THE

WONDERFUL HISTORY

OP

JACK

THE

GIANT KILLER

LONDON :
ORLANDO HODGSON, CLOTH FAIR.

x Jtybris

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES

Collection of
Children's Books

Jack killi the Giant and releases the Knight
and Lady.

The Grant pursues Jack over the Drawbridge.

HODGSON'S IMPROVED EDITION.

THK

SURPRISING HISTORY

OF

! np /&. /jpfi ^S-^P

J/ A .,0; K

THE GIANT KILLER,

RELATING HOW HE

OVERCAME SEVERAL HUGE GIAXTS,

ONE WITH TWO HEADS.

fDfs ^Harrtage tutiij Ujc Qukf'S Daughter,

AND OTHER INTERESTING EXPLOITS.

TO WHICH IS ADDKI),

THE NOBLE BASKET TtlAKER,

Embellished with Ttrclre 'Iteautiful Coloured Engraving*

ORLANDO HODGSON,

21, MAIDEN LANB, WOOD STREET.

PRICK SIXPKNC.B.

JACK
THE GIANT KILLER.

IN the reign of the famous king Arthur, there
lived near the Land's End of England, in the
county of Cornwall, a worthy farmer, who had
an only son named Jack. Jack was a boy of a
bold temper; he took pleasure in hearing or
reading stories of wizards, conjurers, giants, and
fairies ; and used to listen eagerly while his father
talked of the great deeds of the brave knights of
King Arthur's Round Table.

When Jack was sent to take care of the sheep
and oxen in the fields, he used to amuse himself
with planning battles, sieges, and the means to
conquer or surprise a foe. Me was above the
common sports of children ; but hardly any one

4 JACK THU CHANT K1LLKR.

could equal him at wrestling;; or, if he mot wit'i
a match for himself in strength, his skill and ad-
dress always made him the victor.

In those days there lived on St. Michael's
Mount of Cornwall, which rises out of the sea at
some distance from the main land, a huge giant.

He was eighteen feet high, and three yards
round ; and his fierce and savage looks were the
terror of all his neighbours.

He dwelt in a gloomy cavern on the very top of
the mountain, -and used to wade over to the main
land in search of his prey. When he came near
the people left their house?; and after he had
glutted his appetite upon their cattle, he would
throw half a dozen oxen upon his back, and tie
three times as many sheep and hogs round his
waist, and so march back to his own abode.
The giant had done this for many years, and the
coast of Cornwall was greatly hurt by his thefts,
when Jack boldly resolved to destroy him.

Jack therefore took a horn, a shovel, pick-axe,
and a oark lantern; and earlv in a long winter's
evening he swam to the mount. There he fell to
work at once; and before morning he had dug a
pit twenty-two feet deep, and almost as many
broad. He covered it at the top with sticks and
straw, and strewed some of the earth over them,
to make it look just like solid pronnd. He thc.n
put his horn to hi* mouth, and blew such a lond

JACK THE GIANT KILLER. 5

and long tantivy, that the giant awoke and came
towards Jack, roaring like thunder " You saucy
villain, you shall pay dearly for breaking my rest,
I will broil you for my breakfast."

He had hardly spoken' these words, when he
came advancing one step farther; but then he
tumbled headlong into the pit, and his fall shook
the very mountain.

"O ho, Mr. Giant!" said Jack, looking into
the pit, " have you found your way so soon to
the bottom ? How is your appetite now ? Will
nothing serve you for breakfast this cold morning
but broiling poor Jack ] "

The Giant now tried to rise ; but Jack struck
him a blow on the crown of the head with his
pick-axe, which killed him at once. Jack then
made haste back to rejoice his friends with the
news of the giant's death.

Now when the justices of Cornwall heard of
this valiant action, they sent for Jack, and de-
clared that he should always be called Jack the
Giant Killer, and they also gave him a sword
and belt, upon which was written in letters of
gold

This is the valiant Cornish man
Who slew the giant Cormoran.

JACK THE GIANT KILLER-

The news of Jack's exploit was soon spread
over the western parts of England ; and another
Giant, called Old Blunderbore, vowed to have his
revenge on Jack, if it should ever be his fortune
to get him into his power.

This Giant kept an enchanted castle in the
midst of a lonely wood. Now about four month*
after the death of Cormoran, as Jack was taking
a journey to Wales, he passed through this wood;
and as he was very weary, he sat down to rest by
the side of a pleasant fountain, and there he fell
into a deep sleep.

The Giant came to the fountain for water just
at this time, and found Jack there; and as the
lines on Jack's belt showed who he was, the
Giant lifted him up and laid him gently upon his
shoulder to carry him to his castle. Bui as he
passed through the thicket, the rustling of the
leaves waked Jack ; and he was sadly afraid when
he found himself in the clutches of Blunderbore.
Yet this was nothing to his fright soon after;
for when they reached the castle, he beheld the
floor covered all over with the skulls and bones
of men and women.

