Hello dear one,
My name is Jessica Amos,
But you can call me Jessa.
Tonight I will be reading you the story of Jack and the Beanstalk.
But first,
Let's settle down.
Make yourself comfortable,
Close your eyes,
And take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Let your mind draw pictures of this story as I read you these words.
Jack and the Beanstalk Once upon a time,
A widow and her son Jack lived in a cottage at the edge of a forest.
They were very poor,
And Jack,
Who was a bright lad,
Could have been more helpful to his mother.
But because she expected little of him,
Little is what she got.
They were so poor that all they had to live on was the milk from their faithful old cow Bossy.
But then the day came when Bossy could give no more milk.
Now what,
Cried the poor woman,
Without that milk we shall surely starve.
I guess the only thing left to do is for me to take Bossy to the market and see if I can sell her,
Said Jack.
Jack's mother disagreed.
She knew the boy had never bartered in the marketplace before,
And she feared he'd be unable to get a good price.
Jack knew,
However,
That they had no other choice,
And soon she agreed to let him go.
Just make sure you get a good price,
Jack,
She called after him as he led the cow toward town.
She's all we have.
Jack hadn't traveled very far when he came upon a peddler resting by the roadside.
The man asked the boy where he was bound with the old cow.
When Jack explained he was off to the market to fetch the best price he could get for her,
The peddler smiled.
He pulled a small bag from his pocket and said,
I have the best price right here,
Laddie.
Beans.
Magic beans.
Beans for a cow?
Jack laughed,
But as he turned to go,
The peddler poured the beans from the bag into his other hand.
They were large,
Polished smooth,
And richly colored.
Magic beans,
The peddler smiled and held them out to Jack.
Something about those beans caught his eye and drew him closer,
And he wanted them more than he had ever wanted any other thing in his whole life.
In moments,
The trade was made,
And Jack was walking away,
Clutching the bag of beans.
Be careful,
Jack,
The peddler called after him.
Remember,
Those aren't just any old beans.
Those are magic beans.
But the boy didn't hear him.
He was already hurrying home,
Eager to show his mother the good bargain he had made.
You what?
The poor woman sobbed as Jack repeated once more that he had traded their cow for a handful of beans.
But they're magic,
Jack said,
Offering them to her in his outstretched hand.
Oh,
She cried in disgust.
Get those things away from me.
As she slapped his hand away,
The beans flew through the open window and out into the garden.
Feeling foolish and ashamed,
Jack went to bed that night without any supper.
As usual,
He was awakened early the next morning by his growling stomach.
But this morning was different.
His bedroom was unusually dark.
Something big had grown up overnight outside his window and was now blocking the sunlight.
It's the beans,
Jack exclaimed,
And he raced outside into the garden.
From there,
He found a huge bean plant as big around as a tree trunk,
Twisting up out of the flower bed.
It grew like a winding ladder,
Higher than their cottage and higher than the treetops,
Up and up until it disappeared into the clouds.
In a twinkling,
Jack began climbing the giant beanstalk.
Hand over hand,
He climbed,
Scrambling higher and higher into the sky.
He climbed all that day until at last he found himself in the clouds.
He was tired but pressed on,
Hoping to see what lay ahead.
He emerged from the cloud bank to find that he had reached the beanstalk's end.
All around him,
Far as he could see,
Rocks and hills seemed to float in a sea of clouds.
Far in the distance,
A castle rose out of the mist.
Suddenly,
Jack's stomach grumbled to remind him of just how empty it was.
Hoping he might beg a meal at the castle,
He leapt to a nearby rock and struck out for the distant palace.
When at last Jack came to the castle steps,
He had to stretch on tiptoe to reach a huge,
Rusty knocker that hung from the heavy door.
He could barely lift it before letting it fall,
And a loud clang followed that echoed through the halls within.
Soon the door opened and a very tall woman squinted down at him.
My eyes aren't what they used to be,
She said,
But you're not from around here,
Are you?
Jack shook his head.
I didn't think so,
Because my husband is a horrible ogre who has eaten every human being for 50 miles,
She said,
So you better scat if you know what's good for you.
