JACK AND THE BEAN STALK

g|N the days of King Alfred, there lived

poor widow with her son Jack. She
had a cottage, a meadow, and a cow-
shed, and one cow to eat in the
meadow, sleep in the shed, and supply
the cottage with milk and butter.
The widow had one son, his name was Jack, and
he was a thriftless, idle lad, without thought for
his mother or the morrow. She had to do all the
work and he had all the pleasure.
If the widow had not petted and spoiled her boy,
he would have been a comfort to her instead of a
trouble. If she had made him work instead of
letting him run idle, he would have been happier.
As her poverty increased, and Jack increased
at the same time, and required larger shoes,
longer stockings, and more broadcloth for his
back, the mother disposed of all her little goods
one after another, to supply his necessities. He
brought nothing into the housekeeping but took
feet deal out, and he had not the wits to see
is.
‘At length there remained only the cow to be dis-
posed of, and the widow, with tears in her eyes,
A

 

ACK

in a lonesome part of England a BND THE

EAN
STALK