The Jack Tales

Stories by

AS TOLD TO

LYNN S ALSI

Paintings by

In memory of my grandfather and hero, John Benjamin Hicks, who gave the world many Jack tales and for great grandfather Samuel, who passed the family history to me. For my beautiful wife, Rosa, and our children. And for the next generation of storytellers.

The Jack Tales Electronic book published by ipicturebooks.com 24 W. 25th St. New York, NY 10010 For more ebooks, visit us at: http://www.ipicturebooks.com All rights reserved. Text copyright © 2000 by Ray Hicks and Lynn Salsi Illustrations copyright © 2000 by Owen Smith Originally published by Palace Press International in 2000 No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. e-ISBN 1-59019-265-6 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Available. All text for this book was set in Pardox designed by Gerard Unger. Editors: Andrea Danese and Marion Kocot Designer: Jennifer Wagner

Foreword Ray Hicks, a long, lean mountain man who makes his home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, is one of the greatest living storytellers in the United States. He has lived on Beech Mountain in the home his grandfather built his entire life—almost 80 years—telling stories to any and all who will listen. He leaves it only once a year to appear at the annual storytelling festival in Jonesboro, Tennessee. In spite of the fact that he has received numerous awards and citations, including a National Heritage Fellowship from the Folk Arts Program of the National Endowment for the Arts, he and his family continue to live a simple mountain life, uncorrupted by his critical success or by the modern world. They still grow most of their own food and their house has no running water; meals are cooked on a wood-burning cookstove and their home is warmed by a wood-burning parlor stove. Hicks’s stories have attracted substantial scholarly attention and have appeared in numerous books, dissertations, academic journals, films, and sound recordings, but this is the first time they appear in a context appropriate for children. Lynn Salsi has studied Hicks’s work closely and diligently for a number of years and, with the publisher, has synthesized Ray’s idiosyncratic Appalachian dialect with the need to present language that is accessible to children into three well-balanced narrative texts. Their efforts have resulted in a volume that will delight and instruct readers of all ages for years to come and will encourage us to recognize—and cherish—the treasure that Ray Hicks is. W ILLIAM E. LIGHTFOOT Appalachian State University

EDITORS’ NOTE The stories Ray Hicks tells are known as Jack tales, and they relate the antics and misadventures of a poor mountain boy whose innocence, ingenuity, and luck enable him to outwit the at times wicked forces of the world around him. The tales may have originated in Europe and come to us by way of eighteenth-century Great Britain. The versions told by Ray Hicks were passed down to him by his ancestors, early Scottish and Irish pioneers who settled in the North Carolina mountains. Hicks’s stories retain several expressions from those folk that blend with local Appalachian references to form his distinctive dialect. Thus, although the giant still smells “the blood of an Englishman” and Jack is told to sell his mother’s cow for “fifty guineas,” corn pone is one of his favorite vittles and he’s handy with a pole ax. We hope that these apparent discrepancies in vernacular will not detract but will add to the distinctive flavor of Ray Hicks’s gift and provide a greater understanding of the tradition. Storytelling is an oral tradition. Stories are usually passed from one generation to the next by repeated tellings. The nature of this technique dictates that the story is never exactly the same each time it is told. With each new telling subtle variations can occur. The true master will vary inflection, embellish details, add a new wrinkle to the conflict, omit an incident that may have figured prominently in one version, perhaps even introduce a new character as he or she develops the tale. Ray Hicks is a true master of the form. The stories he has been telling for more than sixty years change with each telling as he adds more dramatic and humorous details. For this reason, the tales that Ray tells on the audio CD are not identical to those told in the text. While the reader should not expect exactly the same details in each, it is hoped that the small variations will increase the enjoyment of the tales and this extraordinary artist and art form.

Glossary ’COON ( koon ) noun—short for raccoon; a mammal with black and white markings on its face that look like a mask, and a long, bushy tail with black ring markings on the fur. Coon hounds are large dogs used to hunt racoons.

POCKET -KNIFE ( pok -it nife) noun —a small knife with a blade that folds into its handle and is small enough to be carried in a pocket. POLE AX (pohl aks) noun—a tool that has a sharp blade on one side of the end of its handle and a hammer head on the opposite side.

GUINEA (gin -ee) noun —an old British coin that has not been used since the early 1800s. A guinea was worth about 21 shillings, or one pound and one pence. Fifty guineas would be worth about $100. today.

PONE / CORN PONE (pone) noun—a baked or fried bread made with cornmeal, milk, and eggs.

HEARTH (harth ) noun—the floor of a fireplace and the area in front of it. It is usually made of brick or stone and holds the heat of the fireplace, so it is warmer than the rest of the room. It is a cozy place for a cat or small, cold child to sleep.

RIDGE (rij) noun—a long, narrow piece of land, usually high on a hill or mountain. SILVER CERTIFICATE ( sil-vur sur-tif uh-kit) noun—paper money that was used in the United States in the 1800s. It could be exchanged for the amount of silver pieces that was named on it.

HOG RIFLE ( hog rye -fuhl) noun— a long-barreled hunting rifle that uses gunpowder and a firing cap to shoot. It is usually used for hunting small game.