The Giant took him into a large room, where
lay the hearts and limbs of persons that had been
lately killed; and he told Jack, with a horrid grin,
that men's 'hearts, eaten with pepper and vinegar,
were his nicest food ; and also, that he thought

JACK I n K 1 A N T KILLER. 7

he should make a dainty meal on his heart.
When he had said this, he locked Jack jp in
that room, while he went to fetch another Giant
who lived in the same wood, to enjoy a dinner
off Jack's flesh with him.

While he was away, Jack heard dreadful
shrieks, groans, and cries, from many parts of
the castle ; and soon after he heard a mournful
voice repeat these li*ies

Haste, valiant stranger, haste away,
Lest you become the Giant's prey.
On his return he'll bring another
Still more savage than his brother
A horrid, cruel monster, who
Before he kills will torture you.
Oh valiant stranger! haste away,
Or you'll become these Giants' prey.

This warning was so shocking to poor Jack,
that he was ready to go mad. He ran to the
window, and saw the two Giants coming along
arm in arm. This window was right over the
gates of the castle " Now," thought Jack,
*' either my death or freedom is at hand."

Now there were two strong cords in the room,
Jack made a large noose with a slip knot at the
ends of both these, and as the giants were com-
ing through the iron gates, he threw the ropes
over theii heads. He then made the other ends
ast to a beam in the ceiling, and pulled with all
his might till he had almost strangled them. When

8 JACK THE GIANT KILLER.

he saw that they were both quite black in the
face, and had not the least strength left, he drew
his sword, and slid down the ropes ; he then killed
the giants, and thus saved himself from the cruel
death they meant to put him to. Jack next took
a great bunch of keys from the pocket of Blunder-
bore, and went into the castle again. He made a
strict search through all the rooms ; and in them
found three ladies tied up by the hair of their
heads, and almost starved to death. They told
him that their husbands had been killed by the
giants; who had then condemned them to be
starved to death, because they would ot eat the
flesh of their own dead husbands.

" Ladies," said Jack, " I have put an end to
the monster and his wicked brother ; and I give
you this castle, and all the riches that it contains,
to make you some amends for the dreadful pains
you have felL" He then very politely gaye them
the keys of the castle, and went further in his
journey to Wales.

As Jack had not taken any of the giant's riches
for himself, and so had very little money of his
own, he thought it best to travel as fast as he
could. At length he lost his way, and when night
came on he was in a lonely valley between two
lofty mountains, where he walked about for some
hours without seeing any dwelling place, so he
thought himself very lucky at last, in finding a
large and handsome house.

JACK THE GIANT KILLEIl. 9

He went up to it boldly, and knocked loudly at
the gate; when, to his great terror and surprise,
there came forth a monstrous Giant with two
heads. He spoke two Jack very civily, for he was
a Welch Giant, and all the mischief he did was
by private and secret malice, under the show of
friendship and kindness. Jack told him that he
was a traveller who had lost his way, on which
the huge monster made him welcome, and led
him into a room, where there was a good bed to
pass the night in.

Jack took off his clothes quickly ; but though
he was so weary he could not go to sleep. Soon
after this he heard the giant walking backward
and forward in the next room, and saying to
himself

** Though here you lodge with me this night,

You shall not see the morning light ;

My club shall dash your brains out quite."

"Say you so?" thought Jack; "are these
your tricks upon travellers ? But I hope to prove
as cunning as you are."

Then getting out of bed, he groped about the
room, and at last found a large thick billet of
wood ; he laid it in his own place in the bed, and
then hid himself in a dark corner of the room.

In the middle of the night the Giant came with
his great club, and struck many heavy blowg on

10

JACK THE OIAKT KILLER.

he bed, in the very f lace where Jack had laid
the billet, and then he went back to his own room
thinking he had broken all Jack's bones.

Early in the morning Jack put a bold face upon
the matter, and walked into the Giant's room to
thank him for his lodging.

The Giant started when he saw him, and he
began to stammer out " Oh, dear me ! Is it
you? Pray, how did you sleep last night? Did
you hear or see any thing in the dead of the
night?"

" Nothing worth speaking of," said Jack, care-
lessly ; " a rat, I believe, gave me three or four
slaps with his tail, and disturbed me a little ; but
I soon went to sleep again."

The Giant wondered more and more at this ;
yet he did not answer a word, but went to bring
two great bowls of hasty- pudding for their break-
fast.

Jack wanted to make the Giant believe that he
could eat as much as himself, so he contrived to
button a leathern bag inside his coat, and slipped
the hasty-pudding into this bag, while he seemed
to put it into his mouth.

