n~uQ NCE upon a time therewas a poorwidow who

livedwith hersonJackin a little cottagebuilt upagainstthesideof a mountainsosheerand high that it

seemedto go straightup intothe clouds.Thewidnw did the bestshecould, but Jackwasnot

old enoughto earn any money,and did notseempar-ticularly bright either and the result of it was thatat the end of a hardwinter theywere almost starving.

At last the widow said: ‘Jack, there’s no help for it.You mustgo off to marketand sellour cow. We shallhaveto do without milk, but you oughtto get a goodsumfor her,which will buyus food for months.’

Off set Jack willingly enough, driving the cow infrontof him,andby andby hemeta butcher.

‘Now then,my lad,’ said the butcher. ‘That’s a verythin old cow —butto savemyself the long walk to mar-ket, I’ll buy herfrom you. No, I won’t buy her, I’llexchangeherfor this bag of beans. They’re the most

wonderfulbeansin the world, andofgreatvaluereally—so it will be a bargainfor you.’

Jacklookedat thebeans,and theywerecertainlyverybeautiful;and when the sly butchertoldhim that theywereworth a hundredpounds,he hesitatedno longer.

So off he went home again with the beans;and hismotherwasso angryand so miserableat the shocking

wasteof their only cowthat sheturnedhim out of thehouse in disgraceuntil bedtime.

‘Ah well,’ thoughtJack,‘it’s a pity to wastethe beanstoo, so I’ll plant them.’ And he proceededto do so allalong the foot of the cliff.

Next morning he got up early, so that his mothershouldhave no chanceof scoldinghimagain,and wentout into the garden.To his amazement,the beanshadgrownduring the night, until theyseemedto cover the

whole cliff and disappearover the top.‘It would be easy to climb thai!’ thought Jack,

looking at the Beanstalk.‘I think I will!’ And up hewent,handoverhandlike a sailor.

Just aa he wasbeginning to feel tired and afraid tolook down, he cameout over the edgeof the cliff andfoundhimself on a pleasantgrassyplain slopinggentlyup to a noblecastlewhich stoodon a low hill.

Full of curiosity, Jack strode up to the castleandrapped at the door. Soon he heard heavy footstepsinside; the door flew open, and therestood a hideous

- JAcKAND THE

41

I,

78

‘Nonsense!’ exclaimed the Giantess.‘It’s only thegood freshelephantsteakwhich I’ve grilled for supper.’

SotheGiantsatdown and guzzledand gorgeduntilhehiccoughedlike a volcano.Thenhe leanthack in hischair,loosenedhis belt, andshouted:

‘Bring me my moneybags!’TheGiantesssettwo largejingling bagson thetable,

and went off to bed, leaving the Giant counting sheglittering goldcoinswhich hepouredoutonto the table.Whenhewastired of this,he putshemall back intothebagsand fell asleepin his chair.

Whenhewas snoring like a landslidein a tempest,Jack slipped out of the wardrobe,pickedup the two

money bags,and went quietly out of the castle.Heclimbed down the Beanstalkquiteeasily in the moon-light, and went into the cottagewherehis motEerweptwith joy to seehim safe again- and also to seeall thegoldwhich wouldkeepthemin comfort for manyyears.

But Jackcould notresistanothervisit to the Giant’scastle; and beforemany weeks were passedhe wasclimbing up the Beanstalkagain,his flaxen hair dyedbrownasa disguise,and wearinga good leatherjerkinandbreechesinsteadofhis raggedold clothes.

When he cameto the Castle the Giantessdid notrecognisehim for, like mostoftheGiantrace,shewasvery slow-wined—andwelcomedhim asbefore.

Once again he hid in the wardrobeas the Giantgiantesswith only one eye—andthat wasjust abovethetop of hersnubnose.

‘Ab-ha!’ she cried, catchinghold of Jackbeforehecould run away.

