Jack and the Beanstalk

There was once a boy called Jack who was brave and quick-witted.
He lived with his mother in a small cottage and their most valuable possession was their cow, Buttercup But the day came when Buttercup gave them no milk and Jack's mother said she must be sold.
"Take her to market," she told Jack, "and mind you get a good price for her."
So Jack set out to market leading Buttercup by her halter. After a while he sat down to rest by the side of the road. An old man came by and Jack told him where he was going.

"Don't bother to go to the market," the old man said. "Sell your cow to me. I will pay you well. Look at these beans. Only plant them, and overnight you will find you have the finest bean plants in all the world. You'll be better offwith these beans than with an old cow or money. Now, how many is five, Jack?"

"Two in each hand and one in your mouth," replied Jack, as sharp as a needle.
"Right you are, here are five beans," said the old man and he handed the beans to Jack and took Buttercups halter.
When he reached home, his mother said, "Back so soon, Jack? Did you get a good price for the cow?"

Jack told her how he had exchanged the cow for five beans and before he could finish his account, his mother started to shout and box his ears. "You lazy good-for-nothing boy!" she screamed, "How could you hand over our cow for five old beans? What will we live on now? We shall starve to death, you stupid boy."
She flung the beans through the open window and sent Jack to bed without his supper.
When Jack woke the next morning there was a strange green light in his room. All he could see from, the window was green leaves. A huge beanstalk had shot up overnight. It grew higher than he could see. Quickly Jack got dressed and stepped out of the window right onto the beanstalk and started to climb.

"The old man said the beans would grow overnight," he thought. "They must indeed be very special beans."
Higher and higher Jack climbed until at last he reached the top and found himself on a strange road. Jack followed it until he came to a great castle where he could smell the most delicious breakfast. Jack was hungry. It had been a long climb and he had had nothing to eat since midday the day before. Just as he reached the door of the castle he nearly tripped over the feet of an enormous woman.

"Here, boy," she called. "What are you doing? Don't you know my husband likes to eat boys for breakfast? It's lucky I have already fried up some bacon and mushrooms for him today, or I'd pop you in the frying pan. He can eat you tomorrow, though."

"Oh, please don't let him eat me," pleaded Jack. "I only came to ask you for a bite to eat. It smells so delicious."

Now the giant's wife had a kind heart and did not really enjoy cooking boys for breakfast, so she gave Jack a bacon sandwich. He was still eating it when the ground began to shake with heavy footsteps, and a loud voice boomed: "Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum."

"Quick, hide!" cried the giant's wife and she pushed Jack into the oven. "After breakfast, he'll fall asleep," she whispered. "That is when you must creep away."
She left the oven door open a crack so that Jack could see into the room. Again the terrible rumbling voice came:

"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."

A huge giant came into the room. "Boys, boys, I smell boys," he shouted. "Wife, have I got a boy for breakfast today?"

"No, dear," she said soothingly. "You have got bacon and mushrooms. You must still be smelling the boy you ate last week." The giant sniffed the air suspiciously but at last sat down. He wolfed his breakfast of bacon and mushrooms, drank a great bucketful of steaming tea and crunched up a massive slice of toast.

Then he fetched a couple of bags of gold from a cupboard and started counting gold coins. Before long he dropped off to sleep.
Quietly Jack crept out of the oven.

Carefully he picked up two gold coins and ran as fast as he could to the top of the beanstalk. He threw the gold clown to his mother's garden and climbed after it. At the bottom he found his mother looking in amazement at the gold coins and the beanstalk. Jack told her of his adventures in the giant's castle and when she examined the gold she realized he must be speaking the truth.

Jack and his mother used the gold to buy food. But the day came when the money ran out, and Jack decided to climb the beanstalk again.

It was all the same as before, the long climb, the road to the castle, the smell of breakfast and the giant's wife. But she was not so friendly this time.
"Aren't you the boy who was here before," she asked, "on the day that some gold was stolen from under my husband's nose?"
But Jack convinced her she was wrong and in time her heart softened again and she gave him some breakfast. Once more as:ack was eating the ground shuddered and the great voice boomed: "Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum." Quickly, Jack jumped into the oven again.
As he entered, the giant bellowed:

"Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum,
I smell the blood of cm Englishman,
Be he alive or be he dead,
I'll grind his bones to make my bread."