When breakfast was over, he said to the
Giant "Now I will show you a fine trick; I

JACK THE GIANT K-ILLER. 11

can cure all wounds with a touch ; I could cut off
my head one minute, and the next put it sound
again on my shoulders. You shall see an ex-
ample.

He then took hold of the knife, ripped up the
leathern bag, and all the hasty-pudding tumbled
out upon the floor.

"Ods splutter hur nails," cried the Welsh
Giant, who was ashamed to be outdone by such
a little fellow as Jack, " hur can do that her-
self."

So he snatched up the knife, plunged it into
his stomach, and in a moment dropped down
dead.

As soon as Jack had thus tricked the Welsh
monster, he went further on his journey ; and a
few days after he met with king Arthur's only-
son, who had got his father's leave to travel into
Wales, to deliver a beautiful lady from the power
of a wicked magician, that held her in his en-
chantments.

When Jack found that the young prince had
no servants with him, he begged leave to attend
him ; and the prince at once agreed to this, and
gave Jack many thanks for his kindness.

The prince was a handsome, polite, and brare

12 JACK THE GIANT KILLER.

knight, and so good-natured that he gave money
to every body he met.

At length he gave his last penny to an old wo-
man, and then turned to Jack and said " How
are we to get food for ourselves the rest of our
journey ?"

" Leave that to me, sir," said Jack ; " I will
provide for my prince."

Night now came on, and the prince began to
grow uneasy at thinking where they should lodge.

" Sir," said Jack, " be of good heart ; two
miles farther (here lives a large Giant, whom I
know well ; he has three heads, and will fight five
hundred men, and make them fly before him."

"Alas!" replied the king's son, " we had better
never have been born than meet with such a
monster/'

"My lord," said Jack, "leave me to manage
him, and wait here in quiet till 1 return."

The prince now staid behind, while Jack rode
on full speed : and when he came to the gates of
the castle, he gave a loud knock.

The Giant with a voice like thunder, roared
out "Who is there?"

Jack arrives at (he Castle of the Giant with
JlireeJIeads.

Jack marries the Duke's Daughter.

JACK THE C.IANT KILLER. 13

And Jack made answer, and said " No one
but your poor cousin Jack."

"Well," said the Giant, " what news, cousin
Jack?"

" Dear uncle," said Jack, " I have heavy
news."

" Pooh ! " said the Giant, " what heavy news
can come to me? I am a Giant with three heads;
and can fight five hundred men, and make them
fly before me."

"Alas ! " said Jack, " here is the king's son
coming with two thousand men, to kill you, and
to destroy the castle and all that you have."

"Oh, cousin Jack," said the Giant, " this is
heavy news indeed ! But I have a large cellar
under ground, where I will hide myself, and you
shall lock, bolt, and bar me in, and keep the keys
till the king's son is gone."

Now when Jack had made the Giant fast in the
vault, he went back and fetched the prince to the
castle; and they both made themselves mtrry
with the wine and other dainties that were in the
house. So that night they rested very pleasantly,
while the poor Giant lay trembling and shaking
with fear in the cellar under ground.

Early in the morning, Jack gave the king's SOD

14 JACK THE GIANT KILLER.

gold and silver out of the Giant's treasure, and
set him three miles forward on his journey.

He then went back to let his uncle out of the
hole, who asked Jack what he should give him as
a reward for saving of his castle.

" Why, good uncle," said Jack, " I desire no-
thing but the old coat and cap, with the old rus-
ty sword and slippers, that are hanging at your
bed's head."

Then said the Giant " You shall have them,
and pray keep them for my sake, for they are
things of great use : the coat will keep you invi-
sible, the cap will give you knowledge, the sword
cut through any thing, and the shoes are of vast
swiftness ; these may be useful to you in all times
of danger, so take them with all my heart."

Jack gave many thanks to the Giant, and then
set off to the prince. When he had come up with
the king's son, they soon arrived at the dwelling
of the beautiful lady, who was under the power
of a wicked magician. She received the prince
very politely, and made a noble feast for him ; and
when it was ended, she rose, and wiping her
mouth with a fine handkerchief, said "My lord,
you must submit to the custom of my palace; to-
morrow morning I command you to tell me on
whom I bestow this handkerchief, or lose your
head." She then went out of the room.

JACK THE GIANT KILLER )5

The young prince went to bed very mournful :
but Jack put on his cap of knowledge, which told
him that the lady was forced, by the power of
enchantment, to meet the wicked magician every
night in the middle of the forest. Jack now put
on his coat of darkness, and his shoes of swift-
ness, and was there before her. When the lady
came, she gave the handkerchief to the magician.
Jack with his sword of sharpness, at one blow,
cut off his head; the enchantment was then
ended in a moment, and the lady was restored to
her former virtue and goodness.