‘Just whatI wanted!I’m tired of doingall the workin the Giant’s kitchen. You shall be myservant,washshe dishe’ and do all the hard and dirty jobs whichI hate so much. Comein now, and set to work: butwhen the Giantcomeshomeyou musthide, for other-sstsehewill eatyou ashehas eateneveryoneelsewho hascome to the castle.’

‘I’m quitewilling to work,’ said Jack,smiling sweetly.‘But you musthide me when the Giant comeshome.’

So Jacksweptthe kitchenand scrubbedthefloor; andhe hadjust finisheda finesupper,whentheybeardheavyfootstepsdrawingnearerand nearer.

‘Is’s she Giant!’ exclaimedthe Giantess.‘Quick, intomy wardrobe!He’ll neverlook for you there!’

In went Jack,and wassoonlooking out throughthekeyhole at a hugeGiant with sharp,pointed teethwho,as he strode tnto the kitchen, growled in a voice likedistantthunder:

‘Fee, fi, fo finn!I smell the bloodof an Englishman!Behe alive or be he dead,I’ll grtndhis bonesto make my bread!’

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strode into the kitchen, singing his wicked song,andwatchedthroughthe keyhole ashe atea whole roastedbullock for his supper,picking the bonesclean.

‘Now!’ roaredthe Giant, leaning back in his chairand looseninghis belt. ‘Bring me my Magic Hen! If Ihadn’tgother,I’d haveto go outandkill off a few moreknights,and rob them of theirtreasuresasI killed androbbedthe lord of this castle.’

TheGiantessplaceda brown Hen on the table andwent off to bed,while the Giant bellowedat the Hen:

‘Lay!’At oncethe MagicHen laid aneggofpuregold.‘Lay!’ commandedthe Giant, and the Hen laid -

anothergoldenegg.Whenhe hada bagfull, the Giant - -

went to sleep,snoring like a thunderstorm.Soon Jackcreptout,picked up theMagic Hen,and

went quietly home by way of the Beanstalk.Still, however,hewasnot content;andonesunnner’s

dayhe dyedhis hairblack,rubbedhis facewith walnut-juice,andwentup the Beanstalk,disguisedasa Gipsy.

Whenhe cameto the Castlethe Giantesswelcomedhimin andsethimto work asbefore.‘But youmusthidewhen the Giant comes, shesaid, otherwisehe11 haveyou as a dessertfor his supper.And don’t you touchanythingin the Castle:we’ve had robbershereof lateandthe Giantisgoingto skinthemandhangthemup bytheirbig toes—whenhecatchesthem.’

Presentlythe Castle beganto shakeas the Giant’sfootstepsdrewnear,and Jackmadea dive for theward-robe.But assoonastheGiantesswentto openthe Castledoor,he slippedout andhid in thebaking oven.

In camethe Giantshouting:

‘Fee, fi, fo, fum!I smell the bloodofanEnglishman!Behealiveorbe hedead,I’ll grind his bonesto make mybread!’

‘Nonsense!’exclaimedthe Giantess.‘You’re gettingold and silly; and you can’t smell aswell asyou did.It’s only the flock of sheepwhich I’ve rolled in bread-crumbsandfried for yoursupper.’

Down satthe Giantat the table,andwassooncram-ming in fried sheeptwo at a mouthful, while hechokedandbelchedlike a geyser.When supperwasendedheleant back, loosenedhis belt, and thundered:

‘Bring me my Harp!’The Giantessplaceda beautifulgoldenHarp on the

tableand wentshufflingoff to bed.But on the wayshelocked the wardrobeand put the key in her pocket.

ThentheGiant touchedthe Harpand said: ‘Play tome!’ SotheHarpplayed,all by itself,asoft,sweettune.- ‘Playsomethingmerrier!’ commandedthe Giant.

TheHarpplayeda jig.

At laat Jack reachedthe ground, dashed into the

cottage,and wasnut againin a moment,carryingan axe.Up abovehim, in the white light of the new day,he

could seethe Giant clamberingdowntowardshim, andhear his terriblethreats.But heswnngthe axebravely,andin a fewstrokeshad cut cleanthroughtheBeanstalk.