STEER -OX (stihr-oks) noun—a young adult male of the domestic cattle family used as a work animal or for beef.

HOLLOW ( hol-oh) noun —a small valley or a clearing in a wooded area, sometimes used to name a place, as in Sleepy Hollow.

SWAP ( swahp ) verb—to trade one thing for another or make an exchange.

MAUL; maul hammer (mawl ) noun—a heavy, long-handled hammer used to pound posts or stakes into the ground.

TWO -PRONGED PITCHFORK ( tooprongd pich -fork) noun—a large toolshaped like a fork, with a long wooden handle and two sharp, pointed ends used to toss hay and break up the ground.

MUTTON (muht-uhn) noun—meat from a sheep. PEGS AN’ AWLS (pegz en awlz) plural noun—a peg is a small piece of wood, metal or plastic used to hold things down, or hang things up. An awl is a sharp metal tool used for making holes in leather or wood. A handful of pegs an’ awls would be hard andsharp like the claws of a cat, if thrown.

VITTLES (vit-uhlz) noun—food; an informal spelling of victuals, which is pronounced the same. WHITTLE (wit-uhl) verb—to make or carve something by cutting small pieces from wood a little bit at a time with a knife; to shave small strips from a piece of wood.

PLUMB ( plum ) adverb—completely; entirely.

5

JACK

AND H I S MAMA LIVED ALONE IN A LITTLE LOG CABIN ON A WINDY RIDGE IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH NO ONE TO HELP THEM . T HEIR FOOD W A S RUNNING OUT AND THE NORTHWEST W IND W A S BLOWING ALL THE TIME AND NEARLY FREEZING THEM TO DEATH . T HE WIND HOWLED SO LONG AND HARD THAT J ACK COULDN ’ T STAND IT ANY MORE .

He was so cold and hungry, he wanted to leave the cabin and go out on his own. He wanted to take his old raggedy cap and stick it in the hole where the wind came out. 6

THE JACK TALES But his mama wouldn’t let him go. “No, Jack,” she said. “You’re just a boy and too young to go out on your own. If you leave, there’ll be no one to help me at home. If you stay and take that ol’ pole ax and get firewood in, I’ll let you go out on your own soon enough.” Time passed and soon Jack had chopped enough firewood for his mama and she had to let him go like she’d promised. As he was leaving, she said, “As you’re walkin’, you’re gonna come to others’ homes. Be sure to talk kindly when you meet them folks.” Jack set out. He walked and walked and when he was way back in the mountains he came to a cabin where an old man lived. The man was out chopping wood but he put down his ax when he saw Jack and said, “Hello thar, where you goin’?” “Oh,” Jack said, “my mama and I are freezin’ to death in our little ol’ cabin. I’m walkin’ to find where the Northwest Wind comes out at. When I get there I’m gonna stick this ol’ raggedy cap of mine in the hole.” “Son,” replied the man, “I feel sorry for a young’un travelin’ with nothin’ to eat. Just come right on in and I’ll give you somethin’ that’ll help you.” “I’ll come in for a little while,” said Jack. He was trying to be nice. The old man went to the corner of the cabin and came back with an old tablecloth. He held it up for Jack to see and said, “Jack, all you gotta do is say, ‘Spread, tablecloth, spread!’ and this cloth’ll come on with all the vittles you need and you won’t have to work for it no more.” 8

Jack and the Northwest Wind Jack looked at the old man and said, “I don’t believe the likes of that.” But the old man took the tablecloth and tried it out. He unfolded it and said, “Spread, tablecloth, spread!” and the cloth filled up with every one of Jack’s favorite foods. There was sweet corn, fried potatoes, cabbage, peas, beans, stewed chicken and dumplings, apple pie, and fruitcake. Jack was so hungry he ate and ate until he was about to pop. “Thank you,” he said to the old man. “This will help me on my way to find where the Northwest Wind comes out at. And when I get back home, my mama won’t have to worry ’bout eatin’.” “Good,” said the old man. “But I’ve gotta warn you to stay away from a bunch of rowdy boys that live on down the road. Don’t meet up with them. They’re mean and wild.” “Yes, sir,” replied Jack. “I’ll be careful.” Jack kept on walking down the road and had not gone far when a bunch of boys jumped out of the woods in front of him. They stood around him just looking him over. “You’ve got somethin’,” said one boy. “We want to see what it is,” said another. “It’s not much,” said Jack. “It’s just an ol’ tablecloth the ol’ man down the road give me.” “That so?” said a third boy. “Well, it must do somethin’ special or you wouldn’t be a-totin’ it around. Let’s see it!” Jack just had to show the boys. It wouldn’t feel right if he couldn’t show them what he had. He laid his tablecloth out and put a rock on each corner to hold it down. Then he said, “Spread, tablecloth, spread!” and the tablecloth filled up with so much food those boys couldn’t 9

