of my best horses under you, and give this cake to my brother. He will know then who you got it from. Mind and tell him I am well, and should like dearly to see him. And then the king and Jack shook hands together. And when Jack was going through the gates, the little mouse asked him, should he go with him? And Jack said to him, No, I shall get myself into trouble with the king. And the little thing told him, It will be better for you to let me go with you. Maybe I shall do some good to you some time without you knowing it. Jump up then. And the little mouse ran up the horse's leg and made it dance, and Jack put the mouse in his pocket. Now Jack, after wishing good morning to the king and pocketing the little mouse which was on sentry, trudged on his way, and such a long way he had to go, and this was his first day. At last he found the place, and there was one of the frogs on sentry, and gun upon his shoulder, and he tried to hinder Jack from going in. But when Jack said to him that he wanted to see the king, he allowed him to pass, and Jack made up to the door. The king came out and asked him his business, and Jack told him all from beginning to end. Well, well, come in. He gets good entertainment that night, and in the morning the king made such a funny sound, and collected all the frogs in the world. And he asked them, Did they know or see anything of a castle that stood upon 12 golden pillars? And they all made a curious sound. And said, No. Jack had to take another horse and a cake to this king's brother. He was the king of all the fowls of the air. And as Jack was going through the gates, the little frog that was on sentry asked John, Should he go with him? Jack refused him for a bit, but at last he told him to jump up, and Jack put him in his other waistcoat pocket, and away he went again on his great long journey. It was three times as long this time as it was the first day. However he found the place, and there was a fine bird on sentry, and Jack passed him, and he never said a word to him. And he talked with the king and told him everything, all about the castle. Well, said the king to him, You shall know in the morning from my birds whether they know anything or not. Jack put up his horse in the stable and then went to bed after having something to eat. And when he got up in the morning, the king and he went on to some field, and there the king made some funny noise, and there came all the fowls that were in all the world. And the king asked them, Did they see the fine castle? And all the birds answered, No. Well, said the king, Where is the great bird? They had to wait then for a long time for the eagle to make his appearance, when at last he came all in a perspiration, after sending two little birds high up in the sky to whistle on him, to make all the haste he possibly could. The king asked the great bird, Did he see the great castle? And the bird said, Yes, I came from there where it now is. Well, says the king to him, This young gentleman has lost it, and you must go with him back to it, but stop till you get a bit of something to eat first. They killed a thief and sent the best part of it to feed the eagle on his journey over the seas, and had to carry Jack on his back. Now, when they came in sight of the castle, they did not know what to do to get the little golden box.  So the mouse stole into the castle, and got hold of the box, and when he was coming down the stairs it fell down, and he was very near being caught. He came running out with it, laughing his best. Have you got it? Jack said to him. He said, Yes, and off they went back again, and left the castle behind. As they were all of them, Jack, mouse, frog, and eagle, passing over the great sea, they felt a quarrelling about which it was that got the little box, till down it slipped into the water. It was by them looking at it and handing it from one hand to the other that they dropped the little box to the bottom of the sea. Well, well, said the frog. I knew that I would have to do something, so you had better let me go down in the water.  And all of them asked him, Did he get it? And he told them, No. Well, what are you doing there then? Nothing at all, he said. Only I want my full breath. And the poor little frog went down the second time, and he was downed for a day and a night, and up he brings it. And away they did go after being there four days and nights, and after a long tug over seas and mountains arrive at the palace of the old king, who is the master of all the birds in the world, and the king is very proud to see them, and has a hearty welcome and a long conversation.  The three little men went off, and when they came near the castle, they were afraid to go to it till the gentleman and lady, and all the servants were gone out to some dance. And there was no one left behind there, only the cook and another maid with her. And the little red men asked them which would they rather go or stop behind, and they both said, I will go with you. And the little men told them to run upstairs quick. There were no sooner up and in one of the drawing rooms than here comes just in sight the gentleman and lady and all the servants. But it was too late. Off the castle went at full speed, with the women laughing at them through the window, while they made motions for them to stop, but all to no purpose. They were nine days on their journey, in which they did try to keep the Sunday holy, when one of the little men turned to be the priest, the other the clerk, and third presided at the organ. And the women were the singers, for they had a grand chapel in the castle already. Very remarkable, there was a discord made in the music, and one of the little men ran up one of the organ pipes to see where the bad sound came from. When he found out it only happened to be that the two women were laughing at the little red man stretching his little legs full length on the base pipes, also his two arms the