If only I could,
Ma'am,
Jack feebly replied,
But I'm so tired and hungry I'm afraid I'm going to faint.
And with that,
The poor boy's knees buckled and he began to sink onto the steps.
Oh,
All right,
She said,
Taking pity on him.
You can come in,
But just long enough to eat a bowl of porridge.
My husband is due home any time now,
And if he catches you here,
It will be the devil to pay for both of us.
The ogre's wife led Jack down a winding stone corridor and into a large kitchen.
A huge black cauldron full of porridge simmered over the fire.
The woman told Jack to sit down on the hearth while she filled a bowl for him.
This she gave him,
Along with a hunk of fresh bread and a cup full of milk.
Food had never tasted so good,
And Jack ate heartily,
Despite the strange surroundings.
Just as he finished the last bite,
Thunderous sounds shook the castle.
That's my husband,
The woman gasped,
Quick,
The cupboard!
She cried,
And as Jack leapt into the cupboard,
She closed the door behind him,
Then tossed his bowl,
Cup,
And spoon into the soapy water in the dish tub.
Luckily,
The cupboard door didn't close completely,
So Jack held his breath and peeked out.
A second later,
The biggest two-legged creature the boy had ever seen lumbered into the kitchen.
The giant threw a huge wooden club and a cloth sack bulging with stolen booty into the corner.
Then he turned and sniffed the air.
Fee,
Fie,
Foe,
Fum,
I smell the blood of an Englishman,
He roared.
Bah,
Said his wife,
Waving her hand,
You're always smelling things.
Why you probably stepped in something.
Did you wipe your feet,
She asked,
Pointing at his big dirty shoes.
The ogre gave a defiant snort,
But then looked first at the bottom of one shoe,
And then at the other.
Whoa,
He grumbled as he flopped into a huge chair,
I did smell something.
Immediately the woman began placing food on the table before her ogre of a husband.
Amazed,
Jack watched as the giant devoured bowlful after bowlful of steaming porridge,
Never stopping until the huge cauldron was empty and every one of the heaping plates was bare.
As the poor woman began to clear away the dirty dishes,
The ogre roared,
Wife,
Fetch my hen.
Soon a pretty hen was strutting around the tabletop,
And as the ogre stroked her soft feathers,
She clucked and cooed with delight.
Now my pretty hen,
Lay me an egg,
The ogre commanded.
And sure enough,
After a few squawks and clucks,
The hen produced an egg,
A beautiful golden egg.
Even though the giant laughed with glee,
His guffaws soon turned to yawns and his head began to nod.
Before long he was snoring in his chair.
When Jack realized the giant was asleep,
He wasted no time in creeping quietly from his hiding place.
As he tiptoed past the table and heard the ogre's snores and the hen's soft clucking,
The temptation was just too much.
Within seconds,
Jack had climbed onto the table and quickly,
But gently,
Grabbed the hen.
A moment later,
He was running down the stone corridor as the big castle door closed behind him.
The ogre's snores faded and Jack disappeared into the night.
It was nearly daybreak when Jack and the hen reached the top of the beanstalk.
Fearful that the ogre would awaken and discover his missing pet,
Jack dared not slow his pace and he scurried down as fast as he could.
He never paused,
Not even when invited to breakfast by a friendly crow and hungry squirrel who were preparing to dine on one of the stalk's giant green beans.
By mid-morning,
Jack was presenting his mother with his wondrous prize.
She was delighted and for months they lived very well on the money they made selling the little hen's golden eggs.
Even so,
Jack couldn't help thinking about another adventure on the beanstalk.
When he told his mother his thoughts,
She discouraged him.
Why should we go looking for trouble,
Especially now that they had this wonderful hen?
And one day,
The hen didn't lay her usual egg.
And one day became two days,
And then three.
Frightened that the golden eggs could stop the same way Bossy's milk had,
Jack's mother soon changed her mind and the next morning the boy was making another climb up the beanstalk.
For weeks,
Jack had been thinking about a return visit to the ogre's castle.
Jack feared that his wife had poor eyesight,
So Jack hoped that if he wore a disguise and changed his voice,
She might not recognize him.
So once again,
After making his way to the front door of the castle,
He lifted the heavy knocker and once again,
The ogre's wife stood squinting down at him.