Jack and the Northwest Wind believe their eyes. They ate until they couldn’t take another bite. By the time they had finished eating, the sun was setting and Jack decided to head toward home. He folded up the cloth to take to his mama. “See you’uns later,” he said as he started down the path. The boys ran after him and thought of playing a trick on him. “It’s gettin’ late. Come and stay the night at our house. You can leave early in the mornin’,” they said. Jack didn’t want to turn down a warm place for the night, so he decided to stay. They gave him a spot near the hearth for his bed, and after walking the whole long day Jack fell asleep right away. While he was sleeping, one of the boys crept up and took the magic tablecloth. He left another old cloth that looked exactly like Jack’s in its place. The next morning Jack woke up early and decided to hurry home and show his mama the tablecloth the old man had given him. When he got there he yelled, “Mama, mama, come quick! I got somethin’ to show you. You won’t have to work no more. Look at this tablecloth an ol’ man give me.” His mama came in and gave the tablecloth one look and said, “You come home with that ol’ thing?” “Watch,” said Jack. He unfolded the tablecloth and said, “Spread, tablecloth, spread!” But nothing happened. “No eatin’s come on it,” said his mama. “I’ve got chores to do. Stop a-wastin’ my time with your pranks.” “But I seed it work,” said Jack. “It worked last night.” Jack felt bad because he thought the old man had tricked him. “You little fool,” said his ma. “You cain’t believe everythin’ you see.” Jack still meant to find the Northwest Wind and after a few days, he left home again. There was only one road for him to follow so in a little while he came to the old man’s cabin again. The old man saw Jack coming and said, “Hello, what brings you back to this country?” Jack came up to him and said, “The tablecloth you give me wouldn’t work. Not one bite of eatin’ come on it.” “Did you see that bunch of boys when you left here?” asked the old man. “Well, yeah,” said Jack. “But only for a little while. We tried the tablecloth out.” 11

“I’d guessed they tricked you. But you seem to be a good lad. I’ll give you my hen.” The old man went to the corner of his cabin and came back with a bowl and a hen. “Take this bowl,” he said to Jack. “Hold it under the hen and watch.” The old man picked up the hen and said, “Come, golden eggs, come!” Jack couldn’t believe his eyes when the hen laid a golden egg. He couldn’t believe his ears when the old man told him to take the hen home with him! “Be warned again ’bout that bunch of rowdy boys down the path,” said the old man, as he waved good-bye to Jack. “Good-bye and thank you. I’ll be careful,” said Jack. Jack was happy and whistled as he went down the path with the hen tucked under his arm. But those mean boys were laying in wait for him. They jumped out, blocking his way on the path. “Gaw, we’d like to see that hen,” one said. “Oh, this is just a hen I’m a-takin’ my mama so she won’t be hungry, bein’ as my tablecloth don’t work,” said Jack, as he kept walking down the path. The boys surrounded Jack, and one said, “Now, Jack, we ain’t 12

gonna hurt you or nothin’. We just want to see what that hen of yourn can do. Let’s try’er out!” Jack was still excited about seeing the hen lay the golden eggs, so he couldn’t help himself. He took the hen from under his arm and he said to one of the boys, “Hold your hands out, both hands together.” When the boy stuck his hands under the hen Jack said, “Come, golden eggs, come!” A golden egg came right out into the boy’s hand. “Wow!” said the boys. “You’ve gotta stay all night and show mama and daddy and the other children.” So Jack went home with the boys again. When he was asleep, the boys tiptoed over and left their old, worn-out hen in place of the one that laid the golden egg. It was easy to switch an ordinary hen for Jack’s, since they looked the same. The next morning Jack set out for home and when he got there, he hollered, “Mama, mama, come out! Come and see this hen.” His mama rushed out and was happy to see that Jack was safe. “Didn’t you find the Northwest Wind?” she asked. “ ’Cause, I’m still a-freezin’.” “No!” said Jack. “I cain’t find the wind. But when I got to the ol’ man’s house he give me a hen.” He handed his mama an old bucket. 13

Jack and the Northwest Wind “Here,” said Jack. “Hold this bucket under the hen and watch.” Jack said, “Come, golden eggs, come!” Jack’s mama watched, but nothing happened. Jack raised his voice a little and said again, “Come, golden eggs, come!” His mama straightened up and said, “Stop a-wastin’ your time and do some chores.” This time, Jack knew the boys had stolen his hen and he swore he would go back for her. He stayed around and helped his mama chop firewood for a while and he put a few more nails in the boards on the cabin to help keep out the Northwest Wind. But the wind kept on blowing and blowing. He started thinking he would go back and get his hen from the boys. “Mama,” Jack said one day, “I gotta go get my hen, and I gotta find the Northwest Wind and stick my ol’ raggedy cap in the hole where it’s comin’ out at.” “I know I cain’t keep you home so just go on and waste your time. But be careful, there are mean people out yonder that’ll harm you,” said his mama. “I’ll be careful,” said Jack, as he hugged his mama and left home. The Northwest Wind was blowing him along the path as he headed in the direction of the old man’s house. Jack didn’t want to see that old man again and he decided to keep going so he would get to the Northwest Wind. He headed off the path to follow a shortcut through the woods. But the old man was outside trying to gather sticks for his fire and saw Jack. “Hello thar, Jack,” he called out. “Are you still a-tryin’ to get to the Northwest Wind? I give you the hen that lays golden eggs so you could get a little money and fix up your cabin for you and your mama. Why’re you still out a-tryin’ to find the wind?” “Well, uh,” said Jack as he twisted his raggedy cap in his hands. “Well, you know that hen you give me? I showed it to my mama, and it musta been wored out. It wouldn’t do a thing.” “I told you to stay away from them boys. They stole that hen all right,” said the old man. “But come here! I have somethin’ else to give you.” The old man went into his house and came out with a stick. “You take this stick and be careful not to let them boys take it from you. It’ll 15