She was married to the prince on the next day,
and soon after went back with her royal husband,,
and a great company, to the court of King
Arthur, where they were received with loud and
joyful welcomes ; and the valiant hero Jack, for
the many great exploits he had done for the good
of his country, was made one of the Knights of
the Round Table.

As Jack had been so lucky in all his adven-
tures, he resolved not to be idle for the future,
but still to do what services he could for the ho-
nour of the king and the nation. He therefore
humbly begged his majesty to furnish him with a
horse and money, that he might travel in search
of new and strange exploits." For," 1 said he to
the king, " there are many Giants yet living in
the remote parts of Wales, to the great terror
and distress of your majesty's subjects ; therefore

16 JACK THE GIANT KILLER.

if it please you, sire, to favour me in my design,
I will soon rid your kingdom of these giants and
monsters in human shape."

Now when the king heard this offer, and began
to think of the cruel deeds of these blood thirsty
giants and savage monsters, he gave Jack every
thing proper for such a journey.

After this Jack took leave of the king, the
prince, and all the knights, and set off'; taking
with him his cap of knowledge, his sword of
sharpness, his shoes of swiftness, and his invisible
coat, the better to perform the great exploits that
might fall in his way.

He went along over high hills and lofty moun-
tains, and on the third day he came to a large
wide* forest, through which his road led. He
had hardly entered the forest, when on a sudden
he heard very dreadful shrieks and cries He for-
ced his way through the trees, and saw a mon-
strous Giant dragging along by the hair of their
heads a handsome knight and his beautiful lady.
Their tears and cries melted the heart of honest
Jack to pity and compassion : he alighted from
his horse, and tying him to an oak tree, put on
his invisible coat, under which he carried his
sword of sharpness.

When he came up to the Giant, he mado seve-
ral strokes at him, but could not reach his body,

JACK THE GIANT KILLER. 17

on account of the enormous height of the terrible
creature ; but he wounded his thighs in several
places, and, at length, putting both hands to his
sword, and aiming with all his might, he cut off
both the Giant's legs just below the garter ; and
the trunk of his body tumbling to the ground,
made not only the trees shake, but the earth
itself tremble with the force of his fall.

Then Jack, setting his foot upon his neck, ex-
claimed " Thou barbarous and savage wretch,
behold 1 am come to execute upon thee the just
reward for all thy crimes ;" and instantly plunged
his sword into the Giant's body. The huge mon-
ster gave a hideous groan, and yielded up his life
into the hands of the victorious Jack the Giant
Killer, whilst the noble knight and the virtuous
lady were both joyful spectators of his sudden
death and their deliverance.

The courteous knight and his fair lady, not only
returned Jack hearty thanks for their deliverance
but also invited him to their house, to refresh
himself after his dreadful encounter, as likewise
to receive a reward for his good services.

" No," said Jack, " I cannot be at ease till I
find out the den that was this monster's habita-
tion."

The knight hearing this grew sorrowful, and
replied '* Noble stranger, it i<s too much to run

18 JACK THE GIANT KILLIiR.

a second hazard; this monster lived in a den, un-
der yonder mountain, with a brother of his, more
hcrce and cruel than himself; therefore, if you
should go thither, and perish in the attempt, it
would be a heart-breaking thing to both me and
my lady : so let me persuade you to go with us
and desist from any farther pursuit."

" Nay," answered Jack, " if there be another,
even if there were twenty, I would shed the last
drop of blood in my body before one of them
should escape my fury. When I have finished
this task, I will come and pay my respects to
you."

So when they had told him where to find them
again, he got on his horse and went after the
dead Giant's brother.

Jack had not rode a mile and a half, before he
came in sight of the mouth of the cavern ; and
nigh the entrance of it he saw the other Giant
sitting on a huge block of fine timber, with a
knotted iron club lying by his side, waiting for
his brother. His eyes looked like flames of fire,
his face was grim and ugly, and his cheeks seemed
like two flitches of bacon ; the bristles of his beard
seemed to be thick rods of iron wire ; and his long
Jocks of hair hung down upon his broad shoulders
like curling snakes.

Jack got down from his horse, and turned him

JACK I'll* GIAXT KILLER. 1 <*

into a thicket; then he put on his coat of dark-
ness, and drew a little nearer to behold this figure,
and said softly " Oh monster ! are you there?
It will not be long before I shall take you fast
by the beard."

The Giant, all this while, could'not see him,
by reason of his invisible coat : so Jack came quite
close to him, and struck a blow at his head with
his sword of sharpness, but he missed his aim,
and only cut off his nose, who then roared like
loud claps of thunder. And though he rolled
his glaring eyes round on every side, he could not
see who had given him the blow ; yet he took up
his iron club, and began to lay about him like
one that was mad with pain and fury.

