JACK AND THE BEANSTALK. —¥—_- = —— HERE was once a widow with an only son named Jack. He was a lazy fellow, and would not work, but spent his mother’s money so fast that she grew poorer and poorer. At last she had nothing left but a white cow; and Jack, being sorry for his ways, took it off to sell it. He met a butcher who offered him some bright, colored beans for the cow, and the silly boy gave the cow to the butcher and was happy over his bargain. But his mother was very angry, and took the beans and threw them all into a hole in the garden, and Jack went supperless to bed. The next morning early Jack went out to look at the beans, and found they had sprouted in the night and had a thick stalk that went up to the sky. He at once climbed the stalk, and when he got to the top he found himself in a strange country. A fairy met him, and told him how he might undo the mischief he had done. She told Jack that his father once owned all the land in this country; but a giant killed him, and took all his possessions. She would help Jack find the giant, and guard him from danger so long as he did well. Jack started off, and at sunset came 98