Then in a momentthe Beanstalk seemedto witherandlose all its life. It swnngout fromthecliff andcametumblingdown,bringing the Giant with it from suchaheightthathebrokehis neckandlay deadin the garden.

At oncethe MagicHarp seemedto changeits tune,and as Jack and his mother stoodgazing in awe andrelief atthe deadGiant, it sang:

‘Master, I am yoursalone—

Now the Giant’s deadand gone.And theknight whomonceheslewWasyour father, good and true.Bags of gold and goldenhenComebutto their own again;And I come,setfreeat lengthFromthe Giant’s evil strength.Live now, with your troubleso’er,Happily for evermore.’

‘Now a lullaby—and sing me to sleep!’orderedtheGiant.

At oncethe tune changed,and the Harpsangto itsown accompanimentin a gentle, soothing voice until ~sthe Giant wassnoringlike anearthquake. -

Whenall seemedsafe, Jackcrawledoutof the baking .~ %oven,pickedup theHarpandmadea dashfor the door.But ashesprangoutinto theshort summernight whichwas alreadypaling into dawn, the Harpcried out in - -

a shrill voice:

‘Master! Master!Wakewith speed,And savemein my hourof need!’

Up sprangtheGiant with a roar like a volcanosplit inhalfand camerushingafterJacklike a tornado.

But Jackwasnimbleandfleetoffont: and,despitetheGiant’s hugestrideshe managedto keep just aheadandget to the Beanstalkin time to sling the Harpover hisshoulderandslip over theedgeof the cliff on to thetopof his strangeladder.

Down it he went like a sailor down the rigging ofa ship, thoughtheHarpneverceasedto cryin its shrillvoice:

‘This way!Thisway! Followstill!I am held againstmy will!’

~

a

I

COYIT OF RUSHES

rfHERElivedarichlordoncein theeastcountrywhohadthreedaughtersofwhomhewasgreatlyproud.

He was kind and generousto them,but he was alsoselfishand conceited,anddelightedin nothingso muchasflattery and praise.

Oneday,beinganxiousto feedhis vanitystill higher,he calledhis threedaughtersand saidto theeldest:

‘My child,how greatlydo you love me?’

‘Why,’ shereplied, ‘I love you asI love mylife.’‘Well said,’ answeredhe, ‘and evenas I wished so

hear.’Then hequestionedtheseconddaughter,saytng:‘My child, how greatlydo you love me?’‘Why,’ shesaid,‘I love youbetterthanall theworld.’‘Well said,’ criedherfather, ‘and evenasI wishedto

hear.’ Then turning to his third daughter,whom helovedbestofall, heasked:

‘My child, how greatlydoyou love me?’And she, refusing to flatter his vanity by speaking

anythingbut theexacttruth, answeredsimply:‘Why, I love youasourneedis, which tsevenasfresh

meatlovessalt.’

At this herfatherwasexceedinglyangry,for neverhadhebeenspokento in suchterms.

‘Sinceyou do not love me at all,’ he cried, ‘you shallstay no longerin myhouse.’ And so he droveher outthereandthen,andshutthedoorafterher.

Thepoorgirl wanderedawayand away,by forestandmountain,till shecameto a countryof fens;and thereshe gatheredrushesand made them into a coat witha hood to go over herheadand keepherfrom thecold.

Then she went on her way until she cameto thepalaceof the King, and beggedfor work tn thekitchen.

‘Surely you needan extramaid?’ shesaid.‘No oneelseneededhere,’ answeredthecook.‘I’ve nowhereto go,’ shesaid,‘and I ask only for my

keep with no wages,and I’ll do anykind of work.’‘Well,’ answeredthe cook, ‘if you like to washthe

potsand pansand scrapethe saucepans,you canstay.’So thereshestayed,anddidall the dirtywork.And be-

causeshegaveno name,theycalledher‘CoatofRushes.’Oneday,not long afterCoat of Rushescameto the

palace,theDukeof a nearbyduchygaveagreatBall in his

Castle.Toitwentthe Prince,with all thegrandlordsandladiesof thatkingdom,and manya princeand princessfrom neighbouringlands. And when all the work wasdonein the palace,the servantswereallowedto go also,and admireall the greatmen and lovely ladies.