THE JACK TALES fly through the woods and knock down trees off the mountain. It’ll knock’em into splinters for firewood. Now, watch!” The old man held the stick and said, “Play away, club, play away!” The stick flew out of his hand, splintered up a tree and stacked the wood on the porch. “Gaw,” said Jack in disbelief. “Yep, this club’ll do your work. And it won’t stop a-knockin’ and a-choppin’ ’til you say, ‘Stop, stick, stop!’ ” said the old man. “Now you run on home and be careful ’bout those rough boys.” Jack headed down the path with the stick under his arm. But the boys were waiting for him by the path, because they knew the old man would give Jack more of his magic. “Whatta you got?” asked one of the boys. “Bet that’s not just any ol’ stick. You just come from the ol’ man’s place. I bet it’ll do somethin’ like the other stuff he give you. Let’s try it out. Show us!” “I ain’t got nothin’,” said Jack. But then Jack saw the boys had been trying to chop wood with a dull pole ax and so he said, “Well, all right. Stand back. I got to be careful with this stick.” The boys stood back and Jack said, “Play away, club, play away!” It flew up into the air and splinters started flying. It knocked down trees and chopped them into firewood. The rowdy boys’ eyes almost popped out of their heads. “Daddy’s comin’ home soon. Jack, you gotta stay with us and let him see the stick.” Jack decided he would spend the night with them again, but this time he’d sleep with the stick held in his hand. He was so tired he fell asleep 16

Jack and the Northwest Wind before the boys’ daddy got home late that night. The boys couldn’t wait until morning to show off Jack’s stick, so while Jack was sleeping, one of them slipped the stick out from under his arm. He held it tight in his hand and said, “Play away, club, play away!” The stick flew out of the boy’s hand and started beating the house down. It knocked around and around and made the biggest fuss anybody had ever heard. The rowdy boys and their daddy and mama started yelling and running around. They didn’t know how to stop the stick from breaking everything to pieces. There was such a racket that Jack woke up. When he saw those boys had the club he said, “I’m gonna let my club play away an’ beat the roof off’n your house ’til you give me back my tablecloth and my hen.” The boys were so frightened they ran to fetch the tablecloth and hen to give them back to Jack. As soon as they did, Jack said, “Stop, stick, stop!” The stick stopped and flew back into Jack’s hand. He picked up his hen and tablecloth right then and there, and headed home. When Jack got home, he showed his mama how the tablecloth could spread as much food as they could eat, and how the hen could lay golden eggs, and how the stick could make sure they had all the firewood they would ever need. Jack and his mama lived just fine after that, even though he never did find out where the Northwest Wind came out.

17

YEARS

AGO , J ACK AND H I S MAMA LIVED IN AN OLD LOG CABIN DOWN IN A PRETTY L I T T L E HOLLOW WAY BACK IN THE M O U N T A I N S . T H E Y WERE ON THEIR OWN AND FARMED A L L SPRING AND SUMMER TO HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO LAST THROUGH THE WINTER . B UT T H E Y HAD FALLEN ON HARD T I M E S , AND THE ONLY THING T H E Y

had left to eat was cornmeal, a little flour, a few potatoes, and some dried apples. They owned one milk cow, too, but were running out of food to feed her. They were starving. 19

THE JACK TALES Jack’s mama was sad and she had tears in her eyes when she said, “Jack-a-boy, we’re prob’ly goin’ to have to sell our milk cow.” Jack couldn’t stand to see his mama cry. He didn’t have the heart to sell the cow, so he tried to think of another way they could make it until spring. He set out to see their neighbor who lived across the field on the other side of the hollow. When Jack got to his door he called out to him. The neighbor came out and welcomed Jack and said, “It’s been a bad winter, and I ain’t seed you. What brings you over?” Jack said, “My mama and I are about to starve. We’re down to our last eatin’. I’ve come to ask to borrow enough food to help us make it to spring.” “I’d like to help you, but I’m here with my wife and five young’uns. We got little eatin’ left and I’m worried we cain’t make it much longer. I’m sorry I cain’t help you.” Jack understood and with nothing else to do, he headed home. “Mama,” he said, “We’re up agin it. We gotta get some ’taters or somethin’. I gotta take the cow and see what I can get for her.” Jack’s mama agreed. She tied a corn pone in a piece of cloth and poured a bottle of water for Jack to take with him for his dinner. She gave him the food and kissed him good-bye, saying, “Jack, don’t you take no less than fifty guineas for that milk cow.” Jack set out, but traveling with a cow was slow. Jack could only walk as fast as the cow was willing to plod. After they had walked a distance, he decided to sit beside the path and have a drink of water. Suddenly, a man appeared from out of nowhere and stood in front of him. He said, “Hello, Jack. Where’re you a-goin’ on such a cold, bleak day?” “Oh, I’m gonna sell my mama’s cow. We got nothin’ left in our cellar house to eat. I’m a-hopin’ to get money or trade her for enough food to last us until we can get to plantin’,” said Jack. “Is that right? I’ll bet I got just the thing for you,” said the man. Jack was excited. He was thinking ahead because he didn’t want to walk another step with that stubborn cow. “Whatta you got? I’d really like to see,” he said. 20