Haven't I seen you before?
She asked.
I don't believe I've had the pleasure of being introduced,
Ma'am,
The boy answered in a deep voice as he bowed slightly and smiled.
My name is Jack.
Hmm,
Maybe not,
She said,
Sizing him up.
That other little beggar was smaller and scrawnier,
I think.
I'm no beggar,
Madame,
Said Jack,
But just a weary traveler who would appreciate a place to rest and perhaps a crust of bread.
Well,
Said the woman taking pity on him,
Maybe just a crust of bread.
Opening the door wider,
She let Jack in.
But beware,
My husband is an ogre and if he catches you here,
You'll find yourself roasting over the kitchen fire.
And mind,
You'd better not steal from him like that last little thief.
Jack nodded and followed her into the kitchen.
All was as it had been before,
Except this time it was a hearty stew that simmered in the cauldron.
The woman gave him a bowlful and then continued her dinner preparations.
Once again,
Jack had just finished his last bite of food when the thunderous arrival of the ogre was heard.
This time,
However,
The woman pointed Jack to the oven,
Where he climbed inside and hid.
No sooner had this been done than the ogre stormed into the room.
As with the cupboard,
His new hiding place gave Jack a great view.
He could peek out through a gap in the oven door.
Fee,
Fie,
Foe,
Fum,
I smell the blood of an Englishman,
Roared the ogre.
There you go again,
Said his wife.
That's the third time this week you've smelled something.
Well,
I've just spent the whole day cleaning.
She pointed to a mop and buckets in the corner,
So don't go blaming me,
It's probably that cheese in the pantry.
Cheese my eye,
The ogre grumbled as he threw himself into his chair and snorted.
Immediately,
His wife placed a tub-sized bowl of hot stew before him.
The ogre seemed to forget all else as he devoured every particle of food that came into his sight.
The woman continued serving him stew by the tub full until the ogre finally declared himself stuffed.
Wife,
He commanded loudly as she cleared the table,
Fetch me my gold.
Grumbling,
She struggled to bring in three bags of gold,
And once they were placed upon the table,
She was ordered from the room.
You see,
The ogre trusted no one,
Not even his wife,
For the giant had stolen this gold and he feared others might do the same to him.
Once he was alone,
He counted each and every coin until the tabletop surrounding him was a wall of golden stacks.
Then he carefully returned each coin to the bag from which it had come.
By the time he had replaced the last coin in the last bag,
He had begun to nod and yawn,
And soon his great head was down on the table and the sound of his monstrous snoring filled the room.
Within minutes,
Jack had slipped from the oven and was up on the table.
Holding his breath,
The boy gingerly leaned over a huge hand.
All the while,
The giant's foul snoring breath ruffled Jack's hair.
Though he wanted more,
The smallest bag was all Jack could carry.
It was a challenge getting down off the table without making a sound,
But he managed it.
Once some of the coins clinked and the snoring stopped suddenly,
But by the time it resumed,
Jack was closing the heavy castle door behind him as he headed back to the beanstalk.
Jack's mother was overjoyed with the bag of gold.
At last she thought their troubles were over.
This treasure would take care of everything,
And so it did,
At least for a while.
They lived well for months and were very generous with relatives and friends,
But alas,
Even the biggest bag of gold has a last coin in it somewhere.
And yet,
That was all right with Jack.
The beanstalk,
After all,
Was just outside his window and never far from his thoughts.
The next climb was always on his mind.
Early one morning,
Wearing yet another disguise,
Jack set out once again.
As he climbed,
He practiced talking to himself in funny voices,
Trying to find one that would fool the ogre's wife just one more time.
It didn't seem long before he was standing at the ogre's door,
Preparing to knock.
"'Hola,
Fraulein,
' said Jack as the woman opened the heavy door.
"'Me come from very long away,
' he continued in his best foreign accent.
"'Much hungry.
'" "'Eh,
Foreigner,
Eh?
' the woman squinted at him as before.
"'You do look odd.
' "'Please,
' said Jack in a high,
Weak voice,
''just a little bit of food,
Pretty lady.
' "'Very well,
' she said,
''but just a morsel.
