Page:History of Jack and the bean stalk.pdf/4

 Jack awoke very early in the morning, and seeing something uncommon from the window of his bedchamber, ran down stairs into the garden, where he soon discovered that some of the beans had taken root, and sprung up surprisingly: the stalks were of an immense: thickness, and had so entwined, that they formed a ladder nearly like a chain in appearance! Looking upwards, he could not discern the top, it appeared to be lost in the clouds: he tried it, found it firm, and not to be shaken. He quickly formed the resolution of endeavouring to climb up to the top, in order to seek his fortune, and ran to communicate his intention to his mother, not doubting but she would be equally pleased with himself. She declared he should not go; said it would break her heart if he did - entreated and threatened, but all in vain. Jack set out, and after climbing for some hours reached the top of the bean-stalk, fatigued and quite exhausted. Looking around he found himself in a strange country; it appeared to be a desert, quite barren; not a tree, shrub, house, or living creature to be seen; here and there were scattered fragments of stone, and at unequal distances small heaps of earth were loosely thrown together. Jack seated himself pensively upon a block