But Coatof Rushessaid thatshewastoo tired to go:thoughreally she was ashamedto be seenthere inshe rough garmentshehad madein thefen.

Instead,shewentout and wanderedsadlyby thefento sitand weepon themoundby which shehad cuttherushesto makehercoat.

Whenshegotthere,however,shesawto hersurprisethata doorwayled into the mound,andin the doorwaya Fairy waswaiting for herwith a dressof puresilver.

Quickly the Fairy took the poorcoat of rushesanddressedher insteadin the silver garmentin which sheseemedmorebeautifulthan any princess.

‘Come back beforethe dancehas ended,’ said theFatty,‘and all will bewell for you.’

So Coat of Rusheswent to the Castle in her silverdress, and none of the fine ladies was betterdressedthan she. No one recognisedher at the Bail, but thePrincehimselfdancedwith her—andfell in love withher on the spot.

Before the Ball was over, Coat of Rushes slippedquietlyaway,backto theFairy Hifi, whereshechangedoutof hersilverdressandwasin hercornerof thepal-

ace kitchen before the other servantsreturned,pre-tendingto be asleep.

Next morningthey said to her:‘Ah, Coatof Rushes,you misseda wonderlastnight!’‘What wasthat?’sheasked.‘Why, the mostbeautiful Princessever seen,’ they

answered.‘She came,no oneknowsfromwhere,dressedall in silver—andthe Princecould not take his eyesoff her all evening.’

‘Certainly I should like to have seenher,’ she said.‘Well, seeher you may,’ they replied, ‘for tonight

thereis anotherBall, andperhapsshe’ll bethere.’Wheneveningcame,however,Coat of Rushesagain

said shewastoo tired to go with them. But when theyhad gone,sheran eagerlyto the Fairy Hill, and therea dresswaswaiting for her,madeall ofgold.

So off she went to the Castle, and the Princewaswaiting for her, and would dancewith no one elseall evening,and wasdeeperin love with herthan ever.

Again she slipped away before the end, and waspretendingto be asleepin her coatof rusheswhen theservantscamehometo thepalace.

Next morningthey said to her:‘Well, Coat of Rushes,you shouldhavebeenwith us

to seethe strangePrincess.Thereshewasagain,dressedthis time in gold, andthe Princenevertook his eyesoffher,nor dancedwith any buther.’

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‘Certainly I shouldlike to haveseenher,’ satdCoatof Rushes.

‘Well, seeher you can,’ they replied, ‘for tonightthereis yetanotherBall, and maybe she’ll be there.’

When evening came,Coat of Rushes wasagain tootired to go with the otherservants,and do what theywould, sheinsistedon stayingat home.Whenthey hadall gone, however, she hastenedto the Fairy Hillonce more, and found waiting for herthe mostbeauti-ful dressof all—madethis time of thefeathersof all thebirds thatfly in the air.

When shehad bathedin the brook and donnedthisglorious,shiningdress,Coat of Rusheswent oncemoreto theCastlewhere theBall wasbeingheld for thethirdand lastnight.

The Princewasoverjoyedwhen he sawher,and asbeforehenevertookhis eyesfromher.He dancedwithherall evening,beggingheragainand againto tell himwho shewasand whereshecamefrom. Shewouldtellhim nothing, however; and when he despairedoflearning he gave hera golden ring, workedin strange,secretpatterns,and told herthat if he did not seeheragain he would certainly die.

Nevertheless,sheslippedawaybeforetheend of thedance;and thoughshestayedlongerthan usualat theFairy Hill, shewasbackin the kitchen,curledup in hercoatof rushes,beforetheotherservantsreturned.

