istance from London, in a small village, lived a widow and
her son, whose name was Jack. He was a bold, daring fellow, ready
for any adventure which promised fun or amusement. Jack's mother had
a cow, of which she was very fond, and which, up to this time, had
been their chief support. But as she had for some time past been
growing poorer every year, she felt that now she must part with the
cow. So she told Jack to take the cow to be sold, and he was to be
sure to get a good round sum for her. On the road to market Jack met
a butcher, who was carrying in his hat some things which Jack thought
to be very pretty. The butcher saw how eagerly Jack eyed his beans,
and said, "If you want to sell your cow, my fine fellow, I will give
you this whole hatful of beans in exchange for her."

Jack was delighted; he seized the hat, and ran back home. Jack's
mother was surprised to see him back so soon, and at once asked him
for the money. But when Jack said he had sold the cow for a hatful of
beans, she was so angry that she opened the window and threw them all
out into the garden. When Jack rose up next morning he found that one
of the beans had taken root, and had grown up, up, up, until its top
was quite lost in the clouds. Jack resolved instantly to mount the
Beanstalk. So up, up, up, he went till he had reached the very top.
Looking round he saw at a distance a large house. Tired and weary, he
crawled towards it and knocked on the door. The door was opened by a
timid looking woman who started when she saw him, and besought him to
run away as her husband was a cruel Giant who would eat him up if he
found him there. But Jack begged so earnestly to be admitted that the
woman, who was very kind-hearted, had pity on him, and so she brought
him into the kitchen, and set before him on a table some bread, meat,
and ale. Jack ate and drank, and soon felt quite refreshed. Presently
the woman started and said, "My husband! quick, quick! he comes--he
comes!" and opened the door to the oven and bid Jack jump in. The
Giant was in a dreadful passion when he came in, and almost killed
his wife by a blow which he aimed at her. He then began to sniff and
smell--at last he roared out:

"Fee, fa, fi, fo, fum,
I smell the blood of an Englishman!
Be he alive, or be he dead,
I'll grind his bones to make me bread!"

His wife gave him an evasive answer, and proceeded to lay before him
his supper. When the Giant could swallow no more, he call