same time, with his little red nightcap, which he never forgot to wear, and what they never witnessed before could not help calling forth some good merriment while on the face of the deep. And poor thing, through them not going on with what they began with, they very near came to danger, as the castle was once very near sinking in the middle of the sea. At length, after a merry journey, they come again to Jack and the king. The king was quite struck with the sight of the castle, and going up the golden stairs, went to see the inside. The king was very much pleased with the castle, but poor Jack's time over twelve months and a day was drawing to a close, and he, wishing to go home to his young wife, gives orders to the three little men to get ready by the next morning at eight o'clock to be off to the next brother, and to stop there for one night, also to proceed from there to the last or the youngest brother, the master of all the mice in the world, in such place where the castle shall be left unto his care until it's sent for. Jack takes a farewell of the king, and thanks him very much for his hospitality. Away went Jack and his castle again, and stopped one night in that place, and away they went again to the third place, and there left the castle under his care. As Jack had to leave the castle behind, he had to take to his own horse which he had left there when he first started. Now poor Jack leaves his castle behind, and faces towards home, and after having so much merriment with the three brothers every night, Jack became sleepy on horseback, and would have lost the road if it was not for the little men are guiding him. At last he arrived weary and tired, and they did not seem to receive him with any kindness whatever, because he had not found the stolen castle. And to make it worse, he was disappointed in not seeing his young and beautiful wife to come and meet him, through being hindered by her parents. But that did not stop long. Jack put full power on, and dispatched the little men off to bring the castle from there, and they soon got there. Jack shook hands with the king, and returned many thanks for his kingly kindness in minding the castle for him, and then Jack instructed the little men to spur up and put speed on, and off they went, and were not long before they reached their journey's end, when out comes the young wife to meet him with a fine lump of a young son, and they all lived happily ever afterwards. End of Chapter 17, Jack and his golden snuff box. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. English Fairy Tales, collected by Joseph Jacobs. Chapter 18, The Story of the Three Bears Once upon a time there were three bears who lived together in a house of their own in a wood. One of them was a little, small wee bear, and one was a middle-sized bear, and the other was a great, huge bear. They had each a pot for their porridge, a little pot for the little, small wee bear, and a middle-sized pot for the middle bear, and a great pot for the great, huge bear.  And they had each a bed to sleep in, a little bed for the little, small, wee bear, and a middle-sized bed for the middle bear, and a great bed for the great, huge bear. One day, after they had made the porridge for their breakfast and poured it into their porridge pots, they walked out into the wood while the porridge was cooling, that they might not burn their mouths by beginning too soon to eat it. And while they were walking, a little old woman came to the house. She could not have been a good, honest old woman. For first she looked in at the window, and then she peeped in at the keyhole, and seeing nobody in the house, she lifted the latch. The door was not fastened, because the bears were good bears, who did nobody any harm, and never suspected that anybody would harm them. So the little old woman opened the door and went in, and well pleased she was when she saw the porridge on the table. If she had been a good little old woman, she would have waited till the bears came home, and then perhaps they would have asked her to breakfast, for they were good bears, a little rough also as the manner of bears is, but for all that very good natured and hospitable. But she was an imputed, bad old woman, and set about helping herself. So first she tasted the porridge of the great huge bear, and that was too hot for her, and she said a bad word about that. And then she tasted the porridge of the middle bear, and that was too cold for her, and she said a bad word about that too. And then she went to the porridge of the little small wee bear, and tasted that, and that was neither too hot nor too cold, but just right. And she liked it so well that she ate it all up. But the naughty old woman said a bad word about the little porridge pot, because it did not hold enough for her. Then the little old woman sat down in the chair of the great huge bear, and that was too hard for her. And then she sat down in the chair of the middle bear, and that was too soft for her. And then she sat down in the chair of the little small wee bear, and that was neither too hard nor too soft, but just right. So she seated herself in it, and there she sat till the bottom of the chair came out, and down she came plump upon the ground. And the naughty old woman said a wicked word about that too. Then the little old woman went upstairs into the bed chamber in which the three bears slept. At first she lay down upon the bed of the great huge bear, but that was too high at the head for her. And next she lay down upon the bed of the middle bear, and that was too high at the foot for her. And then she lay down upon the bed of the little small wee bear, and that was neither too high at the head nor at the foot, but just right. So she covered herself up comfortably and lay there till she fell fast asleep. By this time the three bears thought their porridge would be cool enough, so they came home to breakfast. Now the little old woman had left the spoon of the great huge bear standing in his porridge. Somebody has been at my porridge, said the great huge bear in his great rough, rough voice. And when the middle bear looked at his, he saw that the spoon was standing in it too. They were wooden spoons.  