falling on the floor, she wiped it two or three times over to clean it;
still, however, the blood remained the same as before; she next washed
it, but the blood did not stir at all; she then scoured it with
brickdust, and afterwards with sand, but notwithstanding all she could
do the blood was still there, for the key was a fairy, who was Blue
Beard's friend, so that as fast as she got it off on one side, it
appeared again on the other.
Early in the evening Blue Beard returned home, saying he had not
proceeded far on his journey before he was met by a messenger who was
coming to tell him that his business was happily concluded without his
being present, upon which his wife said everything she could think of,
to make him believe she was transported with joy at his unexpected
return.
The next morning he asked for the keys: she gave them to him; but as she
could not help showing her fright, Blue Beard easily guessed what had
happened. "How is it," said he, "that the key of the closet upon the
ground floor is not here?"
"Is it not? Then I must have left it on my dressing-table," said she,
and left the room in tears.
"Be sure you give it to me by and by," cried Blue Beard.
After going several times backwards and forwards, pretending to look for
the key, she was at last obliged to give it to Blue Beard. He looked at
it attentively, and then said, "How came the blood upon the key?"
"I am sure I do not know," replied the lady, turning at the same time as
pale as death.
"You do not know," said Blue Beard sternly; "but I know well enough. You
have been in the closet on the ground floor. Very well, madam; since you
are so mightily fond of this closet, you shall certainly take your place
among the ladies you saw there."
His wife, almost dead with fear, fell upon her knees, asked his pardon a
thousand times for her disobedience, and entreated him to forgive her,
looking all the time so very sorrowful and lovely, that she would have
melted any heart that was not harder than a rock.
But Blue Beard answered, "No, no, madam; you shall die this very
minute!"
"Alas!" said the poor trembling creature, "if I must die, allow me, at
least, a little time to say my prayers."
"I give you," replied the cruel Blue Beard, "half a quarter of an hour;
not one moment longer." When Blue Beard had left her to herself, she
called her sister; and after telling her, as well as she could for
sobbing, that she had but half a quarter of an hour to live: "Pr'ythee,"
said she, "sister Ann" (this was her sister's name), "run up to the top
of the tower, and see if my brothers are yet in sight, for they promised
to come and visit me to-day; and if you see them make a sign for them to
gallop as fast as possible."
Her sister instantly did as she was desired, and the terrified lady
every minute called out to her, "Ann! sister Ann! do you see any one
coming?"
And her sister answered, "I see nothing but the sun, which makes a dust,
and the grass which looks green."
In the meantime, Blue Beard, with a great scimitar in his hand, bawled
as loud as he could to his wife, "Come down instantly, or I will fetch
you."
"One moment longer, I beseech you," replied she; and again called softly
to her sister, "Sister Ann, do you see any one coming?"
To which she answered, "I see nothing but the sun, which makes a dust,
and the grass which looks green."
Blue Beard now again bawled out, "Come down, I say, this very moment, or
I shall come and fetch you."
"I am coming; indeed, I will come in one minute," sobbed his unhappy
wife. Then she once more cried out, "Ann! sister Ann! do you see any one
coming?"
"I see," said her sister, "a cloud of dust a little to the left."
"Do you think it is my brothers?" continued the wife.
"Alas! no, dear sister," replied she; "it is only a flock of sheep."
"Will you come down or not, madam?" cried Blue Beard, in the greatest
rage imaginable. "Only one single moment more," answered she. And then
she called out for the last time, "Sister Ann! do you see any one
coming?"
"I see," replied her sister, "two men on horseback coming to the house:
but they are still at a great distance."
"God be praised!" cried she, "it is my brothers; give them a sign to
make what haste they can."
At the same moment Blue Beard cried out so loud for her to come down,
that his voice shook the whole house.
The poor lady with her hair loose, and her eyes swimming in tears,
instantly came down, and fell on her knees to Blue Beard, and was going
to beg him to spare her life, but he interrupted her, saying, "All this
is of no use at all, for you shall die;" then seizing her with one hand
by the hair, and raising the scimitar he held in the other, was going
with one blow to strike off her head.