" Nay/' said Jack, " if this is the case I will
kill you at once." So he slipped nimbly behind
him, and jumping upon the block of timber, as
the Giant rose from it, he stabbed him in the
back ; when after a few howls he dropped down
dead.

Jack cut off his head, and sent it with the head
of his brother, whom he had killed before in the
forest to king Arthur, by a waggon which he
hired for that purpose, with an account of all his
exploits. When Jack had thus killed these two
monsters, he went into their cave in search of
their treasure : he passed through many turnings
and windings, which led him to a room paved

20 ACK THE GIANT KILL Ell.

with freestone; at the end of it was a boiling
cauldron, and on the right hand stood a large
table where the Giants used to dine.

He then came to a window that was secured
with iron bars, through which he saw a number
of wretched captives, who cried out when they
saw Jack "Alas ! alas! young man, you arc come
to be one among us in this horrid den ?"

" I hope," said Jack, " you will not stay here
long; but pray tell me what is the meaning of
your being here at all?''

"Alas! 1 * said one poor old man, "I will tell
you, sir. We are persons that have been taken
by the Giants that hold this cave, and are kept till
they chose to have a feast, then one of us is to be
killed, and cooked to please their taste. It is not
long since they took three for the same purpose."

'* Well," said Jack, " I have given them such
a dinner, that it will be long enough before they
have any more." The captives were amazed at
his words. " You may believe me," said Jack ;
" for I have killed them both with the edge of
the sword, and have sent their large heads to the
court of king Arthur, as marks of my great suc-
cess." To show them that what he said was
true, he unlocked the gate, and set them all free.
Then he led them to the great room, placed them
round the table, and set before them two quarters
of beef, with bread and wine; upon which they
feasted to their fill.

When supper was over, iney searched the

JACK THE GIANT KILLER. 21

Giant's coffers: and Jack shared the store in
them among the captires, who thanked him for
their escape. The next morning- they get off to
their own homes, and Jack to the knight's house,
whom he had left with his lady not long before.

It was just at the time of sun rise that Jack
mounted his horse to proceed on his journey. He
arrived at the knight's house, where he was
received with the greatest joy, by the thankful
knight and his lady, who, in honour of Jack's ex-
ploits, gave a grand feast, to which all the nobles
and gentry were invited.

When the company were assembled, the knight
declared to them the great actions of Jack, and
gave him, as a mark of respect, a fine ring, on
which was engraved the picture of the Giant
dragging the knight and the lady by the hair,
with this motto round it

Behold in dire distress were we,
Under a Giant's fierce command ;

But gain'd our lives and liberty,

From yaliant Jack's victorious hand.

Among the guests then present were five aged
gentlemen, who were fathers to some of those
captives who had been freed by Jack from the
dungeon of the Giants. As soon as they heard
that he was the person who had don<. such won-
ders, they pressed round him with tears* of joy, to
return him thanks for the happiness he had caused
to tli -

22 JACK THE GIANT KILLER.

After this the bowl went round, and every one
drank to the health and long life of the gallant
hero. Mirth increased, and the hall was filled
with peals of laughter and joyful cries.

But, on a sudden, a herald pale and breathless,
with haste and terror, rushed into the midst of
the company, and told them that Thundel, a sa-
vage Giant with two heads, had heard of the death
of his two kinsmen, and was come to take his re-
venge on Jack ; and that he was now within a
mile of the house ; the people all flying before
him, like chaff before the wind.

At this news the very boldest of the guests
trembled, but Jack drew his sword and said
" Let him come, J have a rod for him also. Pray,
ladies and gentlemen, do me the favour to walk
into the garden, and you shall soon behold the
Giant's defeat and death." To this they all
agreed, and heaitily wished him success in his
dangerous attempt.

The knight's house stood in the middle of a
moat, thirty feet deep and twenty wide, over
which lay a drawbridge. Jack set men to work,
to cut the bridge on both sides, almost to the
middle; and then dressed himself in his coat of
darkness, and went against the Giant with his
sword of sharpness. As he came close to him,
though the Giant could not see him, for his invi-

JACK T11F. GIANT KILLEli. 23

sinlecoat; yet he found some danger was near,
which made him cry out

"Fa, fe, fi, fo, fum,
T smell the blood of an Englishman;
Let him be alive, or let him be dead,
I'll grind his bones to make me bread."

" Say you so my friend ?" said Jack, " you are
a monstrous miller indeed."

"Art thou," cried the Giant, " the villain that
killed my kinsman? Then I will tear thee with
my teeth, and grind thy bones to powder."

" You must catch me first," said Jack ; and
throwing off his coat of darkness, and putting on
his shoes of swiftness, he began to run ; the Gi-
ant following him like a walking castle, making
the earth shake at every step.

Jack led him round and round the walls of the
house, that the company might see the monster;
and to finish the work Jack ran over the draw-
bridge, the Giant going after him with his club.