Nextmorningtheysstdso her:‘Well, CostofRushes,you didnotcometo sheCastle

last night, and now you may neverseethe wonderfulPrincess,for that wasthe last of the Balls.’

‘Certainly I shouldlike to haveseenher,’ saidCoatofRushesasbefore.

But therewereno more Balls,and so eventhe Princecould notfind his belovedPrincess,thoughhe searchedthrough all the lands round about and offered richrewardsto anywho couldbringhim newsofher.As lasthe fell ill, for he svas pining with love for her,and wasforcedto stay in bed.

He got worse and worse, and the King and Queengrewvery anxious, for he would scarcelyeat a thing.

‘I mustmakesomespecialgruel for thePrince,’saidthe cook, ‘for he is dying of love for the strangePrin-cesswhom he sawat theBall in theDuke’s Castle.’

‘Lee memakeit,’ said CoatofRushes.‘I cannotdo that,’ answeredthe cook,‘it mustbe the

bestgruelthat ever I made.’‘Let me make it,’ beggedCoat of Rushes.‘I cando

it in sucha waythathewill becuredfor certain.’At long and at lastthe cooklet Coat of Rusheshave

herway. Soshemadeathingruel, andwhen no onewaslooking she slipped into it the ring which the Princehad given her.

Then the cooktookthe bowl ofgruel and sentit up to

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the Prince,who drankit to the dregs.Whenhesawthering at the bottom,heleaptoutof bed and shoutedto

his guards:‘Bring the cook beforeme at once!’Thecook wasbroughttrembling beforehim, and he

cried: ‘Who madethis bowl of gruel?’‘I did,’ answeredthecookin greatfear.‘That you did not!’ shoutedthe Prince.‘Tell me at

once who madeit!’‘It wasCoat of Rushes!’gaspedthe cook. ‘She’s the

girl who washesthe pansand scrapesthe saucepansinthe Royal Kitchen. She is so poor that her coat andhoodaremadeofrushes.Shebeggedmeto leehermakethegruel,saying thatsheknewa receiptwhich wouldbea certaincure for your RoyalHighness’ssickness.’

‘Take away the cook and brtng Coat of Rushes,’commandedthe Prince; and when the girl in herrushclothesstood beforehimhe said:

‘Did youmakemygruel?’‘I did, yourRoyal Highness,’sheanswered.‘Wheredidyou get this ring?’ he asked.‘From him that gaveit to me.’‘Who areyou then?’‘I’ll showyou who I am,’ she replied,and flinging

off hercoatandhood of rushesshestoodbeforehim inthewonderful dressmadeof the feathersof everybirdthat flies.

Sull shewouldnot tell the Princewho shewas;but

this made no difference to his love for her, and theweddingdaywasfixed for assoonascouldbe.

Among themanyguestsinvitedto the greatbanquetwasCoat of Rushes’sown father. Whensheheardthis,shewentto the cook and said:

‘I want you to prepareevery dish for the banquetwithout addinga singlegrain ofsalt.’

‘No one will beableto eat it then,’ answeredthe cook.‘That doesnot matter,’ she replied.‘I darenotrisk the King’s anger,’saidthecook.‘The blameshallbemine,’ CoatofRushesassuredher.Theweddingdaycame,and thePrincemarriedCoat

of Rushes.Afterwardsthey all satdownto thebanquet,butthe food wasso tastelessthat nobody couldeat it.Theproud lord who wasfatherofCoat of Rushestriedfirst onedishandthenanother:then heburstinto tears.

‘What troublesyou?’ askedthe Prince.‘Alas, your Royal Highness,’ he answered,‘I had

a daughter;and I askedher how muchsheloved me.Sheanswered:“I loveyou evenasfreshmeatlovessalt.”Thinking that shescornedme by making suchanan-swer,I turnedherfrommydoor.But now I seethat sheloved me betterthan eitherof hersisters—and I havelost her. Shemaybedeadfor aughtI cantell.’