Somebody has been at my porridge, said the middle bear in his middle voice. Then the little small wee bear looked at his, and there was the spoon in the porridge pot, but the porridge was all gone.  Upon this the three bears, seeing that someone had entered their house and had eaten up the little small wee bear's breakfast, began to look about them. Now the little old woman had not put the hard cushion straight when she rose from the chair of the great huge bear. Somebody has been sitting in my chair, said the great huge bear in his great rough, rough voice. And the little old woman had squatted down the soft cushion of the middle bear. Somebody has been sitting in my chair, said the middle bear in his middle voice.  Somebody has been sitting in my chair and has set the bottom out of it, said the little small wee bear in his little small wee voice. Then the three bears thought it necessary that they should make father's search, so they went upstairs into their bed chamber. Now the little old woman had pulled the pillow of the great huge bear out of its place. Somebody has been lying in my bed, said the great huge bear in his great rough, rough voice. And the little old woman had pulled the bolster of the middle bear out of its place. Somebody has been lying in my bed, said the middle bear in his middle voice. And when the little small wee bear came to look at his bed, there was the bolster in its place and the pillow in its place upon the bolster. And upon the pillow was the little old woman's ugly, dirty head, which was not in its place, for she had no business there.  The little old woman had heard in her sleep the great, rough, rough voice of the great huge bear. But she was so fast asleep that it was no more to her than the roaring of wind or the rumbling of thunder. And she had heard the middle voice of the middle bear. But it was only as if she had heard someone speaking in a dream. But when she heard the little small wee voice of the little small wee bear, it was so sharp and so shrill that it awakened her at once. Up she started, and when she saw the three bears on one side of the bed, she tumbled herself out at the other and ran to the window. Now the window was open because the bears, like good, tidy bears as they were, always opened their bed chamber window when they got up in the morning. Out the little old woman jumped, and whether she broke her neck in the fall or ran into the wood and was lost there, or found her way out of the wood and was taken up by the constable and sent to the house of correction for a vagrant as she was, I cannot tell. But the three bears never saw anything more of her. End of chapter 18, the story of the three bears. This is a LibriVox recording. 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 19, Jack the Giant Killer. When Good King Arthur reigned, they lived near the land's end of England in the county of Cornwall, a farmer who had one only son called Jack. He was brisk and of a ready, lively wit, so that nobody or nothing could worst him. In those days, the nut of Cornwall was kept by a huge giant named Cormoran. He was 18 feet in height and about three yards round the waist of a fierce and grim countenance, the terror of all the neighboring towns and villages. He lived in a cave in the midst of the melt, and whenever he wanted food, he would wade over to the mainland, where he would furnish himself with whatever came in his way. Everybody at his approach ran out of their houses while he seized on their cattle, making nothing of carrying half a dozen oxen on his back at a time.  He had done this for many years so that all Cornwall was in despair. One day Jack happened to be at the town hall when the magistrates were sitting in council about the giant. He asked, what reward will be given to the man who kills Cormoran? The giant's treasure, they said, will be the reward. Quoth Jack, then let me undertake it. So he got a horn, shovel, and pickaxe, and went over to the mount in the beginning of a dark winter's evening when he fell to work and before morning had dug a pit 22 feet deep and nearly as broad, covering it over with long sticks and straw. Then he screwed a little mould over it so that it appeared like plain ground. Jack then placed himself on the opposite side of the pit, farthest from the giant's lodging, and just at the break of day, he put the horn to his mouth and blew, Tantavi, Tantavi.  You shall pay dearly for this, satisfaction I will have and this it shall be. I will take you whole and brawl you for breakfast. He had no sooner uttered this than he tumbled into the pit and made the very foundations of the mount to shake. Oh giant, Quoth Jack, where are you now? Oh faith, you are got a mountain lobs pound where I will surely plague you for threatening words. What do you think now of brolling me for your breakfast? Will no other diet serve you but poor Jack?  