Caer 4)

Fack the Giant-Killer.

(SEQUEL TO ‘JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, PAGE 99.)

OW for the great adventures,
Which Reynard battled through
With all the race of Giants,
Whom every one he slew.

At first some days of leisure

He spent exploring round,
Accompanied by Flora,

And boundless pleasure found.

But ev'ry morn ere starting,
Though she exclaimed ‘ Absurd!’
The gipsy mother changed her
Into a beast or bird.

At first they thought it funny,
And joy too oft found in it ;

Oh, didn’t she sing sweetly,
When she’s a thrush or linnet!

 

The gipsy was peculiar,

All thought she was a witch ;

And though her wealth was boundless, |

: |
None ever deemed her rich. |

In fact not e’en a giant

Dared trespass on her-ground ;
Her cottage was a citadel,

And guarded all around.

With numerous retainers,
Though they were only cats,
She kept away intruders
In shape of men or rats,

A palisade-built rustic,
Her science so occult

Had fortified securely,
With many a cat-a-pult.

A heavy shower of stones
Each enemy would hail,

And few who ventured near her
Returned to tell the tale.

’Twas she who first invented
A powder by her craft ;

The same explosive mixture
Which raised them in the shaft.

But this was now a secret,
To be kept close and quiet,
For any great occasion
When she has need to try it.
The Hedgehog proves a queer ’un,
And joins in Reynard’s walk ;
Till then he ne’er had spoken,
As none to him did talk.

| They ever find him useful,

Getting information ;
Of all that’s moving anywhere
He will make an oration.

‘The great Giant Cormoran’s

A-foraging to-day ;
Will come in this direction,
I heard his valet say.’