But when the Giant came to the middle, where
the bridge had been cut on both sides, the great
weight of his body made it break, and he tumbled
into the water, and rolled about like a large whale.

Jack now stood by the side of the moat, and
laughed and jeered at him, saying " I think you
told me, you would grind my bones to powder :
when shall you begin ?"

24 JACK THE GIANT KILLER.

The Giant foamed at both his horrid mouths
with fury, and plunged from side to side of the
moat ; but he could not get out to have revenge
upon his little foe.

At last Jack ordered a cart-rope to be brought
to him. He then threw it over his two heads,
and by the help of a team of horses, dragged him
to the edge of the moat, where he cut off the
monster's heads; and before he either ate or
drank, he sent them both to the court of king
Arthur He then went back to the table with
the rest of the company, and the rest of the day
was spent in mirth and good cheer.

After staying with the knight for some time,
Jack grew weary of such an idle life, and set out
again in search of mew adventures. He went over
hills and dales without meeting any, till he came
to the foot of a very high mountain. Here he
knocked at the door of a small and lonely house ;
and an old man, with a head as white as snow,
let him in.

" Good father," said Jack, " can you lodge a
traveller who has lost his way ?"

" Yes," said the hermit, " I can, if you will ac-
cept such fare as my poor house affords."

Jack entered, and the old man set before him
some bread and fruit for his supper.

"When Jack had eaten as much as he chose, the

JACK THE GIANT KILLER. 25

hermit said '* My son, I know you are the
famous conqueror of Giants ; now, on the top of
this mountain is an enchanted castle, kept by a
Giant named Galligantus, who, by the help of a
vile magician, gets many knights into his castle,
where he changes them into the shape of beasts.
Above all I lament the hard fate of a duke's
daughter, whom they seized as she was walking
in her father's garden, and brought hither through
the air in a chariot drawn by two fiery dragons,
and turned her into the shape of a deer. Many
knights have tried to destroy the enchantment,
and deliver her; yet none have been able to do
it, by reason of two fiery griffins, who guard the
gate of the castle, and destroy all who come nigh
But as you, my son, have an invisible coat, you
may pass by them without being seen ; and on the
gates of the castle you will find engraved, by what
means the enchantment may be broken."

Jack promised, that in the morning, at the risk
of his life, he would break the enchantment : and
after a sound sleep he arose early, put on his in-
visible coat, and got ready for the attempt.

When he had climbed to the top of the moun-
tain, he saw two fiery griffins; but he passed be-
tween them without the least fear of danger ; for
they could not see him because of his invisible
coat. On the castle-gate he found a golden
trumpet, under which were written these lines
" Whoever can this trumpet blow,
Shall (uu-c liie Gtuiit'a u\<riilnow."

26 JACK THE GIANT KILLER.

As soon as Jack had read this, he seized the
trumpet, and blew a shrill blast ; which made the
gates fly open, and the very castle itself tremble.

The giant and the conjurer now knew that their
wicked course was at an end, and they stood bi-
ting their thumbs and shaking with fear. Jack,
with his sword of sharpness, soon killed the giant:
and the magician was then carried away by a
whirlwind; and every knight and beautifrl lady,
who had been changed into birds and beasts, re-
turned to their proper shapes. The castle vanish-
ed away like smoke ; and the head of the giant
Galligantus was then sent to king Arthur.

The knights and ladies rested that Anight a*
the old man's hermitage, and next day they set
out for the court. Jack then went up to the
king, and gave his majesty an account of all his
fierce battles.

Jack's fame had now spread through the whole
country; and at the king's desire, the duke gave
hin&his daughter in marriage, to the joy of all
the kingdom. After this the king gave him a
large estate ; on which he and his lady lived the
rest of their days, in joy and content.

End of Jack the Giant Killer,

THE

NOBLE
BASKET MAKER.

THE Germans of rank and fortune, were for-
merly remarkable for the custom of having their
sons instructed in some mechanical business, by
which they might be habituated to a spirit of in-
dustry ; secured from the miseries of idleness;
and qualified, in case of necessity to support
themselves and their families. A striking proof
of the utility of this custom, occurs in the fol-
lowing narrative.

A young German nobleman of great merit and
talents, paid his addresses to an accomplished
young lady of the Palatinate ; and applied to
her father for his consent to marry her.

The old nobleman, amongst other observations,
asked him, " how he expected to maintain his
daughter?" The young man surprised at this
question, observed, " that his possessions were
known to be ample, and as secure as the honours
of his family." " All this is very true," replied
the father: "but you well know, that our
country has suffered much from wars and devas-

28 THE BASKET MAKER.

tation ; and that new events of this nature may
sweep away all our estate, and render you too
destitute. To keep you no longer in suspence,
(continued the father with great politeness and
affection,) I have seriously resolved never to
marry my daughter to any person who, what-
ever may be his honours or property, does not
possess some mechanical art, by which he may
oe able to support her in case of unforeseen
events.

