Jack and the Beanstalk #6

Jack and his mother now had money to buy food and other necessities; but it occurred to him that one day the money would run out, and that the fairy had spoken of a magic hen that lays golden eggs. So a few days later while his mother was away at market, he went back to the beanstalk and climbed up, and up, and up, and up, until he got to the top again.

The giantess was standing at the door, just as before, and was happy to see that Jack was well. Jack thanked her for the breakfast she provided on his previous visit, and asked if he might impose on her hospitality again.

The giantess advised otherwise. “Run away,” said she, “or my husband the giant will surely eat you up, bones and all. He is very angry over the loss of the gold – more angry than I have ever seen him. Be off if you value your life!” But Jack was persistent and the giantess had a kind heart, and after a time she allowed Jack to come into the kitchen, where she set before him a generous breakfast. Just as he finished eating there was a great rumbling like an earthquake, and the giantess had only time to bundle Jack into the oven when in came the giant.

No sooner was he inside the room than he roared:

“Fee, fi, fo, fum.

I smell the blood of an Englishman;

Be he alive, or be he dead,

I’ll grind his bones to make my bread!”

But his wife told him he was mistaken, and after breakfasting off a roasted bullock, just as if it were a lark, he called out: “Wife, bring the little brown hen!” The giantess went out and brought in a little brown hen, which she placed on the table.

“Lay!” said the giant; and the hen at once laid a golden egg. “Lay!” said the giant a second time; and she laid another golden egg. “Lay!” said the giant a third time; and she laid a third golden egg.

“That will do for to-day,” said he, and stretched himself out to go to sleep. As soon as he began to snore, Jack crept out of the oven, went on tiptoe to the table, and, snatching up the little brown hen, made a dash for the door. The hen began to cluck happily at the thought of being rescued from the giant, and the giant stirred, but Jack spoke very softly to the hen and smoothed her feathers, and she was quiet. Jack escaped from the castle, and climbing as fast as he could down the beanstalk, got safely home to his mother’s cottage.