The giant's wife put a plate of sizzling sausages before him, telling him he must be mistaken. After breakfast the giant fetched a hen from a back room. Every time he said "Lay!" the hen laid an egg of solid gold.

"Another of your silly ideas, is it, bringing an old hen when you might have brought us some gold? I don't know, what is to be done with you?"

Then Jack set the hen down carefully, and cornmanded "Lay!" just as the giant had done. To his mother's surprise the hen laid an egg of solid gold.

Jack and his mother now lived in great luxury. But in time Jack became a little bored and decided to climb the beanstalk again.

This time he did not risk talking to the giant's wife in case she recognized him. He slipped into the kitchen when she was not looking, and hid himself in the log basket. He watched the giant's wife prepare breakfast and then he heard the giant's roar:

"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."

"If it's that cheeky boy who stole your gold and our magic hen, then help you catch him," said the giant's wife. "Why don't we look in the oven? It's my guess he'll be hiding there."

You may be sure that Jack was glad he was not in the oven. The giant and his wife hunted high and low but never thought to look in the log basket. At last they gave up and the giant sat down to breakfast.

After he had eaten, the giant fetched a harp. When he commanded "Play!" the harp played the most beautiful music. Soon the giant fell asleep, and Jack crept out of the log basket. Quickly he snatched up the harp and ran. But the harp called out loudly, "Master, save me! Save me!" and the giant woke. With a roar of rage he chased after Jack.
Jack raced down the road towards the beanstalk with the giant's footsteps thundering behind him. When he reached the top of the beanstalk he threw down the harp and started to slither down after it.
The giant followed, and now the whole beanstalk shook and shuddered with his weight, and Jack feared for his life. At last he reached the ground, and seizing an axe he chopped at the beanstalk with all his might. Snap!

"Look out, mother!" he called as the giant came tumbling clown, head first. He lay dead at their feet with the beanstalk on the ground beside them. The harp survived the fall and never again shouted for the giant, for the spell was broken when the Giant died. The hen continued to lay golden eggs for Jack and his mother and after a while he met a beautiful princess and they all lived happily ever after and in great comfort for a long, long time.

DIAMONDS AND TOADS.

By The Wonderful Charles Perrault

THERE was once upon a time a widow who had two daughters. The eldest was so much like her in the face and humor that whoever looked upon the daughter saw the mother. They were both so disagreeable and so proud that there was no living with them.

The youngest, who was the very picture of her father for courtesy and sweetness of temper, was withall one of the most beautiful girls ever seen. As people naturally love their own likeness, this mother even doted on her eldest daughter and at the same time had a horrible aversion for the youngest--she made her eat in the kitchen and work continually.

Among other things, this poor child was forced twice a day to draw water above a mile and a-half off the house, and bring home a pitcher full of it. One day, as she was at this fountain, there came to her a poor woman, who begged of her to let her drink.

"Oh! ay, with all my heart, Goody," said this pretty little girl; and rinsing immediately the pitcher, she took up some water from the clearest place of the fountain, and gave it to her, holding up the pitcher all the while, that she might drink the easier.

The good woman, having drunk, said to her:

You are so very pretty, my dear, so good and so mannerly, that I cannot help giving you a gift." For this was a fairy, who had taken the form of a poor country woman, to see how far the civility and good manners of this pretty girl would go. "I will give you for a gift," continued the Fairy, "that, at every word you speak, there shall come out of your mouth either a flower or a jewel."

When this pretty girl came home her mother scolded her for staying so long at the fountain.

"I beg your pardon, mamma," said the poor girl, "for not making more haste."

And in speaking these words there came out of her mouth two roses, two pearls, and two diamonds.

"What is it I see there?" said the mother, quite astonished. "I think I see pearls and diamonds come out of the girl's mouth! How happens this, child?"

This was the first time she had ever called her child.

