“I will reveal the whole story. Your mother must not do so. 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 was frightened at her menaces, and promised to fulfil her
injunctions exactly, and the fairy thus addressed him—
“Your father was a rich man. His disposition was very benevolent. He
was very good to the poor, and constantly relieved them. He made it a
rule never to let a day pass without doing good to some person. On one
particular day in the week he kept open house, and invited only those
who were reduced and had lived well. He always presided himself, and
did all in his power to render his guests comfortable. The rich and
the great were next invited. The servants were all happy and greatly
attached to their master and mistress. Your father, though only a
private gentleman, was as rich as a prince, and he deserved all he
possessed, for he only lived to do good. Such a man was soon known
and talked of. A giant lived a great many miles off. This man was
altogether as wicked as your father was good. He was, in his heart,
envious, covetous, and cruel, but he had the art of concealing those
vices. He was poor, and wished to enrich himself at any rate.
“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, and caused it to be
reported that he was a gentleman who had just lost all he possessed by
an earthquake and had found it difficult to escape with his life. His
wife was with him. Your father gave credit to his story and pitied him.
He gave him handsome apartments in his own house, and caused him and
his wife to be treated like visitors of consequence, little imagining
that the giant was undertaking a horrid return for all his favours.
“Things went on this way for some time, the giant becoming daily
more impatient to put his plan in execution. At last a favourable
opportunity presented itself. Your father’s house was at some
distance from the sea–shore, but with a glass the coast could be seen
distinctly. The giant was one day using the telescope; the wind was
very high, and he saw a fleet of ships in distress off the rocks.
He hastened to your father, mentioned the circumstance, and eagerly
requested he would send all the servants he could spare to relieve the
sufferers.
“Every one was instantly despatched, except the porter and your nurse.
The giant then joined your father in the study, and appeared to be
delighted. He really was so. Your father recommended a favourite book,
and was handing it down, when the giant, taking the opportunity,
stabbed him, and he instantly fell down dead. The giant left the
body, found the porter and nurse, and presently despatched them, being
determined to have no living witnesses of his crimes.
“You were then only three months old. Your mother had you in her arms
in a remote part of the house, and was ignorant of what was going
on. She went into the study, but how was she shocked on discovering
your father dead. She was stupefied with horror and grief, and was
motionless. The giant, who was seeking her, found her in that state,
and hastened to serve her and you as he had done your father, but she
fell at his feet, and, in a pathetic manner, besought him to spare her
life and yours.
“Remorse, for a moment, seemed to touch the barbarian’s heart. He
granted your lives, but first he made her take a most solemn oath
never to inform you who your father was, or to answer any questions
concerning him, assuring her that if she did he would certainly
discover her and put both of you to death in the most cruel manner.
Your mother took you in her arms and fled as quickly as possible.
She was scarcely gone when the giant repented he had suffered her to
escape. He would have pursued her instantly, but he had to provide
for his own safety, as it was necessary he should be gone before the
servants returned. Having gained your father’s confidence he knew where
to find all his treasure. He soon loaded himself and his wife, set the
house on fire in several places, and, when the servants returned, the
house was burnt quite down to the ground.
“Your poor mother, forlorn, abandoned, and forsaken, 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—for
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. It was I who secretly prompted you
to take the beans in exchange for the cow.
“By my power the beanstalk grew to so great a height and formed a
ladder. I need not add I inspired you with a strong desire to ascend
the ladder.
“The giant lives in this country, and 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 is yours though now you are unjustly deprived of it.
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, and 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 dare 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. This agreeable sight revived his drooping
spirits, and he redoubled his speed, and soon reached the house. A
plain–looking woman was at the door, and Jack 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 their house, for it was well
known her husband was a large and very powerful giant, and that he
would never eat anything but human flesh, if he could possibly get it;
that he did not think anything of walking fifty miles to procure it,
usually being out the whole day for that purpose.
This account greatly terrified Jack, but still he 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 good
woman at last suffered herself to be persuaded, for 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, but they appeared to be quite forsaken and desolate.
A long gallery was next. It was very dark, with 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, from 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 good woman, 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 further end of the gallery there was a spacious kitchen, and
a very excellent 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
just beginning to enjoy himself when he was aroused by a loud knocking
at the street–door, which made the whole house shake. The giant’s wife
ran to secure Jack in the oven and then went to let her husband in.