Jack and the beanstalk 杰克与豆茎

Jack and the Beanstalk

Many years ago there lived awoman and her son, called Jack. She gave him everything he asked for, until oneday there was nothing left. All they had of any value was their old cow. So thewoman sent Jack to sell her.

He hadn’t gotten far when hemet a strange little man. “Where are you going with that cow?” he asked. “Tothe market,” said Jack. “No need,” said the man. “I’ll give you these beans forher.” Jack was such a foolish fellow that he agreed.

“One—two—three—four—fivebeans,” the stranger counted out. And Jack ran home to tell his mother.

But his mother wasn’tpleased at all. “You good-for-nothing boy!” she shouted, and threw Jack’s beansout of the window.

The next morning there was amarvelous beanstalk—as strong as an oak tree—growing right up to the sky.Without a thought, Jack climbed up it and found himself in another country.

He found a giant’s castleand persuaded the giant’s wife to feed him. But then he heard heavy footstepsand a loud voice saying, “FEE FI FO FUM! Ismell the blood of an Englishman”

“Quick, hide inthe oven,” said the giant’s wife. The giant looked around, but he didn’t seeJack. So he sat down to eat his HUGE meal. Then he called for his pet hen. Fromhis hiding place, Jack could see that the hen laid an egg of solid gold everytime the giant asked her to.

Soon the giant fell asleep,and Jack rushed out and grabbed the hen. He escaped down the beanstalk beforethe giant woke up.

Jack’s mother was veryrelieved to see him, and they lived well by selling the golden eggs. But thebeanstalk was still there, tempting Jack. Then one day, without telling hismother, Jack climbed the huge beanstalk again.

Everything happened asbefore. The giant roared, “FEE FI FO FUM! I smell the blood of an Englishman!”This time Jack hid in a cupboard. And again the giant couldn’t find Jack.

After dinner, the giant gotout his money bags and counted his coins. But soon he was asleep and snoring.Quickly, Jack grabbed a bag and slid back down the beanstalk.

Three years later, Jackclimbed the beanstalk again. This time he hid in a washtub when the giantroared, “FEE FI FO FUM! I smell the blood of an Englishman!”

The giant looked for Jack,but didn’t find him. Then the giant asked his wife to get the golden harp. Soonhe fell asleep.

Jack crept out of thewashtub and grabbed the harp. But the harp cried out, “Help, I’m being stolen!”The giant woke up and chased Jack to the top of the beanstalk.

But Jack was lighter thanthe giant and reached the bottom quickly. He flung down the harp and grabbed anax to chop the beanstalk. It crashed down, and that was the end of the giant! Itwas also the end of Jack’s adventures. He lived happilywith his mother, along with the hen that laid eggs of solid gold and the harpthat sang beautiful songs.