Jack then filled up the pit with earth and went to search the cave, which he found contained much treasure. When the magistrates heard of this, they made a declaration he should henceforth be turned, Jack the giant killer, and presented him with a sword and a belt, unriched with written these words embroidered in letters of gold. He is the right valiant Cornish man who slew the giant Cormoran. The news of Jack's victory soon spread over all the west of England, so that another giant named Blunderbore, hearing of it, vowed to be revenged on Jack if ever he should light on him. This giant was the lord of an enchanted castle situated in the midst of a lonesome wood. Now Jack, about four months afterwards, walking near this wood in his journey to Wales, being weary, seated himself near a pleasant fountain and fell fast asleep. While he was sleeping, the giant, coming there for water, discovered him and knew him to be the far-famed Jack the giant killer by the lines written on the belt. Without ado, he took Jack on his shoulders and carried him towards its castle. Now as they passed through a thicket, the rustling of the boughs awakened Jack, who was strangely surprised to fight himself in the clutches of the giant. His terror was only begun, for, on entering the castle, he saw the ground strewed with human bones and the giant told him his own would ear-long be among them. After this, the giant locked poor Jack in an immense chamber, leaving him there while he went to fetch another giant, his brother, living in the same wood. He might share in the meal on Jack. After waiting some time, Jack, on going to the window, beheld a far-off the two giants coming towards the castle. Now, quote Jack to himself, my death or my deliverance is at hand. Now there were strong cords in a corner of the room in which Jack was, and two of these he took and made a strong noose at the end. And while the giants were unlocking the iron gate of the castle, he threw the ropes over each of their heads. Then he drew the other ends across a beam and pulled with all his might so that he throttled them. Then when he saw they were black in the face, he slid down the rope and drawing his sword slew them both. Then taking the giant's keys and unlocking the rooms, he found three fair ladies tied by the hair of their heads, almost starved to death. Sweet ladies, quote Jack, I have destroyed this monster and his brutish brother and obtained your liberties. This said, he presented them with the keys and so proceeded on his journey to Wales. Jack made the best of his way by traveling as fast as he could but lost his road and was benighted and could find any habitation until, coming into a narrow valley, he found a large house and in order to get shelter, took courage to knock at the gate.  Yet he did not appear so fiery as the others were for he was a wealth giant and what he did was by private and secret malice under the false show of friendship. Jack, having told his condition to the giant, was shown into a bedroom where, in the dead of night, he heard his host in another apartment muttering these words.  Says thou so, quote Jack, that is like one of your wealth tricks, yet I hope to be cunning enough for you. Then, getting out of bed, he laid a billet in the bed in his stead and hid himself in a corner of the room. At the dead time of the night, in came the wealth giant who struck several heavy blows on the bed with his club, thinking he had broken every bone in Jack's skin. The next morning, Jack, laughing in his sleeve, gave him hearty thanks for his night's lodging. How have you rested, quote the giant? Did you not feel anything in the night? No, quote Jack, nothing but a rat which gave me two or three slats with a tail. With that, greatly wandering, the giant led Jack to breakfast, bringing him a bowl containing four gallons of hasty pudding. Being low to let the giant think it too much for him, Jack put a large leather bag under his loose coat in such a way that he could convey the pudding into it without it's being perceived. Then, telling the giant he would show him a trick, taking a knife Jack ripped open the bag and out came all the hasty pudding. We're upon saying, odd splutters her nails, her can do that trick herself. The monster took the knife and ripping open his belly fell down dead. Now it happened in these days that King Arthur's only son asked his father to give him a large sum of money in order that he might go and seek his fortune in the Principality of Wales where lived a beautiful lady possessed with seven evil spirits. The king did his best to persuade his son from it but in vain. So at last gave way and the prince set out with two horses, one loaded with money, the other for himself to ride upon. Now after several days travel, he came to a market town in Wales where he beheld a vast crowd of people gathered together. The prince asked the reason of it and was told that they had arrested a corpse for several large sums of money which the deceased owed when he died. The prince replied that it was a pity creditors should be so cruel and said, go bury the dead and let his creditors come to my lodging and there their debts shall be paid. They came in such great numbers that before night he had only two pence left for himself. Now Jack the giant killer coming that way was so taken with the generosity of the prince that he desired to be his servant. This being agreed upon, the next morning they set forward on their journey together when as they were riding out of the town an old woman called after the prince saying, he has owed me two pence these seven years, pray pay me as well as the rest. Putting his hand to his pocket, the prince gave the woman all he had left so that after their days food which cost what small spell Jack had by him, they were without a penny between them. When the sun got low, the king's son said, Jack, since we have no money, where can we launch this night? But Jack replied, master will do well enough for I have an uncle lives within two miles of this place. He is a huge and monstrous giant with three heads. He'll fight 500 men in armor and make them to fly before him. Alas, quote the prince, what shall we do there? He'll certainly chop us up at a mouthful. Nay, we are scarce enough to fill one of his hollow teeth. It is no matter for that, quote Jack, I myself will go before and prepare the way for you. Therefore stop here and wait till I return. Jack then rode away at full speed and coming to the gate of the castle, he knocked so loud that he made the neighboring hills resound. The giant roared out at this like thunder, who's there? Jack answered, none but your poor cousin Jack. Quoth he, what news with my poor cousin Jack? He replied, dear uncle, heavy news, good what? Really, quote the giant, what heavy news can come to me? I am a giant with three heads and besides, thou knowest I can fight 500 men in armor and make them fly like chaff before the wind.  