plenty of ease, rich living, port wine, and hot suppers could make him. Of course, he scarcely turned his head to notice Jack when he entered the room; and when he began to explain his errand, the Squire listened with so lofty an air, that he seemed to be going to sleep. But when Jack showed him his bag of gold, and asked for his daughter to be his bride, the Squire laughed at him, and ordered his servants to seize him and throw him into the horse-pond. It was not so easy, though, thus to dispose of Jack. He was an active young fellow, and many of the people who laid hands on him were felled to the earth by his stout clothes-prop. But when the lovely young lady came out, and with tears besought her father to release poor Jack from his tormentors, Jack grew more deeply in love with her than ever, and went home, with his clothes torn, it is true, but not the less determined to win her for a wife for all that. And well did his precious goose aid him in his design. Almost every morning would she lay him a golden egg, and Jack, grown wiser, would no longer sell them at half their value to the rogue who had before cheated him. It was not long ere Jack grew to be a richer man, thanks to his goose, than the Squire himself. His wealth soon became known to all the country round, and the Squire at length consented to accept Jack as his son-in-law. But a great misfortune had wellnigh happened to Jack a short time before his marriageday. One night, the rogue to whom Jack had sold his golden egg, came by stealth to the pond, and seized the beautiful goose. He brought with him a sharp knife, intending to cut open the poor goose's stomach, and so obtain all the golden treasure which he foolishly fancied was contained therein. I need not tell you how silly he was for supposing that to be the best mode of securing the golden eggs. But I must inform you how his wicked design was thwarted. He had seized the goose, and was about to carry her off and kill her, when the old owl set up so loud a screech that the gander awoke and began to "Qu-a-ak!" and old Mother Goose jumped out of bed in affright, and Jack instantly ran out, and first of all rescued his goose, and then soundly thrashed the rogue with the clothes-prop. Perhaps you will think with me that this piece of timely warning was quite enough to cause Jack to forgive the old owl for all his moping and envy of the beautiful goose. |