The unfortunate creature turning towards him, desired to have a single
moment allowed her to recollect herself.
"No, no," said Blue Beard, "I will give you no more time, I am
determined--you have had too much already;" and again raised his
arm--Just at this instant a loud knocking was heard at the gates, which
made Blue Beard wait for a moment to see who it was. The gates were
opened, and two officers dressed in their regimentals entered, and, with
their swords in their hands, ran instantly to Blue Beard, who, seeing
they were his wife's brothers, endeavoured to escape from their
presence; but they pursued and seized him before he had gone twenty
steps, and plunging their swords into his body, he immediately fell
down dead at their feet.
The poor wife, who was almost as dead as her husband, was unable at
first to rise and embrace her brothers. She soon, however, recovered;
and as Blue Beard had no heirs, she found herself the lawful possessor
of his great riches.
She employed a portion of her vast fortune in giving a marriage dowry to
her sister Ann, who soon after became the wife of a young gentleman by
whom she had long been beloved. Another part she employed in buying
captains' commissions for her two brothers; and the rest she presented
to a most worthy gentleman, whom she married soon after, and whose kind
treatment soon made her forget Blue Beard's cruelty.
JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK.
In days of yore, there lived a widow who had a son named Jack. Being an
only child, he was too much indulged, and became so extravagant and
careless that he wasted the property which his mother possessed, until
at last there remained only a cow, the chief support of her and her son.
One day the poor woman, with tears in her eyes, said to Jack--"O, you
wicked child, by your ungrateful course of life you have brought me to
beggary in my old age; cruel boy! I have not money to buy even a bit of
bread, and we must now sell the cow. I am grieved to part with her, but
I cannot see you starve."
Jack felt some remorse, but having less affection for the cow than his
mother had, he drove her to the nearest market town, where he met a
butcher, who made a very curious offer for her. "Your cow," said he,
"you young prodigal dog! is worth nothing; you have starved her until
she would disgrace the shambles; and, as to milk, no wonder that you and
your mother have been starving while you were depending upon that
supply. One _ill_ turn deserves another, and receives it just as surely
as one _good_ turn deserves another. But you shall not take back the cow
to perish with hunger. I have got some beans in my pocket; they are the
oddest I ever saw, not one of them being, either in colour or shape,
like another; if you will take them in exchange for the cow, you may
have them."
The silly boy could not conceal the pleasure he felt at the offer. The
bargain was struck, and the cow exchanged for a few paltry beans. Jack
made the best of his way home, calling to his mother before he reached
the house, thinking to surprise her. When she saw the beans and heard
Jack's story, her patience quite forsook her; she kicked the beans away
in a passion; they flew in all directions--some were scattered in the
garden. Not having anything to eat, they both went supperless to bed.
Jack awoke early in the morning, and, seeing something uncommon in the
garden, soon discovered that some of the beans had taken root and sprung
up surprisingly; the stalks were of great thickness, and had so entwined
that they formed a ladder, nearly like a chain in appearance.
Looking upwards, he could not discern the top; it appeared to be lost in
the clouds. He tried the beanstalks, found them firm and not to be
shaken. He quickly formed the resolution of climbing to the top to seek
his fortune, and ran to communicate his intention to his mother, not
doubting but she would be equally pleased with himself. She declared he
should not go; said it would break her heart if he did--entreated and
threatened, but all in vain.
Jack set out, and, after climbing for some hours, reached the top of the
bean-stalk quite fatigued. Looking around, he found himself in a strange
country. It appeared to be a desert, quite barren--not a tree, shrub,
house, or living creature to be seen.
Jack seated himself upon a stone, and thought of his mother; he
reflected with sorrow on his disobedience in climbing the bean-stalk
against her will, and concluded that he must die of hunger.
However, he walked on, hoping to see a house where he might beg
something to eat and drink. Presently a handsome young woman appeared at
a distance. As she approached, Jack could not help admiring how
beautiful she looked; she was dressed in the most elegant manner, and
had a white wand in her hand, on the top of which was a peacock of pure
gold. While Jack was looking with the greatest surprise at this charming
female, with a smile of the most bewitching sweetness, she inquired how
he came there? Jack told how he had climbed up the bean-stalk. She asked
him if he recollected his father? He answered that he did not; and added
that he had inquired of his mother who or where his father was, but that
she avoided answering him, and even seemed afraid of speaking, as if
there was some secret connected with his father's history.
