Jack and the Beanstalk

Once upon a time, there lived a poor boy named Jack and his mother. They had nothing left but their old cow, Milky White.

"We must sell the cow," said Jack's mother sadly. "We need money to buy food."

So Jack set off to the market with Milky White. On the way, he met a strange old man.

"Good morning, young Jack!" said the man. "I'll trade you these magic beans for your cow."

"Magic beans?" asked Jack, his eyes wide with wonder.

"Plant them at night, and by morning they'll grow right up to the sky!"

Jack thought this sounded wonderful, so he traded Milky White for the beans and ran home.

But Jack's mother was furious! "You silly boy! You traded our cow for beans?" She threw the beans out the window and sent Jack to bed without supper.

When Jack woke the next morning, his room was dark. He looked out the window and gasped! A giant beanstalk had grown overnight, stretching up and up through the clouds!

Jack began to climb. He climbed higher and higher until he reached a land above the clouds. There stood an enormous castle!

Jack crept inside and hid behind a giant oven. Soon, a huge giant stomped into the room.

"Fee-fi-fo-fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman! Be he alive or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread!"

Jack held his breath and stayed very still. The giant ate his breakfast, then took out bags of gold coins to count. Soon, the giant fell asleep—and oh, how loudly he snored!

Quick as a flash, Jack grabbed a bag of gold and ran. He climbed down the beanstalk and gave the gold to his mother. They had enough money to live on for a while.

But Jack was curious. He climbed the beanstalk again. This time, the giant had a hen that laid golden eggs! When the giant fell asleep, Jack took the magical hen and hurried home.

Jack climbed the beanstalk one more time. Now the giant had a beautiful golden harp that played music by itself.

"Fee-fi-fo-fum!" roared the giant.

Jack grabbed the harp and ran, but the harp cried out, "Master! Master!"

The giant woke up and chased Jack! Jack slid down the beanstalk as fast as he could.

"Mother, bring the axe!" Jack shouted.

Jack chopped and chopped at the beanstalk. TIMBER! Down came the beanstalk, and down came the giant, never to trouble anyone again.

Jack and his mother lived happily ever after, with the golden hen laying eggs and the magical harp playing beautiful music every day.

The End