The young nobleman, deeply affected with his
determination, was silent for a few minutes ;
when, recovering himself, he declared, " that
he believed his happiness so much depended on
the proposed union, that no difficulty or submis-
sion, consistent with his honour, should prevent
him from endeavouring to accomplish it. He
begged to know whether he might be allowed
six months to acquire a knowledge of some
manual art. The father, pleased with the young
man's resolution and affection for his daughter,
consented to the proposal ; and pledged his
honour that the marriage should take place, if,
at the expiration of the time limited, he should
succeed in his undertaking:.

Animated by the tfnderest regard, and by a
high sense of the happiness he hoped to enjoy,
he went immediately to Flanders, engaged him-
self to a white twig basket-maker, and applied
every power of ingenuity and industry to become
skilled in the business. He soon obtained a
complete knowledge of the art; and, before the
expiration of the un:e proposed, returned and

THE BASKET MAKER.

brought with him, as a specimen of his skill,
several baskets adapted to fruit, flowers, and
needle-work. These were presented to the young
lady ; and universally admired for the delicacy
and perfection of the workmanship. Nothing
now remained to prove the noble youth's wishes:
and the marriage was solemnized to the satisfac-
tion of all parties.

The young couple lived several years in afflu-
ence ; seemed, by their virtues and moderation,
to have secured the favours of fortune. But the
ravages of war, at length, extended themselves
to the Palatinate. Both families were driven
from their country, their estates forfeited ; and
now opens a most interesting scene. The young
nobleman commenced his trade of basket-making;
and by his superior skill in the art, soon com-
manded extensive business. For many years he
liberally supported not only his own family, but
also that of the good old nobleman, his father-
in-law; and enjoyed the high satisfaction of con-
tributing, by his own industry, to the happiness
of connections doubly endeared to him by their
misfortunes : and who other vise would have sunk
into the miseries of neglect and indigence, sharp-
ened by the remembrance of better days.

THK

BASKET MAKELl

IN the midst of that vast ocean, commonly
called the South Sea, lie the islands of Solomon.
In the centre of these lies one not only distant
from the rest, which are immensely scattered
round ft, but also larger beyond proportion. An
ancestor of the prince, who now reigns absolute
in tbir central island, has, through a long de-
scent i>, ages, entailed the name of Solomon's
Islands on the whole, by the effect of that wis-
dom wherewith he polished the manners of his
people.

A descendant of one of the great men of this
happy island, becoming a gentleman tc so im-
proved a degree as to despise the good qualities
which had originally ennobled his familj, thought
of nothing but how to support and distinguish
his dignit) by the pride of an ignorant mind, and
a disposition abandoned to pleasure. He had a
house on the sea-side, where he spent great part
of his time in hunting and fishing; but found
himself at a loss in pursuit of those important
diversions, by means of a long slip of marsh land,
overgrown with high reeds that lay between his

THE BASKF.T MAKER 31

house and the sea. Resolving, at length, that
it became not a man of his quality to submit to
a restraint in his pleasures, for the ease or con-
venience of an obstinate mechanic ; and having
often endeavoured in vain, to buy out the owner,
who was an honest poor basket-maker, and
whose livelihood depended on working up the
flags of those reeds, in a manner peculiar to
himself, the gentleman took advantage of a very
high wind, and commanded his servants to burn
down the barrier. The basket-maker, who saw
himself undone, complained of the oppression,
in terms, more suited to his sense of the injury,
than the respect due to the rank of the offender:
the reward this imprudence procured him, was
the additional injustice of blows and reproaches
and all kinds of insult and indignity. There was
but one way to a remedy, and he took it. For
going to the capital, with the marks of his hard
usage upon him, he threw himself at the feet of
the king, and procured a citation for his oppres-
sor's appearance ; who confessing the charge,
proceeded to justify his behaviour by the pooi
unrnindfulness of the submission due from the
vulgar to gentlemen of rank and distinction.

But pray, replied the king, what distinction
of rank had the grandfather of your father, when,
being a cleaver of wood in the palace of my an-
cestors, he was raised from among those vulgar
you speak of with ^o much contempt, in reward
for an instance he gave of his courage and loyalty
in defence of his master ? Yet his distinction was
nobler than yours ; it was the distinction of soul,

32 THE BASKET MAKER

not of birth; the superiority of worth, not of
fortune ! I am sorry I have a gentleman in my
kingdom, who is base enough to be ignorant that
ease and distinction of fortune were bestowed on
him but to this end, that, being at rest from all
cares of providing for himself he might apply his
heart, head, and hand, for the advantage of
others,

Here the king, discontinuing his speech, fixed
an eye of indignation on a sullen resentment of
mein which he observed in the haughty offender,
who muttered out his dislike of the encouragement
this way of thinking must give to the commonalty,
who, he said, were to be considered as persons
of no consequence, in comparison of men who
were born to be honoured.