The poor creature told her frankly all the matter, not without dropping out infinite numbers of diamonds.

"In good faith," cried the mother, "I must send my child thither. Come hither, Fanny; look what comes out of thy sister's mouth when she speaks. Wouldst not thou be glad, my dear, to have the same gift given thee? Thou hast nothing else to do but go and draw water out of the fountain, and when a certain poor woman asks you to let her drink, to give it to her very civilly."

"It would be a very fine sight indeed," said this ill-bred minx, "to see me go draw water."

"You shall go, hussy!" said the mother; "and this minute."

So away she went, but grumbling all the way, taking with her the best silver tankard in the house.

She was no sooner at the fountain than she saw coming out of the wood a lady most gloriously dressed, who came up to her, and asked to drink. This was, you must know, the very fairy who appeared to her sister, but now had taken the air and dress of a princess, to see how far this girl's rudeness would go.

"Am I come hither," said the proud, saucy one, "to serve you with water, pray? I suppose the silver tankard was brought purely for your ladyship, was it? However, you may drink out of it, if you have a fancy."

"You are not over and above mannerly," answered the Fairy, without putting herself in a passion. "Well, then, since you have so little breeding, and are so disobliging, I give you for a gift that at every word you speak there shall come out of your mouth a snake or a toad."

So soon as her mother saw her coming she cried out:

"Well, daughter?"

"Well, mother?" answered the pert hussy, throwing out of her mouth two vipers and two toads.

"Oh! mercy," cried the mother; "what is it I see? Oh! it is that wretched sister who has occasioned all this; but she shall pay for it"; and immediately she ran to beat her. The poor child fled away from her, and went to hide herself in the forest, not far from thence.

The King's son, then on his return from hunting, met her, and seeing her so very pretty, asked her what she did there alone and why she cried.

"Alas! sir, my mamma has turned me out of doors."

The King's son, who saw five or six pearls and as many diamonds come out of her mouth, desired her to tell him how that happened. She thereupon told him the whole story; and so the King's son fell in love with her, and, considering himself that such a gift was worth more than any marriage portion, conducted her to the palace of the King his father, and there married her.

As for the sister, she made herself so much hated that her own mother turned her off; and the miserable wretch, having wandered about a good while without finding anybody to take her in, went to a corner of the wood, and there died.

A STORY OF THE CAT

In a little village near H… (Huete) that was called C… (Cañaveruelas-Waves in the Sea of Cane), a little boy lived in a square in the centre of the village that was called the C… (The Coso).

In the same house lived some other animals. In a stall lived the Jica, a very good donkey, very strong and a very good worker; and in another stall lived two goats that gave milk for the breakfast of all the little children.

The little boy loved the Jica, he loved her so much, in fact, that his first words were Jica, Jica.

As well, in the house there was a cat that was called The Cat and she was in charge of making sure that there were not many mice, because they could eat the food that was in storage. The Cat was a very fun animal; every time she went past the little boy she would push him with her big tummy and throw him on the floor.

On top of all that, the house had a corral in the back where there was a small henhouse for the hens who, among other things, laid eggs, and fried eggs were delicious. Just under the henhouse was the pen, a very, very small room where a little fat pig lived.

The little boy was two years old, grabbing the kitchen table, where they had lunch and supper with his hands and getting on tiptoe to try to see what was on top of the table; he didn’t like not knowing what was there and he didn’t like the fact that everybody else did.

The little boy was very happy to live in the house in the Coso with his family and so many animals, he thought himself very lucky to have been born human instead of donkey, cat, goad, hen, pig or, why not? ant.

He was very keen to learn what was on the table without having to have someone pick him up; to be able to pick the jug of water up without having to wait until someone gave it to him when he was thirsty; and he was keen to avoid getting thrown to the floor when the cat brushed him with her big tummy.

He didn’t hurt himself when he hit the ground, but even though in the beginning he thought they were little accidents, he later realized that, instead of accidents, it was a bit like if the cat were saying I’m stronger and I’m the boss here.