Oh, cousin Jack, said the giant, this is heavy news indeed. I will immediately run and hide myself and thou shalt lock, bolt and bar me in and keep the keys until the prince is gone. Having secured the giant, Jack fetched his master when they made themselves heartily merry whilst the poor giant lay trembling in a vault under the ground. Early in the morning, Jack furnished his master with a fresh supply of gold and silver and then sent him three miles forward on his journey, at which time the prince was pretty well out of the smell of the giant. Jack then returned and let the giant out of the vault who asked what he should give him for keeping the castle from destruction. Why, quote Jack, I want nothing but the old coat and cap together with the old rusty sword and slippers which are at your bed's head. Quote the giant, you know not what you ask. They are the most precious things I have. The coat will keep you invisible. The cap will tell you all you want to know. The sword cuts asunder whatever you strike and the shoes are of extraordinary swiftness. But you have been very serviceable to me. Therefore take them with all my heart. Jack thanked his uncle and then went off with them. He soon overtook his master and they quickly arrived at the house of the lady the prince sought, who, finding the prince to be a suitor, prepared a splendid banquet for him. After the repast was concluded, she told him she had a task for him.  With that she put it in her bosom. The prince went to bed in great sorrow but Jack's cap of knowledge informed him how it was to be obtained. In the middle of the night, she called upon her familiar spirit to carry her to Lucifer. But Jack put on his coat of darkness and his shoes of swiftness and was there as soon as she was. When she entered the place of the old one, she gave the handkerchief to old Lucifer who laid it upon a shelf, whence Jack took it and brought it to his master who showed it to the lady next day and so saved his life.  Ah, he replied, if you kiss none but mine I will. That is neither he nor they said she, if you do not, death's your portion. At midnight she went as before and was angry with old Lucifer for letting the handkerchief go.  This broke the enchantment and the evil spirit left her and she appeared in all her beauty. They were married the next morning and soon after went to the court of King Arthur where Jack for his many great exploits was made one of the knights of the round table. Jack soon went searching for giants again but he had not ridden far when he saw a cave near the entrance of which he beheld a giant sitting upon a block of timber with a knotted iron club by his side.  Jack alighted from his horse and putting on the coat of darkness went up close to the giant and said softly, Oh, are you there? It will not be long before I take you fast by the beard.   But Jack running behind drove his sword up to the hilt and the giant's back so that he fell down dead.  Jack now resolved to enter the giant's cave in search of his treasure and passing along through a great many windings and turnings he came at length to a large room paved with freestone at the upper end of which was a boiling cauldron and on the right hand a large table at which the giant used to dine. Then he came to a window barred with iron through which he looked and beheld a vast number of miserable captives who seeing him cried out, alas young man, art thou come to be one amongst us in this miserable den? I, quote Jack, but pray tell me what is the meaning of your captivity? We are kept here, said one till such time as the giants have a wish to feast and then the fattest among us is slaughtered and many other times they have dined upon murdered men. Say you so, quote Jack, and straight away unlocked the gate and let them free who all rejoiced like condemned men at sight of a pardon. Then searching the giant's coffers he shared the gold and silver equally amongst them and took them to a neighbouring castle where they all feasted and made merry over their deliverance. But in the midst of all this mirth a messenger brought news that one Thunderdale, a giant with two heads, having heard of the death of his kinsmen, had come from the northern dales to be revenged on Jack and was within a mile of the castle. The country people flying before him like chaff. But Jack was not a bit daunted and said, let him come, I have a tool to pick his teeth and you ladies and gentlemen walk out into the garden and you shall witness this great Thunderdale's death and destruction. The castle was situated in the midst of a small island surrounded by a moat 30 feet deep and 20 feet wide over which lay a drawbridge. So Jack employed men to cut through this bridge on both sides nearly to the middle and then dressing himself in his invisible coat he marched against the giant with a sword of sharpness. Although the giant could not see Jack he smelt his approach and cried out in these words.  Says thou so said Jack then thou art a monstrous miller indeed.  