JACK AMD THE GIANTS.

J. Roberts, 4, Wood-street, Leeds.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES

Collection of

Children's Books

JACK THE CtlJkllV KEULER.

Tn the days of King Arthur, there lived in Cornwall,
a valiant son of a Blacksmith called Jack : he was of a
bold disposition, and took delight in reading of the Fair-
ies and Witches, and Giants, which at that time infested
those parts. One clay, while Jack was wandering near
the sea side, he saw a great giant named Grimgruffin-
hoff, who lived at St. Michael's Mount, carrying off the
cattle of the neighbouring farmers, to his boat that lay
in the bay. While he was gone for a fresh load, Jack
cut a hole in the bottom of his boat, and nailed a piece
of tar'd canvass over the place ; the giant coming back
very suddenly, shoved Jack into the boat, and row'd off
for the Island, but Jack was determined to destroy him ;
when they got the hind he slily tore off the canvass, the
boat sunk, and the cattle swam ashore. Jack mounted
an Ox, and reached the castle in safety, while poor old
Grim reached the bottom of the sea. Jack now sold
all the things at the castle, and returned with the
money. Having heard of a Giant named Blunderboar,
he could not rest till he had destroyed him, for which
purpose he boldly knocked at his gate, and asked for a
night's lodging. The giant said " that he was quite
welcome," and shewed him his bed, thinking what a
nice dinner he would make of him. But Jack kept

wide awake, and watched for bis coming. Jack said,
I must get out of bed, and see what is to be done. He
picked up one of the giant's clubs, and put it under

the sheets, then peeped from behind the bed. The
giant gave with his bludgeon five or six tremendous
blows at the club in the bed, which he thought to be
Jack, and then walked into his sitting room.

Early next morning Jack hastened to see the giant,
to thank him for his hospitality. When the giant saw
him he started up, and stammered out "^How did you
sleep." " Oh very well," said Jack, -''only a rat gave

me a few slaps on the face with his tail ; but I soon
went to sleep again." The giant wondered at this.
But still pretending great kindness for him, asked him
to partake of some porridge.

Now Jack, to make the giant believe that be could
eat us inucb as himself, had contrived a bag inside his
coat, so that he could, imperceived by the giant, slip
the porridge into it.

When breakfast was over, he said to the giant,
" Now, I'll show you a fine trick." So taking up a
knife, he ripped open the bag, and all it contained ran
upon the floor.

" Odds splutter bur nails !" said the Welsh giant,
who ashamed to be outdone by such a little fellow as
Jack, "hur can do that hurself;" and snatching up
the knife, he plunged it into his stomach, and instantly
dropped down dead.

Jack having destroyed this monster, travelled on in
search of new adventures, when hearing the screams of
a lady in distress, he rushed through the bushes to her
assistance, when he saw a Magician dragging her by
the air of her head into an enchanted Castle, guarded
by two fiery dragons. Jack put on his invisible coat,
(which had been given to him by a Fairy) and then
followed him past the dragons till he reached the castle
hall, where he saw a charmed horn, underneath which
\vas these words :

" He who can this trumpet blow,
Shall be preserv'd from every barm,

Sball all bis enemies o'ertbrow,
And destroy Old Magic's Cbarm.

" Well," said Jack, " I'll have a try ; so bere goes."
With tbe first breath be blew such a blast, that the
castle trembled, the Magician turned pale, and then sunk

6

into the earth. Jack then released the prisoners, and
sallied out in quest of a giant called " Brobdignag the
Bone Grinder," who lived in the same wood. As he
was passing through the wood he espied the giant
tying on the ground in the agonies of death, with a
fatal cup by his side, out of which he had been drink-
ing poisoned wine, given to him by the crafty Magician,
who wanted to get rid of his troublesome neighbour.
On seeing Jack, he tried to rise, and could not, but in
a faint voice repeated the following lines :

" Fe ! fa ! fo ! fam !
I smell the blood of an Englishman :

Be he alive, or be he dead,
I'll grind his bones to make my bread."

"Poor fellow," said Jack, "it is all up with him
and his fe fa fam, he will not grind my bones to day."
He then stepped nearer to him , and discovered by his
crown that this was the King of the giants, who at last
uttered a deep groan and expired. Jack then found some
large valuable diamonds about his crown and person,
which he took with him, intending them as a present
for the king's daughter.

Jack having heard there were other gaints in Wales,
travelled forth till he came to a castle, where one of

them named Gogmagog resided, but how to destroy
him was the next task ; at last Jack, with a pick-axe,
dug a deep hole, and covered it with boughs and
long grass : then knocking at the gate, the giant
rushed forth, but had not run far before he fell into the
pit, upon which Jack turned suddenly round, and with

one blow of his pick-axe killed the ugly monster.
After travelling some distance, and being very tired,
he went to sleep in the forest, where he was picked up
by Blood-sucker, a dreadful three-headed Giant, w 7 ho
carried him to his castle, locked the gate, and then

told him he meant to cat him up for his supper. This
was the most dangerous situation Jack had been in.
The giant now got the brandy bottle out and made
Jack fill his glass, that he might wet his appetite ; but
alas for the giant ! he took a drop too much, and his
three heads went to sleep one after the other ; ah ! says
Jack, now's my time, so stepping up to him gently, he
took his keys, set fire to the place, let himself out,
locked the gate, and then enjoyed the roasting of the
giant who would have devoured him. At last Jack
found there was but one giant left who was old, blind,
and near his death, and an easy prey : but Jack
spared his few remaining days, and let him die quietly.
He then returned to King Arthur, who made him one
of the knights of his round table, and gave him in
marriage his favourite daughter, with a fine castle,
and twenty miles of land.