his bags of silver and gold, that he might arouse himself His wife soon returned with twolarge bags, one filled with gold, and the other withsilver. She then retired, and he began counting out his money, and viewed the glittering heaps with great delight He
kept turning it over and over till he got
tired, and placing it all
safely in the bags again,hefellsoundasleep.
Jack was .it first afraid lest the giant should only be shamming sleep, so as to pounce on any one who might be concealed; but shortly hearing him snore so loudly, as to sound like the roaring of the sea in a high wind, he stole out of his hiding-place, and tookupthe bags to carrythemoff Just then a littledog, which he had not noticed before, jumpedfrom under the giant's chair, and barked sofuriously that Jack gave him- self up for lost The giant, however, did not waken, so that Jack had time to tot*
lect himself; and seeing a piece of meal lying near him, he threw it to the dog, which instantly seized it, and afforded Jack
74 FAVOURITE FAIRYTALES.
the opportunity of escaping. He threw the bags over his shoulder, and made the best of hiswayoutof the house. He then went as fast as his heavy burden would allow him towards the bean-stalk, and was very glad, indeed, when he reached the top ofit.
He soon descended, and ran to give his mother a surprise. He was very much put
about, however, when he found the cottage deserted, and learned that his mother was lying very sick in a neighbour's house. He
immediately went to her, and was greatly shocked to find that her illness had been caused by his desertion. When the old
widow learned that her son had returned safely, she got better by degrees; and Jack having got the cottage put in repair, they again lived very happily together in it, and had every comfortwhichtheydesired.
For three years Jack spoke no more of the bean-stalk to his mother, lest he should make her unhappy. He could not, how- ever, give over thinking of it, and this caused him much uneasiness, especially when
tkt fitnorf.WMUMbyiJM
JACK AND THEBEAN-STALK. 75 he remembered the commands and threats of the fairy. At last his desire became too powerful tobe longer repressed,and he made
secretpreparationsforanother journey.
On the longest day he arose very early, and climbed the bean-stalk; and on reach- ing the top, found his way to the giant's mansion, as before. This time, though he had disguised himself very completely, he found some little
difficulty in gaining admis- sion, but at last he succeeded, and was con- cealedinthe copper.
Assoon as the giant camehome, he roared, Wife, I smell fresh meatI" Jack thought nothing of this, as the giant had said so on bothformer occasions.
^However the giant wkinnljr started up, anil began to search all round the room; and coming at last to the copper, poor Jack was ready to die with fear,and wished himselfat home a thousand times. The giant, however, fortunately stop- ped his search without lifting the lid of the copper, and then seated himselfquietly atthefireside,
76 FAVOURITE FAIEYTALES.
Jack had got such a fright that he was afraid of even breathing, lest he should be discovered. The giant ate a hearty supper, and then desired his wife to go and fetch his harp. Jack by this time had somewhat recovered his boldness,and peeping out from under the copper lid, saw the most beautiful harp that could be imagined. The giant had it placed before him on the table, and wheneverhe said "Play," it played the most delightfulmusicofitsownaccord.
Jack no sooner saw this than he deter- mined to possess himself of the harp; so whenthe giant fell fast asleep, a little while afterwards he slipped out of the copper, and seized it. The harp, however, was enchant- ed by a fairy, and called loudly,
"
Master! master!
"
The giant was awakened by this noise, and seeing Jack running off with his harp, got up to pursue him; but he had drunk so much at supper that he could only reel after him, although, indeed, he called out to him with a voice like thunder, and would certainly have overtaken him,