You'll have to catch me first, quote Jack and throwing off his invisible coat so that the giant might see him and putting on his shoes of swiftness he ran from the giant who followed like a walking castle so that the very foundations of the earth seemed to shake at every step. Jack led him a long dance in order that the gentlemen and ladies might see and at last to end the matter ran lightly over the drawbridge the giant in full speed pursuing him with his club. Then coming to the middle of the bridge the giant's great weight broke it down and he tumbled headlong into the water where he rolled and wallowed like a whale. Jack standing by the moat laughed at him all the while but though the giant firmed to hear him scoff and plunged from place to place in the moat yet he could not get out to be revenged. Jack at length got a cart rope and cast it over the two heads of the giant and drew him ashore by a team of horses and then cut off both his heads with his sword of sharpness and sent them to King Arthur. After some time spent in mirth and pastime Jack, taking leave of the knights and ladies set out for new adventures. Through many woods he passed and came at length to the foot of a high mountain. Here late at night he found a lonesome house and knocked at the door which was opened by an aged man with a head as white as snow. Father said Jack can you lodge a benighted traveler that has lost his way? Yes said the old man you are right welcome to my poor cottage. Whereupon Jack entered and down they sat together and the old man began to speak as follows. Son I see by your belt you are the great conqueror of giants and behold my son on the top of this mountain is an enchanted castle. This is kept by a giant named Gilagantua and he by the help of an old conjure betrays many knights and ladies into his castle whereby magic art they are transformed into sundry shapes and forms. But above all I agree for a duet's daughter whom they fetched from her father's garden carrying her through the air in a burning chariot drawn by fiery dragons when they secured her within the castle and transformed her into a white hind. And though many knights have tried to break the enchantment and work her deliverance yet no one could accomplish it on account of two dreadful griffons which are placed at the castle gate and which destroy everyone who comes near. But you my son may pass by them undiscovered where on the gates of the castle you will find engraving in large letters how the spell may be broken. Jack gave the old man his hand and promised that in the morning he would venture his life to free the lady. In the morning Jack arose and put on his invisible coat and magic cap and shoes and prepared himself for the fray. Now when he had reached the top of the mountain he soon discovered the two fiery griffons but passed them without fear because of his invisible coat. When he had got beyond them he found upon the gates of the castle a golden trumpet hung by a silver chain under which these lines were engraved. Whoever shall this trumpet blow shall soon the giant overthrow and break the black enchantment straight so all shall be in happy state. Jack had no sooner read this but he blew the trumpet at which the castle trembled to its vast foundations and the giant and Condra weren't horrid confusion biting their thumbs and tearing their hair knowing their wicked reign was at an end. Then the giant, stooping to take up his club Jack at one blow cut off his head where upon the Condra mounting up into the air was carried away in a whirlwind. Then the enchantment was broken and all the lords and ladies who had so long been transformed into birds and beasts returned to their proper shapes and the castle vanished away in a cloud of smoke. This being done the head of Gilagantua was likewise in the usual manner conveyed to the court of King Arthur where the very next day Jack followed with the knights and ladies who had been delivered. Whereupon as a reward for his good services the king prevailed upon the Duke to bestow his daughter in marriage on honest Jack. So married they were and the whole kingdom was filled with joy at the wedding. Furthermore the king bestowed on Jack a noble castle with a very beautiful estate there too belonging where he and his lady lived in great joy and happiness all the rest of their days. End of chapter 19, Jack the giant killer. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs. Chapter 20, Henny Penny. One day Henny Penny was picking up corn in the corn yard when, whack, something hit her upon the head. Goodness gracious me said Henny Penny. The skies are going to fall. I must go and tell the king. So she went along and she went along and she went along till she met cocky locky. Where are you going Henny Penny? says cocky locky. Oh I'm going to tell the king the skies are falling says Henny Penny. May I come with you says cocky locky. Certainly says Henny Penny. So Henny Penny and cocky locky went to tell the king the sky was falling. They went along and they went along and they went along till they met ducky daddles. Where are you going to Henny Penny and cocky locky? says ducky daddles. Oh we're going to tell the king the skies are falling said Henny Penny and cocky locky. May I come with you says ducky daddles. Certainly said Henny Penny and cocky locky. So Henny Penny, cocky locky and ducky daddles went to tell the king the sky was falling. So they went along and they went along and they went along till they met goosey poosy. Where are you going to Henny Penny, cocky locky and ducky daddles? said goosey poosy. Oh we're going to tell the king the skies are falling. Said Henny Penny and cocky locky and ducky daddles. May I come with you said goosey poosy. Certainly said Henny Penny, cocky locky and ducky daddles. So Henny Penny, cocky locky, ducky daddles and goosey poosy went to tell the king the sky was falling. So they went along and they went along and they went along till they met turkey lurky. Where are you going Henny Penny, cocky locky, ducky daddles and goosey poosy? says turkey lurky. Oh we're going to tell the king the skies are falling. Said Henny Penny, cocky locky, ducky daddles and goosey poosy. May I come with you, Hennie-Pennie, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, and Goosey-Poocey?" said Turkey-Lurky. Why, certainly Turkey-Lurky, said Hennie-Pennie, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, and Goosey-Poocey. So Hennie-Pennie, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poocey, and Turkey-Lurky all went to tell the king the sky was a-falling. So they went along, and they went along, and