‘No, father!’ answeredCoat of Rushes.‘I am here!’And shetan forwardand flungherarmsroundhim.

And sothey all lived happily everafter.

--

O NCEuponatime therewereThreeBearswho livedahousein thewood.One of them was a Wee

Small Bear;and one wasa Middle-sizedBear; and onewass Great Huge Bear. Theyeachhad a pot for theirporridge:a little pot for theWee SmallBeat;a middle-sizedpot for the Middle-sizedBear; and a big pot forthe Great Huge Bear. And eachhad a chair to sit in:a little chair for the Wee Small Bear; a middle-sizedchair for the Middle-sizedBeat;and s big chairfor theGreatHuge Bear. And theyeachhad a bedto sleepin:a little bed for rheWee Sissall Bear; anda nsiddle-sizedbed for the Middle-sizedBear; and a big bed for theGrear Huge Bear.

Now nor far away there lived a little old woman.And when the ThreeBearsweresettledin their house,all cleanandneatandtidy, the little oldwomancametocall on them.But shewasso dir and crossand inquisi-tive thattheThreeBearswould havenothingto do withher: they did not ask her in, and they did not returnher call.

Then the little old womanwent home in a huff:‘Zooks!’ sheexclaimed,‘What impertinentBears!Whatright have theyto give themselvessuch airs?’ Shegotcrosserand crosser,and more and more inquisitive,until shedeterminedthat onedaywhen theThreeBearswere out shewould go into their housewithout theirleaveandexploreeverycornerofis. Shereallywasa veryinquisitive oldwoman.

So shewaited shout for her chance;and one day,aftertheyhad madethe porridgefor theirbreakfastandpouredit tnto their porridge-pots,shesaw the ThreeBearswalk outintothewood.Theywerewaiting for theirporridge to cool as they did not wish to burn theirmouthsby eating it too hoe.

Directly they wereout of sight,shepoppedin at thedoor,and went into rise parlour. There she saw thethreepotsof porridgestandingon the table, and verydelicioustheylooked.

‘Theyneveraskedmeto a meal,so I’ll helpmyself!’thoughtthelittleold woman,and shetastedtheporridgeof the GreatHuge Bear: bus that wastoo hoe for her,soshespat it out on the floor. Thenshetastedthe por-ridge of the Middle-sizedBear: busthat wastoo coldfor her,soshespatit out too. Thenshetastedthepor-ridge of the Wee Small Bear, and is was just so herliking: sotheate it all up,and licked thepot.

Then the little old woman went into the drawing-roomand satin the chairbelongingto the Great HugeBear:butthat wastoo roughfor her.Thenshesatin thechairbelongingto the Middle-sizedBear:bus that wastoohard for her.Thenshesattn the chairbelongingtothe WeeSmall Bear, and that was just right for her,neithertooroughnor toohard;and shesatin it until shtwent right through the bottom and down on to shegroundwith a bump.

This made the little old woman even crosserthanever,and shewasusing verybad languageindeedaboutthe Three Bests as shewent upstairsso look at theirbedroom.But whenshesawthethreebeds,shedecidedto takearest.First ofall shetried thatoftheGreatHugeBest:but it wastoo high astheheadfor her.Then shetried that of the Middle-sizedBear: butit wastoo highat the feet for her. Then she tried that of the WeeSmallBear,and it wasneithertoohigh sr thcheadnortoo highat thefeet, but just right. Soshelay downin itandcoveredherselfup comfortably.And very soonshefell fast asleep.

By this time the Three Bearsfelt sure that sheit

The Three Bean

86

porridge mustbe cool enough;so they camehometobreakfast.Buswhen they cameinto the parlour theywere filled with surpriseand anger aswhat they saw:

‘SOMEBODY HAS BEEN AT MY PORRIDGEl’said the GreatHugeBearin his greathugevoice.

