A rocky cavern entered,

Was found both dry and light; 'Here,' said the dame's, 'your strong And here we stay till night. [room,

First store away your treasure,

Then go and take a walk-
A climb amongst the branches;

Young folks delight in talk.

But mind you're down by seven,
The hour I take my tea:
And bring the golden hedgehog
Safe from the top of tree.'
Like two young doves the lovers
Have feathered well their nest ;
And then aloft are soaring,

The dame's hedgehog in quest.

'My mother is a queer one,

But, Jack, we must obey; For well I know her power

Our actions to repay.'

Bough after bough they clambered,

It was a giddy height : But Jack was half a sailor,

To him 'twas true delight.

Now they approach fair flowers,

Of ev'ry varied hue :
Now fruit the most delicious-
Jack plucked enough for two.
Once Flora lost her foothold,

And would have come to grief,
But Reynard rushed and caught her:
She trembled like a leaf.

The tree-top seems far distant,
His cottage but a speck:
Shall they attain the summit?
Will either break a neck?

But we must get the hedgehog,
Although it is a bore.'
Never say die!' says Jack, 'dear;'
My song's "Excelsior.""

The topmost bough surmounted,
They ne'er a pig can see :
There's nothing but a large fruit—
A pumpkin it must be.
"Tis prickly all over,

Can this be it, my dear?
There's nothing like a hedgehog
But this, I'm certain, here.

'Tis gathered when, like cannons,

Each large bough cracks and shivers; The fruit roll down like hailstones,

Each leaf curls up and withers.
The tree shrinks in a moment,
To barely half its size;
They slide down in amazement,
Yet hold the prickly prize.

A distant clock strikes seven

As they the cavern reach;
The gipsy took the pumpkin,
And gave a kiss to each.
'Now, whilst the tea is brewing,
The hedgehog I must hatch;
For really 'tis important

That he is up to scratch.

The earth above he'll level,
And, though it sounds absurd,
Will play the part of sexton

When we are safe interred.'
Upon the smoking embers

The dame the pumpkin laid; And soon it cracked and opened, When out the hedgehog strayed.

As soon as tea was over

Jack went in search of fruit, And rigged him for his journey In a black velvet suit.

'Oh, mother!' cried the daughter, On viewing him with pride, 'You never have intended

Our fortunes to divide ?'

In tears the lovely Flora

Has fallen on her knees; 'I really, really love him so, To part my heart would freeze!'

'I do not mean to part you,

But you must change your shape : What say you to attend him,

Disguised as an ape?'

'Oh, mother! dearest mother!
I hate the very word;
I'd rather be a reptile-
A viper, or a bird.

I'd rather wear my old dress,

Though that was most unpleasant; I'd rather flap my wings all day,

And be a golden pheasant.'

My dears, my plans are settled,

But as your road I go, I'll tell you as we travel

All that you need to know.

Jack must work mighty wonders,
And win a warlike name;
As Jack the Giant-Killer

He shall be known to fame,'

A rattle like artillery,

A whiz, a sudden crash, Which shakes the very earth round, And then a giant splash.

The tott'ring tree falls headlong,

The monstrous branches break, And in a thousand pieces

Nigh cover all the lake.

Jack at the moment rushes,
To climb the cavern stair;
There's nothing of the stem left,
To show 'twas ever there.
The gipsy rising tells him

To draw the soil around,
Leave but a tiny entrance,

Then follow underground.
This done, she lifts the hedgehog,
To scratch about the hole;
Who hides all trace of staircase,
Then burrows like a mole.

'Our carriage, Jack, is waiting,
And as we've far to go,
I'll harness in the pony,

And then we'll drive below.'

Р

That Flora is bewitching,

Jack feels is more than true: But her ma's too bewitching,Where will she take them to? She bolts a massive trap-door,

Now raised above their heads; Then lifts another like it,

Each action Reynard dreads. Beneath her arm's the hedgehog, Within her hand a light ; The gipsy's fast descending, The young pair hope all's right. About a thousand steep steps

We may say-more or less; They follow close as may be,

Though I must here confess, The arm that steadied Flora,

So tightly clasped her waist, It rather served to hinder

Than to increase her haste. At length they reached a level, And there's a boat on wheels; The hedgehog soon is harnessed, And quite at home he feels. Jack handed in the ladies,

But kept near Flora's side: The tramway still is downhill,

An easy, pleasant ride.

Mile after mile is traversed,
Until at length a splash :
The boat is on a canal,

The hedgehog needs no lash.

He pulls along so steady,

So swiftly, that the tide, Caused by some falling waters, Is clearly from that side. The roof in parts is lofty,

Their torch scarce parts the gloom; At other times the channel

But just affords them room. Jack notes the massive crystals

Which in the torchlight shone;
The gipsy dame informs him

Each is some precious stone.
At length they near a chasm,
And hear the angry roar
Of heavy-falling waters :

Jack trembles to the core.
'My dears, these are the rapids

Which we have got to shoot;
Most like we get a ducking-

Let each one grasp a fruit.'
The noise grows louder-louder-
Like lightning now they glide:
The hedgehog doesn't like it,

So takes a seat inside.

Breathless they hold their pumpkins,
Hollowed to make them float:
Their pace is now terrific,

And scarcely can they note
How mother, cunning creature!
Has changed into a seal,
And crawled to a snug corner,
Where she may safer feel.

Jack fondly kissed his Flora,

And then they felt the splash: Head over heels the whirlpools

Them and the frail boat dash! All are in sudden darkness; Down, and yet down they go : Jack feels as if all's over,

Yet finds the pumpkin grow. The waters soon grow calmer,

He finds himself afloat, The pumpkin rolling forward, And yonder is the boat.

And there is Flora in it,

Soaked, by her mother's side: 'You're late!' the dame said, frowning, I must this dawdling chide.

But soon we stop for breakfast,
And you will both require
To stand for half an hour,
And dry before the fire.

Bring in the pair of pumpkins,

For they contain our store. I'm glad you haven't lost them,

For hunger you'd deplore.'

They land and feast, and, now dry,

They take the boat again, And onward go quite merry ; Jack can no more refrain. 'Good mother, may I hear now What you require of me?' "Wait patiently an hour,

And we at home shall be.

I may unfold just this much,
The Giant whom you slew
Has three or four young brothers,
Whom you must clear off, too.'
At length again they landed,

And take an upward course;
Their progress getting slower,
Jack walks to rest the horse.
But soon the rocks close round them,
The end seems gained at last;
'Jack, have you any matches?

For I the rock must blast.' Above them is a black hole,

Which proves a lofty shaft:
What can the dame be up to?

Jack fears she has gone daft.
A charge of some queer powder
She drives into a hole;
Then, guiding, makes the boat-car
Right o'er the spot to roll.
The hedgehog, smelling danger,
Again has jumped inside,
Just as the dame leaned over

And the bright torch applied.
A terrible explosion,

And they ascend the shaft; Jack feels he's being blown up,— The gipsy only laughed. They're shot into a crevice,

Jack hands the ladies out; Alone to find his way back

Would puzzle him, no doubt.