Jack and the Bean Tree The man moved closer to Jack and said softly, “I have somethin’ in my hand. It’s special.” It seemed like he was trying to get Jack close to his hand to hypnotize him. He said, “Nobody in the world will ever have such as this.” Jack was so excited he burst out, “What is it? I gotta see it!” The man opened his hand very slow ly and said, “It’s a bean, but it’s no ordinary bean. It’s a wonderful bean! I’ll trade my magic bean for your cow.” Jack’s heart fell down to his toes. “Oh, only one bean. That won’t feed nothin’,” he said. “I’m sorry, I gotta be a-goin’.” Jack turned and started to walk away. “Wait up, lad,” called the man. “I promise you, this is magic. You will never regret tradin’ your cow.” Jack was tired of walking and he wanted to be at home. But he was afraid to take a chance. What if the bean wasn’t magic? As he stared at the man’s open hand the bean seemed to move a little. He thought, It’s shiny and smooth and much bigger than any bean I ever seen.Maybe it is a magic bean.He looked at the man and said, “I’ll trade!” The man grinned and pushed the bean into Jack’s hand, where it didn’t look as big and shiny as he thought. Jack had traded his mama’s cow for one little old bean. He squeezed the bean tightly in his hand and headed down the path toward home. As soon as he was close to his home he started to feel foolish. The closer he was to seeing his mama, the sillier he felt. Jack’s mama was surprised to see him back so soon. She came out to see Jack and asked, “How much did you get? You must of got somethin’. You’re back so soon.” Jack hung his head and said as quietly as he could, “I didn’t get no money.” 21

THE JACK TALES “That’s fine, Jack. Did you trade the cow for a cured ham and some ’taters and apples?” “No, not that either,” Jack said sadly. “I swapped the cow to a man for a magic bean.” “Oh,” laughed his mama. “For a minute I thought you said a bean.” “That’s right, a bean. But it’s a magic bean!” He opened his hand and held it out for his mama to see. Jack had never seen his mama so angry. She grabbed the bean and threw it out the kitchen door, and she sent him to bed without even a piece of corn pone for his supper. After a while, his mama was sorry that she had punished Jack and she used all of her flour and sugar to bake a gingerbread cake for him. The next morning Jack woke up early and went outside. Right there alongside the house was the biggest bean tree he had ever seen. It wasn’t a vine, it was a tree—and it had sprouted overnight! Jack looked up and thought, That bean must of been somethin’ magic. I cain’t see the top. Jack ran back inside, calling, “Mama, mama, come quick! The bean you throwed out has growed into a tree bigger than the cabin.” “I ain’t got time for your foolishness, Jack,” his mama called. “But it’s true! Just come and look. I’m gonna climb my new bean tree to see where it goes.” Jack ran to the stove and grabbed a piece of gingerbread and shoved it in his pocket to save for later. He went out and started to climb the bean tree. He climbed and climbed, and as he climbed, he looked down. The cabin looked smaller and smaller the higher he got. The first thing Jack saw when he reached the top was a gate and a path that led to a big house. He went up to the house and tapped on the door. The biggest woman he’d ever seen came out. She was bigger than the side of a mountaintop. Jack was afraid of her, but she had a kind face. “Who are you?” he asked. The woman looked down at him and said, “I’m a giant-woman. Where’d you come from?” “From down on earth,” said Jack. “What’s your house doin’ up here on this bean tree? This here bean tree belongs to me and my mama and I’m up here to claim what belongs to us.” 22

“Well, you’d better go back quick,” said the woman. “I hear my husband and he kills every Englishman he sees and eats him up. You don’t want to be here with him a-comin’. Quick, hide!” she said to Jack. “Get in here so he cain’t find you!” The giant’s wife felt sorry for Jack and hid him in the oven, just in time. He heard the giant stomping down the hall, saying, “Fee, fi, fo, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman. Be he dead or be he alive, I’ll grind his bones to make my pone.” The giant stopped when he saw his wife, and said, “Wife, I’m smellin’ somethin’ strange. What is it?” “Oh,” said the giantwoman, “you’re smellin’ the mutton I’m a-cookin’ for your supper.” “Well, I’m hungry,” said the giant, and he sat down to his supper. After he had eaten, the giant felt sleepy and went to bed. When he was sound asleep and snoring loudly, Jack crept out of the oven and tiptoed through the giant’s house. He saw that the giant had wonderful things on his shelves and hanging on the walls, and as he walked he thought, I’d surely like to own a few of these’uns. Jack knew no one would believe he’d been to a giant’s