" Where reflection is wanting," replied the
king, with a smile of disdain, " men must find
their defects in the pain of their suffering,
" Yanhuma." added he, turning to a captain of
gallies, " strip the injured and the injurer ; and,
conveying them to one of the most barbarous
and remote islands, set them ashore in the night,
and leave them both to their fortune."

The place in which they were landed, was a
marsh under cover of their flags ; the gentleman
was in hopes of concealing himself and giving
the slip to his companion, whom he thought it
a disgrace to be with : but the lights in the gal-
ley having given the alarm to the savages, a
considerable body of them came down, and
discovered in the morning, the two strangers m
their hiding place. Setting up a dismal yel^

THE BASKET MAKER. 3'J

they surrounded them ; and advancing nearer
and nearer with a kind of clubs, see.ned de-
termined to dispatch them, without sense of hos-
pitality or mercy.

Here the gentleman began to discover that the
superiority of his blood was imaginary; for, be-
tween the consciousness of shame and cold,
under the nakedness he had never been used to;
a fear of the event from the fierceness of the
savages approach ; and the want of an idea
whereby to soften or divert their asperity, he- fell
behind the poor sharer of his calamity, and with
an unsinewed, apprehensive, unmanly sneaking-
ness of mien, gave up the post of honour, and
made a leader of the man whom he had thought
it a cfisgrace to consider as his companion.

The basket-maker, on the contrary, to whom
the poverty of his condition had made nakedness
habitual ; to whom a life of pain and mortifica-
tion represented death as not dreadful ; and
whose remembrance of his skill in arts, of which
these savages were ignorant, gave him hopes of
becoming safe, from demonstrating that he should
be useful ; moved with bolder and more freedom,
and having plucked a handful of the flags, sat
down without emotion, and making signs that
he would show them something worthy of their
attention, fell to work with smiles and nodding ;
while the savages drew near, and gazed with ex-
pectation of the consequence. It was not long
before he had wreathed a kind of coronet of
pretty workmanship ; and rising with respect and
feaifoJftes*, approached the savage that appeared

34 THE BASKtT MAKER.

the chief, and placed it gently on his head ;
whose figure, under this new ornament, so
charmed and struck his followers, that they all
threw down their clubs, and formed a dance of
welcome and congratulation round the author of
so prized a favour. Erery one of them shewed
marks of his impatience to be made as fine as
the captain ; so the poor basket-maker had his
hands full of employment. And the savages,
observing one quite idle, while the other was so
busy in their service, took up arms in behalf of
natural justice, and began to lay on arguments
in favour ot their purpose.

The basket-maker's pity effaced the remem-
brance of his sufferings ; so he arose and rescued
his oppressor, by making signs that he was ig-
norant of the art; but might, if they thought fit,
be usefully employed in waiting on the work,
and fetching flags to his supply, as fast as he
should want them.

This proposition luckily fell in with a desire
the savages expressed to keep themselves at
leisure, that they might crowd round, and mark
the progress of a work they took such pleasure
in. They left the gentleman therefore to his
duty in the basket-maker's service; and consider-
ed him, from that time forward, as one who was
and ought to be treated as inferior to their bene-
factor. Men, women, and children, from all
corners of the island, came in droves for coro-
nets ; and setting the gentleman to work to ga-
ther bows and poles made a fine hut to lodge
the basket-maker ; and brought down daily from

THE BASKET MAKER. 35

the country such provisions as they lived upon
themselves, taking care to offer the imagined
servant nothing till his master had done eating.
Three months reflection in this mortified con-
dition, gave a new ad just turn to our gentle-
man's improved ideas ; insomuch that, lying
weeping and awake one night, he thus confessed
his sentiments in favour of the basket-maker.
I have been to blame, and wanted judgment to
distinguish between accident and excellence.
When I should have measured nature, I but
looked to vanity. The preference which fortune
gives, is empty and imaginary ; and I perceive
too late, that only things of use are naturally
honorable. I am ashamed, when I compare my
malice, to remember your humanity : but if the
gods should please to call me to a repossession
of my rank and happiness, I would divide all
with you in atonement for my justly punished
arrogance. He promised, and performed his
promise ; for the king, soon after, sent the cap-
tain, who had landed them, with presents to the
savages ; and ordered him to bring both back
again. And it continues to this day a custom ia
that island, to degrade all gentlemen who cannot
give a better reason for their pride, than that
they were burn to do nothing ; and the word for
this due punishment is, " Send him to the bas-
ket-maker."

END OF THE BASKET-MAKER.