Jack and the Beanstalk

Once there was a poor boy named Jack who lived with his mother in a little cottage. One day, his mother said sadly, "Jack, we have no money left. Take our cow to the market and sell her." On the way, Jack met a funny old man who said, "I will give you five magic beans for your cow!" Jack thought the beans were wonderful and traded at once. His mother was very angry. "Silly boy!" she cried, and threw the beans out of the window.

The Magic Beanstalk

The next morning, Jack woke up and could not believe his eyes. A giant beanstalk had grown right up into the sky! "Fee-fi-fo-fum!" he laughed, and began to climb. He climbed and climbed until he reached the top, where he found a huge castle. Jack knocked on the enormous door, and a giant's wife opened it. "Shh!" she whispered. "My husband is a hungry giant. Hide in the oven, quick!"

Soon the giant came home, shouting, "Fee-fi-fo-fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman!" But his wife calmed him, and after dinner the giant counted his gold coins. "I am tired," he yawned, and fell fast asleep. Jack crept out, grabbed a bag of gold coins, and climbed down the beanstalk as fast as he could. His mother was delighted, and they were rich at last.

The Giant's Treasures

Jack climbed the beanstalk twice more. The second time, he brought home a hen that laid golden eggs. The third time, he took a golden harp that played sweet music by itself. But this time the harp cried out, "Master! Master!" The giant woke up and chased Jack down the beanstalk, roaring. "Mother! Bring the axe!" shouted Jack. He chopped and chopped until the beanstalk crashed down — and the giant tumbled with it, never to bother anyone again.

Jack and his mother lived happily ever after with the golden hen and all the gold. Jack had learned to be brave, but also to be careful, and he never climbed another beanstalk again.

The Hen That Laid Golden Eggs

After the first trip, Jack and his mother were no longer hungry, but Jack's mother still worried. "Gold coins do not last forever, my boy," she said. So Jack climbed the beanstalk again. This time he found a wonderful hen sitting on the giant's table. "Lay!" commanded the giant, and the hen laid a shiny golden egg. When the giant snored, Jack tucked the hen under his arm and climbed down as quietly as a mouse.

The golden hen changed everything. Every morning she laid a golden egg, and Jack sold the eggs at the market. His mother bought warm bread, a soft new blanket, and even a little bell for the cottage door. "You are a good son, Jack," she said, hugging him. But Jack could not stop thinking about the beautiful golden harp he had heard playing in the giant's castle, and one day he climbed the beanstalk a third time.

Moral of the Story

Be brave and clever in hard times, but remember that taking what is not yours is wrong — honesty keeps you truly rich.