23

THE JACK TALES house unless he could prove it, so as soon as he spotted a pretty pocketknife, he knew he had to have it. He picked it up, slipped it into the pocket of his britches, and headed back down the bean tree. Jack’s mama saw him as he reached the ground and ran out to meet him. “What’d you find up the bean tree?” she asked. “A giant’s house is sittin’ at the top of our tree. I don’t know how it got there, but I’m a-goin’ back to see it again. See, I took the giant’s knife,” said Jack. “Jack, you best be careful. You lucked out this time, but don’t you climb up that bean tree again,” said his mama. Jack stayed home a few days and tried to help his mama by stacking wood and bringing in cabbages from the field. He pulled the giant’s knife out of his pocket every now and then to look at it, and whittled and played with it. He knew he couldn’t stay away from the giant’s house and he decided to go back to see what he could see. So Jack set out to climb the bean tree again. When he got to the top, the giant’s house was still there. He walked through the gate and up the path and tapped on the door again. When the giant-woman opened the door and saw Jack she said, “Are you back again? I saved your life the first time. Go back to where you come from. I told you, my husband will eat you up. He eats up all Englishmen.”“I’m not a-goin’ back just now,” said Jack. “Your house is still settin’ up on my bean tree. I’m gonna stay a little while and see what I can see.” All of a sudden, they heard the giant’s footsteps. “Quick!” said the giant-woman. “Hide under the butter bowl.” She put the huge lid over Jack just as the giant 24

came into the kitchen. “Fee, fi, fo, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman. Be he dead or be he alive, I’ll grind his bones to make my pone,” he said as he came into the kitchen. “Wife, what’s that I’m smellin’?” he asked.“You’re just smellin’ the chicken I’m a-cookin’ for your dinner,” answered his wife. Jack held his breath and stayed as still as he could under the huge butter lid while the giant ate his chicken dinner. Jack was so close to the giant he could hear him smacking his huge lips. Jack was scared to death. Before long the giant went to bed. Jack crawled out from under the lid and wandered around the house. He remembered seeing a fine hog rifle mounted up on the wall. He tiptoed around until he found it, took it down carefully, and ran out the front door. Jack climbed down the bean tree and called out to his mama.

25

THE JACK TALES When she saw he had been to the giant’s house again, she said, “Jack, stop a-goin’ up that bean tree. That giant’s gonna find you and you’ll get killed. You’re all I got, Jack—promise you won’t go up that bean tree again.” “No, I cain’t promise,” Jack said. “I’ve gotta go again. I’ve gotta see what the giant is up to.” Jack set out again, the next day. As soon as he got to the top, he went straight to the giant’s house. The giant-woman came to the door again and said, “Cain’t you get it straight? You better go back to where you come from. You’ve been lucky so far, but if my husband finds you he’ll kill you.” Suddenly, they heard the giant’s voice boom, “Fee, fi, fo, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman. Be he dead or be he alive, I’ll grind his bones to make my pone.” The giant was coming! There was no time to find a good hiding place so the giant’s wife hid Jack under her huge apron. The giant came over to where they were and stood right in front of them. “What am I smellin’?” he asked. She said to her husband, “You’re just smellin’ the turkey I’m a-cookin’ for your eatin’.” The giant-woman put the food on the table and when she turned away Jack jumped out from behind her apron and hid behind the kitchen door. He could hear the giant crunching and slurping and gulping his food. Jack trembled as he listened to the giant and his wife eating. As usual, when they finished their supper they decided to get some rest and before long they were fast asleep. Jack was so curious he couldn’t help himself. He crept into the bedroom where the giant and his wife were sleeping, and saw a beautiful bedcover on the giant’s bed. It had real gold bells with solid gold clappers sewn all over it, and when the giant moved, the bells made faint tinkling sounds. Jack’s eyes almost popped out of his head when he saw it, and he knew he had to have it for his own. He slipped out of the bedroom and

26

THE JACK TALES pushed the chairs from the kitchen all around the huge bed. Then he decided to hide one of the giant’s boots. The boot was as big as Jack, and it was hard work to drag it away. He pushed it and pulled it and suddenly he heard a loud meow. Jack had frightened the giant’s cat from where it was sleeping on the boot! The cat’s angry screech woke the giant, who sat up and rubbed his eyes to see what was happening. Jack pulled the cover with the golden bells from the bed and, carrying it over his head, he ran from the room. Jack ran through the giant’s house and headed for the top of the bean tree, the bells ringing and the cat howling behind him. When he heard the noise and fuss, the giant jumped out of bed and tripped over the chairs that Jack had dragged around it. He ran for his britches and boots, yelling and screaming at Jack the whole time. He couldn’t find one boot so he hobbled after Jack with one boot on and one boot off. Jack finally reached the bean tree and began to slide down it, holding tight to the ringing bedcover. The giant climbed down right behind Jack.