The lady replied, "I will reveal the whole story; your mother must not.
But, before I begin, I require a solemn promise, on your part, to do
what I command. I am a fairy, and if you do not perform exactly what I
desire, you will be destroyed." Jack promised to obey her injunctions,
and the fairy thus addressed him:--
"Your father was a rich and benevolent man; he was good to the poor, and
constantly relieving them; he never let a day pass without doing good to
some person. On one particular day in the week he kept open house, and
invited those who were reduced and had lived well. He always sat at the
table with them himself, and did all he could to render his guests
comfortable. The servants were all happy, and greatly attached to their
master and mistress. Such a man was soon known and talked of. A giant
lived a great many miles off, who was altogether as wicked as your
father was good; he was envious, covetous, and cruel, but had the art of
concealing these vices.
"Hearing your father spoken of, he formed the design of becoming
acquainted with him, hoping to ingratiate himself into your father's
favour. He removed quickly into your neighbourhood, caused it to be
reported that he had lost all he possessed by an earthquake, and found
it difficult to escape with his life; his wife was with him. Your father
believed his story, and pitied him; he gave him apartments in his own
house, and caused him and his wife to be treated hospitably, little
imagining that the giant was meditating a horrid return for all his
favours.
"Things went on in this way for some time, the giant becoming daily more
impatient to put his plan into execution. At last, an opportunity
presented itself. Your father's house was at some distance from the
sea-shore, but the giant, standing on a hill one stormy day, observed
some ships in distress off the rocks; he hastened to your father, and
requested that he would send all the people he could spare to relieve
the mariners.
"While the servants were all employed upon this service, the giant
despatched your father by stabbing him with a dagger. You were then only
three months old, and your mother, upon discovering what had happened,
fainted, but still clasping you in her arms. The giant, who intended to
murder both of you, having found her in that state, for a short time
repented of the dreadful crime he had committed, and granted your mother
and you your lives, but only upon condition that she should never inform
you who your father was, nor answer any questions concerning him,
assuring her that, if she did, he would certainly put both of you to
death in the most cruel manner. Your mother took you in her arms, and
fled as quickly as possible. Having gained your father's confidence, he
knew where to find all his treasure. He and his wife soon carried off
two large chests filled with gold, which they could not have done unless
they had been giants, and, having set the house on fire in several
places, when the servants returned it was burned quite down to the
ground.
"Your poor mother wandered with you a great many miles from this scene
of desolation; fear added to her haste; she settled in the cottage where
you were brought up, and it was entirely owing to her fear of the giant
that she never mentioned your father to you.
"I became your father's guardian at his birth; but fairies have laws to
which they are subject as well as mortals. A short time before the giant
went to your father's, I transgressed; my punishment was a suspension of
power for a limited time--an unfortunate circumstance, as it totally
prevented my succouring your father.
"The day on which you met the butcher, as you went to sell your mother's
cow, my power was restored; and, as I had been told by Oberon, the King
of the Fairies, how dreadful were the consequences to your father of my
single error, I resolved to take you under my protection, and to be more
circumspect in future. It was I who secretly prompted you to take the
beans in exchange for the cow.
"By my power the bean-stalk grew to so great a height, and formed a
ladder. I need not add that I inspired you with a strong desire to
ascend the ladder.
"The giant now lives in this country; you are the person appointed to
punish him for all his wickedness. You will have dangers and
difficulties to encounter, but you must persevere in avenging the death
of your father or you will not prosper in any of your undertakings, but
be always miserable.
"As to the giant's possessions, you may seize on all you can, for
everything he has belongs either to you or to me; for you must know
that, not satisfied with the gold he carried off from your father, he
broke into my house and stole the two greatest curiosities ever
possessed even by a fairy, and would have killed me as he did your
father, if it could have been possible to kill a fairy. One thing I
desire--do not let your mother know you are acquainted with your
father's history till you see me again.