they went along. So they met Foxy-Woxy, and Foxy-Woxy said to Hennie-Pennie, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poocey, and Turkey-Lurky. Where are you going, Hennie-Pennie, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poocey, and Turkey-Lurky? And Hennie-Pennie, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poocey, and Turkey-Lurky said to Foxy-Woxy. We're going to tell the king the sky's a-falling. Oh! But this is not the way to the king, Hennie-Pennie, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poocey, and Turkey-Lurky, says Foxy-Woxy. I know the proper way, shall I show it you? Why, certainly, Foxy-Woxy said Hennie-Pennie, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poocey, and Turkey-Lurky. So Hennie-Pennie, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poocey, Turkey-Lurky, and Foxy-Woxy all went to tell the king the sky was a-falling. So they went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they came to a narrow and dark hole. Now this was the door of Foxy-Woxy's cave, but Foxy-Woxy said to Hennie-Pennie, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poocey, and Turkey-Lurky. This is the short way to the king's palace. You'll soon get there if you follow me. I'll go first, and you come after Hennie-Pennie, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poocey, and Turkey-Lurky. Why, of course, certainly, without doubt. Why not? said Hennie-Pennie, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poocey, and Turkey-Lurky. So Foxy-Woxy went into his cave, and he didn't go very far, but turned round to wait for Hennie-Pennie, Cocky-Locky, Ducky-Daddles, Goosey-Poocey, and Turkey-Lurky. So at last that first Turkey-Lurky went through the dark hole into the cave. He hadn't got far when HRIMPH Foxy-Woxy snapped off Turkey-Lurky's head and threw his body over his left shoulder. Then Goosey-Poocey went in, and HRIMPH off went her head, and Goosey-Poocey was thrown beside Turkey-Lurky. Then Ducky-Daddles waddled down, and HRIMPH snapped Foxy-Woxy, and Ducky-Daddles' head was off, and Ducky-Daddles was thrown alongside Turkey-Lurky and Goosey-Poocey. Then Cocky-Locky strutted down into the cave, and he hadn't gone far when SNAPHRIMPH went Foxy-Woxy, and Cocky-Locky was thrown alongside of Turkey-Lurky, Goosey-Poocey, and Ducky-Daddles. But Foxy-Woxy had made two bites at Cocky-Locky, and when the first snap only hurt Cocky-Locky but didn't kill him, he called out to Hennie-Pennie. So she turned tail and ran back home. So she never told the king the sky was a-falling. End of Chapter 20 Hennie-Pennie Child Rowland and his brother's twain were playing at the ball, and there was their sister Bird-Ellen in the midst among them all. Child Rowland kicked it with his foot and caught it with his knee, at last as he plunged among them all, or the church he made at Flea. Bird-Ellen round about the aisle to seek the ball is gone, but long they waited and longer still, and she came knock back again. They sought her east, they sought her west, they sought her up and down, and woe were the hearts of those brethren, for she was not to be found. So at last her eldest brother went to the Warlock Merlin and told him all the case, and asked him if he knew where Bird-Ellen was. The fair Bird-Ellen said Warlock Merlin must have been carried off by the fairies because she went round the church wider shins, the opposite way to the sun. She is now in the dark tower of the King of Elfland. It would take the boldest night in Christendom to bring her back. If it is possible to bring her back, said her brother, I'll do it, or perish in the attempt. Possible it is, said the Warlock Merlin, but woe to the man or mother's son that attempts it if he is not well taught beforehand what he is to do. The eldest brother of Bird-Ellen was not to be put off by any fear of danger from attempting to get her back, so he begged the Warlock Merlin to tell him what he should do and what he should not do in going to seek his sister. And after he had been taught and had repeated his lesson he set out for Elfland. But long they waited and longer still with doubt and muckle pain, but woe were the hearts of his brethren, for he came not back again. Then the second brother got tired and sick of waiting and went to the Warlock Merlin and asked him the same as his brother, so he set out to find Bird-Ellen. But long they waited and longer still with muckle doubt and pain, and woe were his mother's and brother's heart, for he came not back again. And when they had waited and waited a good long time, Child Rowland, the youngest of Bird-Ellen's brothers, wished to go and went to his mother the good queen to ask her to let him go. But she would not at first, for he was the last of her children she now had, and if he was lost all would be lost. But he begged and he begged to let last the good queen let him go, and gave him his father's good brand that never struck in vain, and as she girded round his waist she said the spell that would give it victory. So Child Rowland said goodbye to the good queen, his mother, and went to the cave of the Warlock Merlin. Once more and but once more he said to the Warlock, tell how man or mother's son may rescue Bird-Ellen and her brother's twain. Well my son said the Warlock Merlin, there are but two things, simple they may seem, but hard they are to do. One thing to do and one thing not to do, and the thing to do is this, after you have entered the land of Fairy, whoever speaks to you till you meet the Bird-Ellen, you must out with your father's brand and off with their head, and what you've not to do is this, bite no bit and drink no drop, however hungry or thirsty you be, drink a drop or bite a bit while an elf land you be and never will you see Middle-Earth again. So Child Rowland said the two things over and over again till he knew them by heart, and he thanked the Warlock Merlin and went on his way, and he