LESSON 63 JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

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ached fierce slammed

ab-sence sauce-pan sooth-ing

hos-pi-tal fin-ished trem-bled

sa-vour-y stir-ring fe-vered

1. Jack had often heard from his mother stories of her early life. One of the stories that he liked best was about a magic 〔1〕 harp that would play any tune it was asked. It had been stolen from his father by a giant, and Jack's mother thought that the harp might still be in the land at the top of the beanstalk.

2. So one day Jack again climbed into the giant's country. This time he went in search of the magic harp. When he reached the top of the beanstalk he walked along the banks of a river till he came to a great stone castle built upon a diff.

3. He walked boldly up to the gate and asked for work. The giant was away from home, but the giant's wife called him in, and set him to grind wheat into flour. Jack saw that the wheat grains were as large as plums.

4. He worked away till his arms and back ached. He had ground out three large sacks of flour before the giant's wife called him from his task. She had been enjoying a quiet sleep while Jack did her work.

5. His mistress was pleased when she saw how well he had worked. She gave him a large slice of rich cake and a jug of new milk. She said that she would keep him to work for her, and pay him well, but that he must always hide from her husband.

6. When evening drew nigh, she put Jack into a large saucepan, in which was a heap of dry straw. A piece of wood placed between the lid and the rim enabled Jack to see out, and to get all the fresh air that he needed.

7. By-and-by, the giant came home. "Wife," said he, "what is that savoury smell 〔2〕 that comes from the kitchen?" "I have an ox stuffed and roasted whole," said his wife. "It is just done to a turn; come and help to dish it up."

8. When Jack saw the fierce face of the giant, and heard his roaring voice, he trembled so much that he shook the saucepan lid and made it rattle. The giant looked round and Jack ducked behind the rim just in time. "There must be rats on that shelf," said the giant; "I will set a trap to-morrow."

9. He helped his wife to dish up the ox, and sat down and ate a hearty meal. There were only a few bones left on the dish when he had finished. After dinner he ordered his wife to fetch the magic harp. She brought a small harp of pure gold, and placed it before her husband. "Play," said he to the harp.

10. At the sound of the music Jack again peeped out. The harp played a stirring march. As it did so, the kitchen faded and Jack saw a long dusty road, down which a company of soldiers, footsore and weary, marched with heavy feet. As the march music sounded forth, the tired look left the soldiers' faces, and with heads erect they stepped out bravely.

11. The music now became soft and soothing 〔3〕 , and Jack saw a large hospital, where the sick tossed upon their beds of pain. At the sound of the sweet music the pinched faces lit up with delight. For a time the sick forgot their pain, and as the music went on they sank into a restful sleep.

12. Jack, too, felt the effect of the music; his eyes were heavy with slumber, and only by a great effort could he keep himself awake. As the sounds of the harp grew softer and softer, the giant and his wife fell fast asleep.

13. Jack felt sure that this must be the harp that had once been his father's, so he quietly lifted the saucepan lid and climbed out. Stepping softly to the table he laid his hand upon the harp.

14. At once the room echoed with the loud rattle of drums, and the blare 〔4〕 of trumpets sounding the alarm. The giant awoke with a start and sprang to his feet, just as Jack with the harp under his arm reached the gate.

15. Jack slammed the gate and started to run for the beanstalk. As the giant reached the bank of the river in pursuit 〔5〕 , Jack gained the top of the beanstalk and slid down its smooth stem.

JACK CHOPPED THROUGH THE BEANSTALK.

16. He reached the ground as the giant was starting to slide down. Catching up an axe, Jack chopped through the beanstalk, and down fell the giant with a crash that shook the ground for miles round. There the monster lay with a broken neck.

—————

Who has seen the wind?

　Neither you nor I;

But when the trees bow down their heads,

　The wind is passing by.

—CHRISTINA ROSSETTI

注释

〔1〕 magic: Wonderful.

〔2〕 savoury smell: Smell of something tasty.

〔3〕 soothing: Calming; restful.

〔4〕 blare: Loud sound.

〔5〕 in pursuit: In chase (of him).