"Go along the direct road; you will soon see the house where your cruel
enemy lives. While you do as I order you, I will protect and guard you;
but, remember, if you disobey my commands a most dreadful punishment
awaits you."
When the fairy had concluded, she disappeared, leaving Jack to pursue
his journey. He walked on till after sunset, when, to his great joy, he
espied a large mansion. A plain-looking woman was at the door; he
accosted her, begging she would give him a morsel of bread and a night's
lodging. She expressed the greatest surprise at seeing him, and said it
was quite uncommon to see a human being near the house, for it was well
known that her husband was a large and powerful giant, and that he would
never eat anything but human flesh, if he possibly could get it; that he
did not think anything of walking fifty miles to procure it.
This account greatly terrified Jack, but he still hoped to elude the
giant, and therefore he again entreated the woman to take him in for one
night only, and hide him where she thought proper. The woman at last
suffered herself to be persuaded, for although she had assisted in the
murder of Jack's father and in stealing the gold, she was of a
compassionate and generous disposition, and took him into the house.
First they entered a fine large hall, magnificently furnished; they then
passed through several spacious rooms, all in the same style of
grandeur.
A long gallery was next; it was very dark, just light enough to show
that, instead of a wall on one side, there was a grating of iron which
parted off a dismal dungeon, whence issued the groans of those poor
victims whom the cruel giant reserved in confinement for his own
voracious appetite.
Poor Jack was half dead with fear, and would have given the world to
have been with his mother again, for he now began to fear that he should
never see her more, and gave himself up for lost; he even mistrusted the
giant's wife, and thought she had let him into the house for no other
purpose than to lock him up among the unfortunate people in the dungeon.
At the farther end of the gallery there was a spacious kitchen, and a
fire was burning in the grate. The good woman bade Jack sit down, and
gave him plenty to eat and drink. Jack, not seeing anything here to make
him uncomfortable, soon forgot his fear, and was beginning to enjoy
himself, when he was aroused by a loud knocking at the door, which made
the whole house shake; the giant's wife ran to secure him in the oven,
and then went to let her husband in.
Jack heard him accost her in a voice like thunder, saying--
"Wife, I smell fresh meat."
"Oh! my dear," replied she, "it is only the people in the dungeon."
The giant appeared to believe her and walked into the kitchen, where
poor Jack lay concealed, shaking with fear and trembling in every limb.
At last, the monster seated himself by the fireside, whilst his wife
prepared supper. By degrees Jack took courage to look at the giant
through a small crevice; he was quite astonished to see what an amazing
quantity he devoured, and thought he never would have done eating and
drinking. When supper was ended, the giant desired his wife to bring him
his hen, which was one of the curiosities he had stolen from the fairy.
A very beautiful hen was brought, and placed on the table before him.
Jack's curiosity was very great to see what would happen; he observed
that every time the giant said, "Lay!" the hen laid an egg of solid
gold.
The giant amused himself a long time with his hen; meanwhile his wife
went to bed. At length the giant fell asleep by the fireside, and
snored like the roaring of a cannon. At daybreak, Jack, finding the
giant still asleep, crept softly out of his hiding-place, seized the
hen, and ran off with her.
He easily found the way to the bean-stalk, and descended it more quickly
than he expected. His mother was overjoyed to see him, for she concluded
he had come to a shocking end.
Jack was impatient to show his hen, and inform his mother how valuable
it was.
"And now, mother," said Jack, "I have brought home that which will
quickly make us rich; and I hope to make you some amends for the
affliction I have caused you through my idleness and extravagance."
The hen produced as many golden eggs as they desired, and so they became
possessed of immense riches.
For some months, Jack and his mother lived very happily together; but
he, recollecting the fairy's commands, and fearing that if he delayed to
avenge his father's death, she would put her threats into execution,
longed to climb the bean-stalk again and pay the giant another visit.