Then out you go.
My husband,
The ogre,
Will cook us both for supper if he finds out that I let a stranger in after his gold was stolen.
'" Everything was as it had been before,
Except soup was for dinner this evening.
Just like clockwork,
As Jack slurped his last spoonful of broth,
The castle shook with the ogre's return.
The woman practically threw Jack into a large copper pot that stood on the shelf.
In her haste to put the cover on,
She left the lid slightly askew,
And Jack peeked out to see her bustling away.
"'Fee,
Fie,
Foe,
Fum,
I smell the blood of an Englishman,
' the ogre's loud voice made Jack's pot ring.
"'Englishman?
' his wife laughed.
"'All I smell is that skunk that's made a nest in the woodpile.
Englishman indeed.
'" But before the ogre could growl another word,
She ladled a gallon of the steaming soup into his bowl.
The food did the trick,
And with his mind completely occupied,
The ogre's tiny brain had little room for other thoughts.
He slurped contentedly away,
At least for as long as the soup lasted.
"'Now,
Wife,
' said the ogre,
Wiping his soup-stained hands on his shirt,
"'take these empty bowls away and fetch my harp.
'" All was done as commanded,
And soon the most beautiful golden harp that Jack had ever seen sat glistening before the ogre.
"'Play,
Harp,
' ordered the ogre.
To Jack's amazement,
The harp began to play a haunting melody,
But that was not the only tune that it knew,
For throughout the course of the evening the instrument favored the ogre with lively jigs,
Lovely airs,
And beautiful ballads.
As Jack listened,
He imagined himself and the harp touring the world,
Performing for audiences in foreign lands.
He knew then that he must have this magic harp.
It was during a lullaby that the ogre drifted off to sleep,
And his familiar snoring began.
Jack was out of the pot and down off the shelf within moments.
He made it silently across the table and seized the harp,
And then he got a terrible surprise.
"'Master,
Master!
' the harp cried.
The harp could not only play music,
But it could also speak,
And Jack had startled it.
Still clutching the magic harp,
Jack darted across the tabletop,
But this time the ogre was awake.
"'Stop,
Thief!
' he roared,
Lunging for the boy.
With surprising speed,
A huge hand shot toward him.
Fortunately,
Jack was just beyond its reach,
Leaping from the table to chair to floor.
He was racing down the stone corridor in no time.
Behind him he could hear the raging ogre upend his chair and overturn the table as he reached for his club in the corner.
When Jack raced out the front door,
The thundering footfalls of the ogre followed him.
Luckily for the boy,
The ogre was old and full of soup and was not as fast as he might have been.
Reaching the stalk,
Jack peered back through the mist to see the ogre's towering form,
Club in hand,
Running toward him.
Grasping the harp,
Jack leapt and jumped down the beanstalk for all he was worth.
As soon as the cottage came into view,
He called out,
"'Mother,
Quick,
The axe!
' As he leapt to the ground,
She was there waiting,
And with all the breath he had left in him,
He swung the axe,
Chop,
Chop,
Chop.
He could see the ogre's legs coming down the stalk above him,
Chop,
Chop.
The beanstalk started to sway,
Chop.
With one last blow,
The towering beanstalk cracked,
Gave a mighty groan,
Then fell,
Crashing into the forest.
The earth shook as somewhere deep in the woods the falling ogre met his doom.
In time,
The magic harp did change Jack's life,
Though not quite in the way he had imagined when he first saw it.
They did indeed set out to tour the world,
And Jack hoped the harp would make his fortune as people flocked to hear it play,
But he and the harp made it only as far as the neighboring kingdom.
There,
During a command performance for the king and his beautiful young daughter,
The princess became enchanted by more than just the harp.
Years later,
After Jack and the princess were married and Jack's mother was generously taken care of,
He would sometimes pause at a palace window,
And there,
Looking out across the rolling lands over which he and the princess ruled,
He couldn't help but smile to himself as he remembered that all of this had started with a handful of beans.
Magic beans.
The end.
Thank you,
My darling,
For being here with me.
It's now time to go to sleep.
You are so very loved,
And your heart is good.
Sleep tight.
May your dreams be full of love and light.