‘SOMEBODYHAS BEEN AT MY PORRIDGE!’said the Middle-sizedBear in his middle-sizedvoice.

‘Somebodyhas been at my portidge,ond has eatenitall up!’said sheWeeSmall Bearin his wee smallvoice.

Now theThreeBearsrealisedthatsomeonehadbeeninto their housewhile they wereout walking, and theybeganlooking around. In the drawing-roomshechairsseemeddirty anduntidy:

‘SOMEBODY HAS BEEN SITTING IN MYCHAIR!’said the Great Huge Bear in his great huge voice.

‘SOMEBODY HAS BEEN SITTING IN MYCHAIR!’

said the Middle-sizedBear in his middle-sizedvoice.‘Somebodyhasbeensitting in my chair, ond hasburst

tight through the bottom!’said theWeeSmall Bearin his wet smallvoice.

Then the ThreeBearswent upstairs;and whentheytameinto their bedroomthey foundthings in an evengrtatermess.

‘SOMEBODY HAS BEEN LYING IN MY BED!’said the GreatHuge Beatin his greathugevoice.

‘SOMEBODY HAS BEEN LYING IN MY BED!’

said tht Middle-sizedBear in his middle-sizedvoice.‘Somebody hasbeen lying in my bed—andshe’s still

in it!’

saidshe WeeSmallBeatin hiswee smallvoice.The little old woman had heardin hersleepthe big

hugevoiceof the GreatHugsBear;butshswasso fast

87

asleepthatit seemedso herno more thantheroaringofthe wind in the chimney.And shehad heardshe middle-sizedvoice of ehs Middle-sizedBear; busit seemedsoherno more than a voiceheardin a dream. But whensheheardthe wee small voice of theWee Small Beat,it wassoshrill thatis woke herat once.

When shesaw the Three Bests,shejumpedout ofbtd in a hurry. Busshe could not escapefrom them;and when they saw how dirty she was and how shehad spoilt the Wee Small Bear’s bed,the ThreeBearsdecidedto punishher.

Nowthatlittle oldwomanmusshavebeena witch: forwhen the Three Bearscarried herdown and put heron the fire, she did not burnas all. And when theycarriedher out and droppedher into she pond, shewould not drownat all.

At lassthey threwherup to shevery sopofthe churchsteeple,and thereshe stuck. And if she has not yetfallen down, shemustbeup therestill.

r ~

1/

0~

TheSix SifliesONCE upona timetherewerea farmerandhis wifewho had one daughter.And shereachedsheageof thirty-sevenwithout a single offer of mardage,be-causeshewasso foolish.

At last, however,a gentlemancameto court her,andher parentswere so filled with joy that they sentherdowninto shecellar to drawa jugofbeer for their hon-ouredguest.

Down shewentwish a greatstonejugin onehandanda candle in the other, and beganto drawshebeeroutof a greatcask.But asshesaton thestepwhile shebeertrickled out of she tsp into she jug, she happenedsolook up at she besmwhich ran acrossthe cellar—andsawan axesticking in is which had beenleft there solong thatit wasredwith rust.

‘Oh dear!’ shethought. ‘SupposeI weremarried to

this gentleman,andwe had a son,and hegrewup so bea man,and hecamedowninto the cellar to drawbeer,just as I’m doingnow, andthe axefell on his headandkilled him—howdreadfulthatwouldbe!’

Thereshesat, cryingsoftly, until aslasshermothercamedown so seewhy shewassolong with thebeer.

‘Whatever are you doing?’ exclaimedher mother.‘Sitting here crying, with the beer runningall over shefloor!’

‘Oh dear! Ohdear!’ sobbedthe girl. ‘SupposeI weremarried so this gentleman,and we had a son, and hegrewup to be a man,and hecamedowninto the cellarto drawbeer,and that axeup therein shebeamfell oehis headand killed him—howdreadfulthat would be~

‘Dreadful indeed!’ said the mother; and she too satdown on the step and bumtinto rears.

