Once, a boy named Jack lived with his mother. They were very poor. One day Jack’s mother said, “Jack, we have nothing to eat. Go to the market and sell our cow.”
On the way, Jack met a wizard who gave him some colourful magical beans in exchange for the cow. Jack went home happily.
But Jack’s mother was not happy. She shouted, “You gave the cow away for these beans!” Saying this, she threw the beans out of the window.
The next morning, Jack found a huge beanstalk in the place where the beans had fallen. It was so tall that it seemed to be lost in the clouds!
Jack climbed up the beanstalk and reached a strange land. He saw there a huge castle with an Ogress standing at its door.
Jack went up to her and said, “I am very hungry. Would you please give me something to eat?”
The kind Ogress took Jack in and gave him plenty to eat and drink. Then, she hid him in the kitchen’s oven when she heard her husband’s footsteps. Her husband, the Ogre, was fond of eating human flesh.
Soon, the Ogre came to the kitchen. He had with him a magical hen, which laid gold eggs. After getting a few gold eggs, the tired Ogre fell asleep at the dining table. Seizing the opportunity, Jack took the hen and rushed out of the castle. He quickly climbed down the beanstalk, to his home.
Jack and his mother lived happily by selling the gold eggs that the hen laid.
Soon, Jack thought of visiting the Ogre again. He went to the castle. This time he hid in the kitchen closet.
After some time, the Ogre came with two bags of gold and a magical harp. The harp played melodious music and the Ogre fell asleep. Jack quietly picked up the bags of gold and the harp, and ran off.
But the harp screamed, “Master, help!” The Ogre immediately woke up and ran after Jack. He followed Jack down
the beanstalk.
Jack’s mother quickly cut down the beanstalk with an axe. It came crashing down. That was the end of the Ogre. From that day on, Jack and his mother had been happy forever.
