|Jack’s mother was very glad to see him. She was afraid that he had come
to some ill end. “Not a bit of it, mother,” said he. “Look here!” and he
showed her the hen. “Lay!” he said to the hen, and the hen laid an egg
of gold.
Jack and his mother now had all they needed, for they had only to tell
the hen to lay, and she laid her golden egg. They sold the egg and had
money enough. But Jack kept thinking of his father, and he longed to
make another trial. He had told his mother about the Giant and his wife,
but he had said nothing about the fairy and his father.
His mother begged Jack not to climb the beanstalk again. She said the
Giant’s wife would be sure to know him, and he never would come back
alive. Jack said nothing, but he put on some other clothes and stained
his face and hands another color. Then, one morning, he rose early and
climbed the bean-stalk a second time.
He went straight to the Giant’s house. The Giant’s wife was again at the
door, but she did not know him. He begged for food and a place to sleep.
She told him about the Giant, and then she said:--
“There was once a boy who came just as you have come. I let him in, and
he stole the Giant’s hen and ran away. Ever since the Giant has been
very cruel to me. No, I cannot let you come in.”
But Jack begged so hard that at last she let him in. She led him
through the house, and he saw just what he had seen before. She gave him
something to eat, and then she hid him in a closet. The Giant came along
in his heavy boots. He was so big, that the house shook. He sat by the
fire for a time. Then he looked about and said:--
“Wife, I smell fresh meat.”
“Yes,” she said. “The crows have been flying about. They left some raw
meat on top of the house.”
Then she made haste and got some supper for the giant.
He was very cross. So it went on as before. The Giant ate and
drank. Then he called to his wife:--
“Bring me something. I want to be amused. You let that rascal steal my
hen. Bring me something.”
“What shall I bring?” she asked meekly.
“Bring me my money-bags; they are as heavy as anything.” So she tugged
two great bags to the table. One was full of silver and one was full
of gold. The Giant sent his wife to bed. Then he untied the strings,
emptied his bags, and counted his money. Jack watched him, and said to
himself:--
“That is my father’s money.”
By and by the Giant was tired. He put the money back into the bags
and tied the strings. Then he went to sleep. He had a dog to watch his
money, but Jack did not see the dog. So when the Giant was sound asleep,
Jack came out of the closet and laid hold of the bags.
At this the dog barked, and Jack thought his end had come. But the Giant
did not wake, and Jack just then saw a bit of meat. He gave it to the
dog, and while the dog was eating it, Jack took the two bags and was
off.