Presentlythe farmergrewtired of waiting, and camedown so seewhy his wife and daughtertook so longsodrawa jug of beer.But when heheardwhat troubledthem,hesatdownbesidethem on thestep,and groanedin companywith their sobs.

As last shegentlemanhimself camedown into shecellar to seewhathad becomeof this amazingfamily.And there he found she farmer, his wife, and theirdaughtersitting groaningand sobbing on the bottomstepwhile shebeer frothedand flowedall overthefloor.

‘Whatever are you doing?’ he asked. ‘Sitting heresobbing and crying, and ltsting she good beer run sowasteall over the ground!’

‘Oh dear,oh dear!’ said she farmer. ‘Supposeyouandour daughterweremarried,andyou had a son,andhe grew up to be a mao and he camedown into thecellar to drawbeer,and that axeup therein the beamfell on his head sod killed him—how dreadful thatwouldbe!’

And they all startedcrying worse than ever, whilethe beer continuedto flow round their feet.

-r -r

Thegentlemanburst outlaughing,and hesaid,ashereachedup andpulledtheaxeoutofthebeam:

‘I’ve travelledmany a weary mile, but I’ve nevermet threesuchsilEes! So now I’ll say goodbyeand setout on my travels again. But if I meesthee peoplesillier than you, I’ll returnand marry your daughter.’

Away he went, leavingthem crying in goodearnest,and before long he cameto a wood full of oak trees.There he found a man who wastrying to teacha pigsoclimbone of she trees,and hestoppedin surprisesosee what washappening.

‘Why everareyou trying to drivethepigup she tree?’heasked.

‘I want to makemypig eattheacorns,’answeredsheman, ‘bus I can’t drive him up she tree, though I’vebeenstying all day.’

‘Why don’tyou climb up thetreeyourselfand shakedownthe acorns?’askedshe gentleman.

‘Eee! I never thoughtof that!’ crtedsheman.‘Well, here’s onebiggersilly than mythree!’ thought

the gentleman;andhewenton his wayuntilhe camesosoinnwherehespentshenight.

In she morning when hewoke up, anothermanwhowasshsringshesameroomwasgesongdressed.He wasslresdy in his shirt,bus he had fastenedhis trousersto the knobs of the chest-of-drawersand was runningacrossshe room and trying so jump into them. Oversodover again he tried, buseither he failed so jumphighenough,orelsehe missedthem;sodaslasshesatdown panting andwtping his forehead.

‘Teousers are a wonderful toveotioo,’ he gasped,but they are she mossawkward shrugs so get into. Istakesme she best partof an hour everymorning, andI getsohotsodsired.Howeverdo you manage?’

So the gentleman burst out laughtog, and showedhim how so puton a pairof trousers.

‘Fancy now,’ saidsheman,‘I neverthoughtof doingis thatway!’

‘Well, here’sanotherbigsilly,’ thoughtthegentiemanas he sat downso breakfast.‘I don’t expect is will bedifficult so find a third!’

However,he walkedall daywithout finding one,andis was quite dark by the time hereachedshevillage ofGosham.Here,so his surprise,hefound all the dootsopenandshe housesquite deserted.But heheardpeopleshoutingon thevillage green,andwhen he gottherehefound all she inhsbissnssstanding round the pondfishingeagerlyin is wish rakesand hoesandpikes, andmakinga greatnone.

‘Whatever’sthemaster?’askedthe gentleman.‘Master enough,’ they cried. ‘Moon’s tumbled toto

pond,and we besfishing of herout so put herbacktosky! But we can’t get hold on her, not with nothink!’

The gentlemanburst out laughing, and pointed upinto the darknesswhere she Moon was shiotng asbrightiy as ever.

‘It’s only her reflectionin she pond!’ he told them.But theywould not believehim,and drovehim out ofGothamwish blowsand curses.

So he went back so the farmer and married htsdaughter;and in time they had a greatmany children,eachonesillier thanthelast.

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