28

Jack and the Bean Tree When Jack’s feet touched the ground he ran into his house, threw down the golden bedcover, and grabbed his ax. He ran out to the bean tree and started chopping, swinging the ax as hard as he could. The giant was halfway down when Jack gave the tree two more big chops and pushed with all his might. The bean tree roared as it started falling, and it seemed like it would never hit the ground. When it finally came to rest, it lay across the whole hollow and over two mountains. Jack and his mama spent a week walking the length of the fallen bean tree. They passed the giant, lying all broken with one boot on, and a little farther on they saw the giant’s wife. Jack told his mama how kind she’d been to him, and he had to cry a little because he knew she had saved his life. Finally, they reached the top of the tree where the house was all in pieces and the dishes and chairs were all broken, but among the ruins they found gold coins and jewels, and other treasures. Jack and his mama took just enough from the giant’s house so that they would never have to worry about starving again, and then they went home for good. And that was the end of Jack and the bean tree.

29

J ACK

AND H I S B R O T H E R S , W ILL AND T O M , WERE PLAYING TOGETHER ONE AFTERNOON . A S B R O T H E R S OFTEN DO , THEY STARTED PICKING ON EACH OTHER AND THEN RUNNING AND TATTLING TO THEIR MAMA . W HEN THEIR DADDY C A M E IN F R O M WORKING IN THE FIELD A L L DAY , W I L L AND T O M GANGED U P ON J ACK .

His brothers said, “Daddy, Jack’s been pickin’ on us all day.” They said things that weren’t true. Their daddy believed Will and Tom, and he blamed Jack and punished him. 30

THE JACK TALES Jack was hurt and angry. He thought to himself,I’m gonna run off. If they feel for me, they’ll all be sorry. Jack slipped out of the house and walked down the old mountain road without knowing where he was headed or what he was going to do. After he had walked for a while, he came to a little log cabin in a pasture. A skinny old donkey, all alone and hee-hawing miserably, stood in front of the cabin. Jack went up to him and said, “Why are you standin’ out here all alone? Is somethin’ a-botherin’ you? You’re soundin’ sad.” The donkey looked at Jack and said, “My teeth’s all gone. I cain’t eat. My master don’t have time for the likes of me. I was a-thinkin’ ’bout runnin’ away.” Jack said, “Well, come on along with me. My brothers ain’t been a-treatin’ me fair. I’m gonna stay away from ’em for a little while. Come with me.” Jack held up the bar of the pasture gate and let the donkey out. The donkey was scrawny and poor-looking but he was sturdy enough to carry Jack and happy to go with him. He wobbled a bit as he walked down the path with Jack sitting high up on his back. Jack felt good up on the donkey’s back. They walked on down the path and before long they came to a steer-ox that was mooing and moaning. They stopped and Jack asked, “Why are you a-mooin’ like that and soundin’ so bad?” The ox hung his head and said, “I’m old an’ weak. My master tried to get me to pull a log the other day. I was so weak I couldn’t pull it and I fell on my knees. He’s gone to get a maul to hit me in the head. I’m afraid he’ll kill me and get another ox to take my place.” Jack said, “We’re runnin’ away. We’re gonna go see what we can see. You can come, too.” 32

The ox said, “I’ll come. Ain’t no use a-stayin’ ’round here.”They set out down the path. Jack was on the donkey’s back and the ox followed close behind. As they walked along they heard a sorry howling noise. The new friends moved closer and saw an old hound dog sitting by the side of the road howling. “What’s a-botherin’ you?” asked Jack. The dog said, “My master took me ’coon huntin’ last night and I let the ’coon get away. I cain’t help it. I just got old. My master’s so mad he’s gonna send me away.” “You want to go with us?” asked Jack. “If you do, jump up here with me.” The dog said, “I been thinkin’ ’bout that myself,” and he jumped up and sat in front of Jack on the donkey. They walked along not knowing where they were going. Finally, they came to a clearing where an old tomcat sat in front of a barn. He looked sad and scrawny, and meowed weakly. 33

THE JACK TALES Jack felt sorry for the cat and said, “You’re a-lookin’ like you feel bad.” “Oh, I do,” said the cat. “My teeth are all fallin’ out, and I cain’t catch mice and rats like I used to. Every one of them slipped right through my mouth. Didn’t catch a one. My master said he wouldn’t feed a good-fernothin’ animal. I’m here a-tryin’ to think what to do.” “Well, we’re gonna go and see what we can see. Want to come too?” asked Jack. “Why, sure, I do. Let’s go!” said the cat. He jumped up in front of the dog to sit near the donkey’s shoulders, and the group kept on walking down the road.They had just decided to look for a place to spend the night, when they came upon the worst-looking rooster they had ever seen. He seemed worried and frightened, and he’d lost clumps of his feathers so they could see patches of his skin. “What in the world happened to you?” asked Jack. “You look like you’ve been in a fight.” “I’ve just got so old and weak I cain’t crow like I used to. I heard the cook say she was gonna put me in a pot and make a stew outta me. I cain’t go fast but I come out here beside the road as fast as I could.” “Just come on and get up here on the donkey’s back. We’re lookin’ for adventure and you can come too.” “Oh,” the rooster said, “I’d be happy to come along,” and he flew up to the donkey’s back. The odd-looking group of friends made their way down the road. Jack and the dog, cat, and rooster were up on the donkey’s back weaving

