the fields of Tarquinii, and
communicated to Lucamones the doctrines of divination, by sacrifice,
by flight of birds, and by observation of the lightning, a son of
genius and grandson of Jupiter."--_Cic. de Divin._ ii. 23.

It was the ancient tale of "Jack and the Beanstalk."

CHAPTER VII.

JACK RHYMES.

In the preceding chapter it was noted how the wondrous boy-Tages was
believed in by the ancients. "Jack and the Beanstalk," our modern tale,
though adapted to the present age, is the same legend, and known and
told in their own way by the Zulus in South Africa and by the Redskin of
North America, as well as to other isolated peoples. In these tales of
primitive peoples the same wonderful miracle of the soil's fertility
takes place, in the one case by the birth of the boy-Tages, in the other
by the marvellous growth of the twisting beanstalks which in one night
reach up--up--up to the land of the gods and giants. "Jack the Giant
Killer," a similar legend but from a Celtic source, was known in France
in the twelfth century, and at that period translated into Latin by
Geoffrey of Monmouth. Both "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Jack the Giant
Killer" are found in the folk-lore tales of Scandinavia.

ANOTHER JACK OF THE NURSERY CLASSICS

sprang up into being after the wars of Parliament, when the
pleasure-hating Puritan gained an ascendency in the land, and when the
pastimes of all classes, but more especially those of the lower orders
who had been so happy and contented under the Tudor sovereigns, suffered
a miserable suspension. They who were in authority longed to change the
robe of revel for the shroud. Not only were theatres and public gardens
closed, but a war of bigotry was waged against May-poles, wakes, fairs,
church music, fiddles, dancing, puppet shows, Whitsun ales--in short,
everything wearing the attire of popular amusement and diversion. The
rhyme recording Jack Horner's gloomy conduct was, in fact, a satire on
Puritanical aversion to Christmas festivities.

"Jack Horner was a pretty lad, near London he did dwell,
His father's heart he made full glad, his mother loved him well.
A pretty boy of curious wit, all people spoke his praise,
And in a corner he would sit on Christmas Holy-days.
When friends they did together meet to pass away the time,
Why, little Jack, he sure would eat his Christmas pie in rhyme,
And say, 'Jack Horner, in the corner, eats good C