went along and along and along, and still further along till he came to the Horse-Head of the King of Elfland feeding his horses. These he knew by their fiery eyes and knew that he was at last in the land of Fairy. Canst thou tell me, said Child Rowland, to the Horse-Head, where the King of Elfland's dark tower is? I cannot tell thee, said the Horse-Head, but go on a little further and thou wilt come to the Cow-Head and he may be, can tell thee. Then without a word more, Child Rowland drew the Good-Brand that never struck in vain, and off went the Horse-Head's head, and Child Rowland went on further till he came to the Cow-Head and asked him the same question. I can't tell thee, said he, but go on a little farther and thou wilt come to the Hen-wife and she is sure to know. Then Child Rowland, out with his Good-Brand, that never struck in vain, and off went the Cow-Head's head, and he went on a little further till he came to an old woman in a grey cloak, and he asked her she knew where the dark tower of the King of Elfland was.  Go round at three times wider shins, and each time say, open door, open door, and let me come in. And the third time the door will open and you may go in. And Child Rowland was just going on when he remembered what he had to do, so he out with the Good-Brand that never struck in vain, and off went the Hen-wife's head. Then he went on and on and on till he came to the round green hill with the terraced rings from top to bottom, and he went round at three times wider shins, saying each time, open door, open door, and let me come in. And the third time the door did open and he went in, and it closed with a click, and Child Rowland was left in the dark. It was not exactly dark, but a kind of twilight or gloaming. There were neither windows nor candles, and he could not make out where the twilight came from if not through the walls and roof. These were rough arches made of a transparent rock encrusted with sheep silver and rock spa and other bright stones. But though it was rock, the air was quite warm, as it always is in Elfland. So he went through this passage till at last he came to two wide and high folding doors which stood ajar. And when he opened them, there he saw a most wonderful and glorious sight, a large and spacious hall, so large that it seemed to be as long and as broad as the green hill itself. The roof was supported by fine pillars, so large and lofty that the pillars of a cathedral were as nothing to them. They were all of gold and silver with fretted work and between them and around them, reeds of flowers composed of what do you think? Why of diamonds and emeralds and all manner of precious stones? And the very keystones of the arches had for ornaments, clusters of diamonds and rubies and pearls and other precious stones. And all these arches met in the middle of the roof and just there, hung by a golden chain, an immense lab made out of one big pearl hollowed out and quite transparent. And in the middle of this was a big huge carbuncle which kept spinning round and round, and this was what gave light by its rays to the whole hall which seemed as if the setting sun was shining on it. The hall was furnished in a manner equally grand and at one end of it was a glorious couch of velvet, silver and gold and there stayed Third Ellen, combing her golden hair with a silver comb. And when she saw Child Rowland, she stood up and said, God pity ye poor luckless fool, what have you here to do? Hear ye this, my youngest brother, why didn't ye bide at home? Had you a hundred thousand lives you couldn't spare any a one?  Then they sat down together and Child Rowland told her all that he had done and she told him how their two brothers had reached the dark tower but had been enchanted by the king of Elfland and lay there entombed as if dead. And then after they had talked a little longer, Child Rowland began to feel hungry from his long travels and told his sister Bird Ellen how hungry he was and asked for some food, forgetting all about the warlock Merlin's warning. Bird Ellen looked at Child Rowland sadly and shook her head, but she was under a spell and could not warn him.  Child Rowland was just going to raise it to his lips when he looked at his sister and remembered why he had come all that way. So he dashed the bowl to the ground and said, not a sup will I swallow nor a bit will I bite till Bird Ellen is set free.  And then the folding doors of the hall were burst open and the king of Elfland rushed in. Strike then bogal if thou darest shouted out Child Rowland and rushed to meet him with his good brand that never yet did fail. They fought and they fought and they fought till Child Rowland beat the king of Elfland down onto his knees and caused him to yield and beg for mercy. I grant thee mercy said Child Rowland, release my sister from thy spells and raise my brothers to life and let us all go free and thou shalt be spared.  With this he anointed the ears, eyelids, nostrils, lips and fingertips of the two brothers and they sprang at once into life and declared that their souls had been away but had now returned. The Elfin king then said some words to bird Ellen and she was disenchanted and they all four passed out of the hall through the long passage and turned their back on the dark tower never to return again. And they returned home and the good queen their mother and bird Ellen never went round the church wider shins again. End of chapter 21 Child Rowland This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan English fairy tales collected by Joseph Jacobs Chapter 22 Molly Wuppie Once upon a time there was a man and a wife had too many children and they could not get meat for them. So they took the three youngest and left them in a wood. They travelled and travelled and could see never a house. It began to be dark and they were hungry. At last they saw a light and made for it. It turned out to be a house. They knocked at t