522 NURSERY RHYMES.

 

 

town in Wales, where he beheld a vast concourse of people
gathered together. The Prince demanded the reason of it, and
was told that they had arrested a corpse for several large sums
of money which the deceased owed when he died. The Prince
replied that it was a pity creditors should be so cruel, and said,
“Go, bury the dead, and let his creditors come to my lodging,
and there their debts shall be discharged.” They accordingly
came, but in such great numbers that before night he had almost
left himself penniless.

Now, Jack the Giant Killer happened to be in the town while
these transactions took place, and he was so pleased with the
generosity exhibited by the Prince that he offered to become his
servant—an offer which was immediately accepted. The next
morning they set forward on their journey, when, as they were
just leaving the town, an old woman called after the Prince, say-
ing, “ He has owed me twopence these seven years ; pray pay me
as well as the rest.” So reasonable and urgent a demand could
not be resisted, and the Prince immediately discharged the debt,
but it took the last penny he had to accomplish it. This event,
though generally ridiculed by heroes, was one by no means over-
looked by the Prince, who required all Jack’s assuring eloquence
to console him. Jack himself, indeed, had a very poor exchequer,
and after their day’s refreshments, they were entirely without
money. When night drew on, the Prince was anxious to secure
a lodging; but as they had no means to hire one, Jack said,
“Never, mind, master, we shall do well enough, for I have an
uncle living within two miles of this place: he is a huge and
monstrous giant with three heads; he’ll fight five hundred men