Jack was, however, afraid to mention it to his mother, being well
assured that she would endeavour to prevent his going. However, one day
he told her boldly that he must take a journey up the bean-stalk. She
begged and prayed him not to think of it; she told him that the giant's
wife would certainly know him again, and that the giant would desire
nothing better than to get him into his power, that he might put him to
a cruel death in order to be revenged for the loss of his hen.
Jack resolved to go at all events; for, being a very clever fellow,
although a very idle one, he had no great dread of the giant,
concluding that, although he was a cannibal, he must be a very stupid
fellow not to have regained his hen, it being just as easy to come down
the stupendous bean-stalk as to ascend it. Jack, therefore, had a dress
made, not exactly invisible, like that of his illustrious namesake, the
Giant-killer, but one which so disguised him that even
"The mother that him bore
Would not have known her child."
In a few mornings after this, he rose very early, changed his
complexion, and, unperceived by any one, climbed the bean-stalk a second
time. He was greatly fatigued when he reached the top, and very hungry,
for, with his usual thoughtlessness, he forgot to take a piece of bread
in his pocket.
Here we are inclined to remark that, as he had neither _bread_ nor
_bacon_, he must in his progress have met with a good supply of beans;
but perhaps he never thought of this resource.
Having rested some time, he pursued his journey to the giant's mansion.
He reached it late in the evening; the woman was at the door as before.
Jack addressed her, telling a pitiful tale, and requesting that she
would give him some victuals and drink, and also a night's lodging.
She told him (what he knew before very well) about her husband's being a
powerful and cruel giant; and also that she one night admitted a poor,
hungry, friendless boy, who was half-dead with travelling; that the
little ungrateful fellow had stolen one of the giant's treasures, and
ever since that her husband had used her very cruelly, and continually
upbraided her with being the cause of his loss. But at last she
consented and took him into the kitchen, where, after he had done
eating and drinking, she laid him in an old lumber closet. The giant
returned at the usual time, and walked in so heavily that the house was
shaken to the foundation. He seated himself by the fire, and soon after
exclaimed, "Wife, I smell fresh meat."
The wife replied, "It was the crows which had brought a piece of raw
meat, and left it on the top of the house."
The giant was very ill-tempered and impatient, continually crying for
his supper, like little Tom Tucker, and complaining of the loss of his
wonderful hen, which we verily believe he would have eaten, disregarding
the treasures which she produced. Jack therefore rejoiced that he had
not only got possession of the hen, but had in all probability saved her
precious life.
The giant's wife at last set supper on the table, and when he had eaten
till he was satisfied, he said to her--"I must have something to amuse
me, either my bags of money or my harp." Jack, as before, peeped out of
his hiding-place, and presently his wife brought two bags into the room,
one filled with gold and the other with silver.
They were both placed before the giant, who began reprimanding his wife
for staying so long. She replied, trembling with fear, that the bags
were so heavy that she could scarcely lift them, and adding that she had
nearly fainted owing to their weight.
The giant took his bags, and began to count their contents. First the
bag which contained the silver was emptied, and the contents placed on
the table. Jack viewed the glittering heaps with delight, and most
heartily wished the contents in his own possession. The giant (little
thinking he was so narrowly watched) reckoned the silver over several
times; and, having satisfied himself that all was safe, put it into the
bag again, which he made very secure.
The other bag was opened next, and the gold pieces placed on the table.
If Jack was pleased at the sight of the silver, how much more delighted
must he have felt when he saw such a heap of glittering gold?
When the giant had counted over the gold till he was tired, he put it
up, if possible, more secure than he had put up the silver before; he
then fell back on the chair by the fireside, and fell asleep. He snored
so loud that Jack compared the noise to the roaring of the sea in a high
wind, when the tide is coming in. At last, Jack, being certain that he
was asleep, stole out of his hiding-place and approached the giant, in
order to carry off the two bags of money; but, just as he laid his hand
upon one of the bags, a little dog, which he had not perceived before,
started from under the giant's chair and barked at Jack most furiously,
who now gave himself up for lost. But Jack, recollecting that the giant
had left the bones which he had picked at supper, threw one to the dog,
who instantly seized it, and took it into the lumber closet which Jack
had just left.