34

Jack and the Robbers and wobbling back and forth. The ox followed behind them. They soon came to a little road that curved to the left and decided that was the best way to go. Around the time the sun was setting, they found themselves in front of an old deserted house that stood behind a brokendown fence. The yard was overgrown with weeds and it looked as if nobody had lived there for years. They crept up close to peer in through the window. They saw bunk beds with feather bedcovers and a lot of food spread out on a table. Jack said, “We best make up for a fight. This may be a highway robber’s hide-out.” The animals agreed. There was nobody in sight and they were very hungry, so they helped themselves to the food that had been left on the table. After they had eaten, when they were getting ready for bed, they agreed it wouldn’t be safe for all of them to stay in the house. They decided they should be ready for a fight. The cat said, “Let’s split up! I’ll stay over by the fireplace,” and he curled up on the hearth where the warm embers had been covered by ashes. “Good idea!” said the dog. “I’ll lie down behind the door.” The donkey said, “There’s no room for me in this little ol’ cabin. I’ll sleep at the edge of the porch.” “I cain’t be cooped up in such a little place either,” said the ox. I’ll stay outside in the yard.”

35

THE JACK TALES The rooster flew to the top of the house and called out, “I’ll be up here on the roof. If you need me just holler!”They all settled down for the night. Along about the early hours of the morning, three robbers, on their way back to the house, stopped by the fence. Something inside didn’t seem right to them, so they agreed that one robber would sneak in and get their loot and the others would keep watch. The robber tiptoed up to the house. He crept up the porch steps and quickly went in through the front door without waking the dog. He snuck over to the fireplace, hoping to spark a fire and shed some light in the room. The cat raised his head a little. His eyes shone in the dark when he opened them. The robber, thinking the cat’s eyes were live coals, blew into the cat’s face to spark a fire.

36

Jack and the Robbers This made the cat angry. He hissed and howled and struck out with his paws, scratching the robber down the side of his face. The wound burned like a lighted match and blood ran down his face. The robber screamed and ran for the door. The scream woke the dog, who grabbed the robber’s leg in his mouth and bit down hard with his teeth. Still screaming and flailing, the robber stumbled to the porch. The donkey was awake by now, and with both back feet he kicked the robber with all his might right over to where the ox stood waiting in the yard. The ox caught the robber with his long horns, and tossed him as hard and as high as he could. The robber sailed through the air and landed on the other side of the fence.

37

THE JACK TALES The rooster came to life when he heard all the fuss. When he saw the robber hit the ground he crowed, “Bring him on up here to me! Bring him on up here to me!” The robber ran like the devil was after him to where his friends waited. They said, “What’s happened to you?” The robber was hollering and screaming, “I’m killed! I’m killed! That house is plumb full of devils. I got in there all right and just when I blew on the coals to get a little ol’ fire a-goin’, a feller come at me with two handfuls of pegs an’ awls. He throwed ’em in my face. Then a man took me in the leg with a butcher knife. When I made it out the door, another come up on the porch with two mauls and nearly jarred my brains. Afore I could get up, another man throwed me over the fence with a twopronged pitchfork. I was runnin’toward you and could hear another man yellin’, ‘When you all get through, chuck him on up to me, and I’ll finish him off! Chuck him on up to me, and I’ll finish him off!’ ” The robber said, “I’m gettin’ out of this country. If we stay here we’ll all get killed for sure.” The others agreed, and the three robbers ran off through the woods believing they were running to save their lives. When daylight came, the rooster woke up and said, “Cock-a-doodledooo!” The others roused themselves and came out to the porch and talked about the robber they had scared away during the night. Jack said, “We were right! They were highway robbers. We’ve got as much right to stay in this house as they do.” They all agreed to stay together, and they lived at the house and ate the food the robbers had left. They became good friends, and Jack took good care of the animals. One beautiful, sun-shiny morning, the old dog was out at the apple tree smelling and digging around the way dogs do. He dug and he dug until he hit something hard. At first, he thought it might be another dog’s bone, but then he realized it was a trunk. He called to Jack and his other friends and together they dug some more. When they pulled the trunk

38

THE JACK TALES

out and opened it they found it was full of gold and silver coins and silver certificates. They were so excited that Jack forgot about feeling sad and angry with his family, and he decided he wanted to see them again. So the friends set off together as they had before—Jack and the dog, cat, and rooster up on the donkey’s back weaving and wobbling back and forth. The ox walked alongside them. When they reached his home, Jack’s mama came running out. She had been worried about Jack. Jack’s daddy, too, was sorry he’d been so hard on Jack. They made Jack’s new friends feel at home and said they could come and live there, too. With the money they had found in the trunk, Jack bought a lot of food for his animal friends. They treated each other kindly and they all lived a long and happy life.

40

43