Another thing he loved was looking at the fire. In the kitchen floor there was a base of metal stuck to the wall, just under the chimney, where his mummy cooked the food in pots and pans with the heat of the fire. The continuous changes in strength and colour of the flames and the embers were fascinating and huge pieces of wood were reduced to little mounds of ashes.

The little boy was very happy, and everybody was very good, his mummy and daddy and his six sibling. With so many siblings he was always playing. When someone asked him who he loved more, his father or the Jica, he always answered the Jica, because he thought that the Jica needen more love and was lonelier.

Every day that went by, the little boy was nearer to seeing what was on the table, until one day, finally, he managed it. Then he thought that his next goal would be to avoid being thrown to the floor by the cat.

He now knew that they weren’t accidents, and that she usually threw him when he was in the middle of the kitchen. So he needed to be on guard the, because the cat normally caught him off guard, she was very sly. Bit by bit he started to be able to hold the cat’s belly with both hands before she pushed him.

It was like a giant’s battle, a very fun battle with his friend the cat. When they were eating, he would throw crumbs or bits of bread because the cat was always rubbing around the kitchen table’s legs.

Days and days went by, weeks and weeks, probably months and months, even though the boy wasn’t really sure what a month was, until the forces were balanced. For a period of time, not long but not short, when the cat and the boy passed by each other, in the middle of the kitchen or in other parts of the house, they didn’t know if  the boy would end up on the floor, or if he would manage to hold on to the cat without falling.

In the end, the cat began to shirk the battle, the boy had grown, he was very proud but, at the same time, he missed the gentle rub of the cat pushing him to the ground.

Nevertheless, the cat sometimes rubbed the boy, but as a show of affection and without wanting to throw him.

And they all live happily ever after and now…

NOW, SLEEP!

A Sri Lankan Fairy Story
Emirosy is such a sweet doll, the fairy said to all the other dolls.
 She deserves to be in fairyland...

by Janaki Sooriyarachchi, Illustrations by:
Janaki Sooriyarachchi [http://www.tikiri.com/author.html]

Emily was a little girl who loved dolls very much. She had a closet full of dolls. Most of them were gifts received from her aunts and uncles, on her birthdays. Others were bought by her mother and father, when they took her shopping. The oldest doll was Emirosy. She was very pretty. When Emily was very little, she used to love and care for Emirosy very much. But, when she received prettier dolls, she forgot her old Emirosy. So, the old doll became dirty and dusty.

Emily's new dolls had lovely dresses. The dresses were especially made for the dolls, by her mothers tailor. And some of them were brought from overseas, by her father. They were very expensive. Some were made of fine silk and satin edged with golden thread.
The dolls clothes were so glamorous that they were good enough to wear for a Queens Ball.

But, poor Emirosy had only one old dress. She was too old and dusty for Emily to care about her anymore. Emirosy was put away in the attic and left all alone. The other pretty dolls were kept in a beautiful closet that was made especially for them, in Emily's bedroom. One day, Emily's dolls had a fine idea. They thought of throwing a dolls dance, on Emily's balcony. Oh, that's a lovely idea, everybody said at once, and they were very excited.

They waited impatiently until nightfall and for Emily to fall asleep. As soon as Emily closed her eyes, all the dolls jumped from the closet and tiptoed to Emily's bedside to be sure she was fast asleep. They hurried across the room to the balcony and started arranging the dance floor.

They covered the floor with Emily's beautiful storybooks. Her mothers beautiful scarves were hung around the walls as tapestries. And her brothers marbles were made into shining chandeliers. They glittered like crystal, in the moonlight. The dance floor looked gorgeous. All the dolls were invited to the ball. Emily's little sisters French dolls were also invited. They dressed up in their finest dresses, as if they were going to a royal ball at the Kings court.

The dance floor was filled with many pretty dolls. But there was only one who was not there, on the dance floor. It was no one else but poor old Emirosy. She was not invited, because she didn't have any fine clothes suitable for such a grand party. She waited in the attic, all alone. She was very sad. Her eyes brimmed with tears. All the others were dressed glamorously and had gone to the party, leaving her behind. She couldn't bear being in the attic all by herself. She stepped down from the attic and her feet were pulled to the balcony. How beautiful! Emirosy was very excited. She looked around with eager eyes. It was the loveliest sight she had ever seen. The dolls were swaying on the dance floor, like glistening feathers. The sequins and precious stones on their lovely dresses glittered in the moonlight. Emirosy heard them laugh merrily, as they danced.

