[Illustration: Mother Goose and family.]
Old Mother Goose lived in a cottage with her son Jack. Jack was a
very good lad, and although he was not handsome, he was good-tempered
and industrious, and this made him better-looking than half the other
boys. Old Mother Goose carried a long stick, she wore a high-crowned
hat, and high-heeled shoes, and her kerchief was as white as snow.
Then there was the Gander that swam in the pond, and the Owl that sat
on the wall. So you see they formed a very happy family. But what a
fine strong fellow the Gander was! Whenever Old Mother Goose wanted
to take a journey, she would mount upon his broad strong back, and
away he would fly and carry her swiftly to any distance.
[Illustration: Mother Goose and Gander flying.]
Now Old Mother Goose thought her Gander often looked sad and lonely;
so one day she sent Jack to market to buy the finest Goose he could
find. It was early in the morning when he started, and his way lay
through a wood. He was not afraid of robbers; so on he went, with his
Mother's great clothes-prop over his shoulder. The fresh morning air
caused Jack's spirits to rise. He left the road, and plunged into the
thick of the wood, where he amused himself by leaping with his
clothes-prop till he found he had lost himself. After he had made
many attempts to find the path again, he heard a scream. He jumped up
and ran boldly towards the spot from which the sound came. Through an
opening in the trees he saw a young lady trying to get away from a
ruffian who wanted to steal her mantle. With one heavy blow of his
staff Jack sent the thief howling away, and then went back to the
young lady, who was lying on the ground, crying.
[Illustration: Jack and young lady.]
She soon dried her tears when she found that the robber had made off,
and thanked Jack for his help. The young lady told Jack that she was
the daughter of the Squire, who lived in the great white house on the
hill-top. She knew the path out of the wood quite well, and when they
reached the border, she said that Jack must come soon to her father's
house, so that he might thank him for his noble conduct.
When Jack was left alone, he made the best of his way to the
market-place. He found little trouble in picking out the best Goose,
for when he got there he was very late, and there was but one left.
But as it was a prime one, Jack bought it at once, and keeping to the
road, made straight for home. At first the Goose objected to be
carried; and then, when she had walked along slowly and gravely for a
short time, she tried to fly away; so Jack seized her in his arms and
kept her there till he reached home.
[Illustration: Jack carrying Goose.]
Old Mother Goose was greatly pleased when she saw what a fine bird
Jack had bought; and the Gander showed more joy than I can describe.
And then they all lived very happily for a long time. But Jack would
often leave off work to dream of the lovely young lady whom he had
rescued in the forest, and soon began to sigh all day long. He
neglected the garden, cared no more for the Gander, and scarcely even
noticed the beautiful Goose. But one morning, as he was walking by
the pond, he saw both the Goose and the Gander making a great noise,
as though they were in the utmost glee. He went up to them and was
surprised to find on the bank a large golden egg. He ran with it to
his mother, who said, "Go to market, my son; sell your egg, and you
will soon be rich enough to pay a visit to the Squire." So to market
Jack went, and sold his golden egg; but the rogue who bought it of
him cheated him out of half his due. Then he dressed himself in his
finest clothes, and went up to the Squire's house. Two footmen stood
at the door, one looking very stout and saucy, and the other sleepy
and stupid.
[Illustration: Jack and Footmen.]
When Jack asked to see the Squire, they laughed at him, and made
sport of his fine clothes; but Jack had wit enough to offer them each
a guinea, when they at once showed him to the Squire's room.
Now the Squire, who was very rich, was also very proud and fat, and
scarcely turned his head to notice Jack; but when he showed him his
bag of gold, and asked for his daughter to be his bride, the Squire
flew into a rage, and ordered his servants to throw him into the
horse-pond. But this was not so easy to do, for Jack was strong and
active; and then the young lady come out and begged her father to
release him. This made Jack more deeply in love with her than ever,
and he went home determined to win her in spite of all. And well did
his wonderful Goose aid him in his design. Almost every morning she
would lay him a golden egg, and Jack, grown wiser, would no longer
sell them at half their value to the rogue who had before cheated
him. So Jack soon grew to be a richer man than the Squire himself.
His wealth became known to all the country round, and the Squire at
length consented to accept Jack as his son-in-law. Then Old Mother
Goose flew away into the woods on the back of her strong Gander,
leaving the cottage and the Goose to Jack and his bride, who lived
happily ever afterwards.
[Illustration: Jack and Squire.]