She walked to the dance floor quietly and wistfully. But as she walked in, everybody turned around in dismay. Some of them ignored her and pretended they didn't know her. She smiled at them innocently, but no one returned her smile. None of them wanted to be friends with her. They turned away and danced with others. She stood at the side of the dance floor, hoping someone would invite her to dance. She gazed at them, yearningly. But no one even looked at her.

Emirosy became very sad. Some of the dolls looked at Emirosys dress scornfully, and giggled. She felt ashamed. Tears ran down her cheeks. She couldn't stand it any longer. She turned and ran back to the attic, crying. She threw herself across the bed and cried even more. She cried and cried her heart out. The pillow became wet with tears. She couldn't bear hearing the music coming from the balcony. Their merry giggles echoed in her ears.

She couldn't bear being isolated in the attic any more. If only I could see it... She stepped down from the attic and tiptoed to the balcony again. But she did not go to the dance floor. She hid behind a tapestry and peeped through the scarves wistfully, to watch the dance. Oh! How beautiful! sighed Emirosy. She would love to be out there and dance with the other dolls. Her heart pounded with grief. She couldn't bear watching it any more. It brought tears to her eyes again. She stepped back, covering her face with her hands and trying to hold back her sobs.

As she stepped away, she bumped into someone who was also looking through the scarves, right next to her. Oh, I'm sorry! Emirosy murmured and bowed her head humbly. But then, she suddenly looked up at the stranger. Oh!! It was a beautiful fairy.

She had been watching secretly beside Emirosy. She had seen the dolls dance, when she flew over the garden. The fairy looked at Emirosy puzzled. Why are you peeping through the curtain?

Why don't you go inside and dance? asked the little fairy, as she watched Emirosys drawn face. Big tears rolled down from Emirosys eyes. Emirosy looked down at the floor. I'm not invited to the dance, because I don't look good enough. And I don't have fine clothes. She began sobbing again. The fairy felt very sorry for her. Oh, please don't cry, Ill give you this dress of mine. You may wear it and go to the dance. They may not recognize you, but please make sure to return it before dawn, because I have to go back to the fairyland before morning. Otherwise, Ill be in trouble. And don't forget, you must not speak a word, said the fairy kindly, wiping Emirosys tears away. Emirosys face brightened with happiness. Oh, really? Oh?.!! You are so kind.

The fairy dressed Emirosy in her beautiful, glistening dress and put on Emirosys old dress quickly. She combed her unruly hair until it shone with moonbeams. Emirosy, you look gorgeous, even prettier than a fairy, said the fairy, placing her glittering tiara on Emirosys head. Emirosy looked prettier than a princess, indeed. Her golden hair bounced as she walked. Her pretty face glowed, as she smiled. Her eyes glittered in the deepest blue and seemed to be filled with sparkling stars. She was speechless with happiness.

Emirosy stepped into the dance floor quietly. She looked very graceful, just like a princess from heaven. As she walked to the dance floor, everyone stopped and stared. They were stunned and gazed at Emirosy with their eyes wide. They couldn't recognize who she was. She must be a princess from a far away land, said all the dolls as they ran forward to welcome her.

Emirosy smiled sweetly. She was treated like royalty by all of the dolls. Her jeweled tiara sparkled and her dress glittered in the moonlight, as thousands of stars shone down on it. Some of the dolls looked at her enviously. All those who ignored and ridiculed her earlier, wanted to be with her and talk to her. Please tell us where you came from? And may we know your name? She was showered with questions. But she couldn't answer any of them. She smiled at them and nodded. She was surrounded, and all the dolls wanted to dance with her. Emirosy moved with them to the dance floor. She swayed like a golden feather, as she danced. She giggled with joy and danced merrily until her small feet ached. She danced to her hearts content. She danced the whole night, until dawn began to arrive.

When it was about to sunrise, she looked around. Oh! Its almost morning. I must go back. Emirosy stopped dancing at once and hurried across the floor. Please don't go, please stay with us, The dolls pleaded and tried to stop her. But, she escaped from them and ran to the edge of the balcony. All the others ran to her and took hold of her. She couldn't move at all. It was almost sunrise. If Emirosy didn't go back to the fairy and exchange dresses the fairy would be in a lot of trouble. Emirosy didn't want the fairy who helped her so much, to get into any trouble. Please princess, please don't go. We would love to be your friends. We are proud of having a princess as a friend, said all the dolls. Princess? Oh no, my dear friends, Emirosy couldn't help saying. I'm not a princess at all. I'm just the same old Emirosy, from the attic.

What? Emirosy from the attic? they said. That's not possible. The Emirosy we know, doesn't have such fine clothing, they said in amazement. No, I don't have any fine clothes. I borrowed these from a fairy who came to see the dolls dance. And now I'm hurrying back because I have to return the clothes to the fairy before sunrise. Please let me go, Emirosy told them, humbly. What? Is that you, Emirosy? In borrowed clothes? they said. What a shame to us dolls! All the dolls shouted at her and pushed her away. A---Ah....!! As they pushed her, she slipped and fell from the balcony. Oh, no! Please! She screamed, as she fell from the balcony. The fairy, who was watching everything from behind the balcony, flew to her instantly. She caught Emirosy in her arms and carried her back up to the balcony. The fairy was very angry.

The dolls gathered at the railing in amazement. Emirosy is such a sweet doll, the fairy said to all the other dolls. She deserves to be in fairyland. I will take her there with me. Only sweet people with good virtues can go to fairyland. Those who treat others meanly and without respect can never go there. So, you should learn to be kind and nice to others, the way Emirosy does, regardless of their appearance, said the fairy kindly. And, away she flew to fairyland, with Emirosy.

DOCTOR DO-DIDDILY AND THE DEE-DOT'S

THE FAIRY DOCTOR

By Caroline Sedgwick

So they decided to take her to ~~~ the fairy doctor.
So they got into the car ~and they drove out of the garage
~and they drove to the fairy doctor’s surgery

~and when they got there they sat in the waiting room for a while,
waiting for the fairy doctor to come out
~and when she came out she said “hello Susana ~and what’s the matter with you?”
~and Susana said “oh, doctor, my leg hurts, ~and I can’t walk properly”
~and the doctor said “well come into my office ~and lie down on the bed
~and we’ll see what we can do”. So Susana lay down on the bed
~and the fairy doctor started to feel her left leg (massage, massage, prod, prod)
~and she worked her way from the thigh right down to the foot ~and up again
~and then she said “no, that’s not the leg, it must be the other leg”
~and she went to the right leg
~and she worked her way from the thigh right down to the foot ~and up again
~and then she said “I know what the problem is, the problem is ~~~ the knee”
~and so she went fiddle, fiddle, fiddle, prod, prod, prod massage, massage, massage
~~~~~~ CLICK ~and Susana “doctor, doctor, my leg doesn’t hurt anymore”
~and the fairy doctor said “get down off the bed ~and walk across the room”
~and Susana walked across the room ~and she didn’t limp
~and she rushed over to the fairy doctor and she gave her a big kiss
~and she said “doctor, doctor, thank you for making my leg all better “
~and the magic doctor said “it was a pleasure, come back any time”.
~and Susana ~and her mummy ~and her daddy got back  in the car ~and they drove home
~and when they got home Susana had a lovely warm bath
~and got into her lovely warm pyjamas
~and she had some lovely warm supper
~and then, she practiced walking, ~and she walked from the telly to the sofa
~and from the computer to the dining room table
~and her leg didn’t hurt ~and she could walk properly
~and then she went to bed
~and she went straight to sleep because she was very tired
~and it had been a very long day
~and that’s the end of the story
~and they all lived happily ever after
~and now

~~~~~~- SLEEP!





Some little songs and tales, specially chosen for you by Fiona the Fairy from Seligor's Castle.