9
VII. Goose That Laid Golden Egg
VERSES BY SEYMOUR EATON
ILLUSTRATIONS BY C. H. TWELVETREES
Copyright 1907 by Seymour Eaton
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, JANUARY 3, 1908.
11 llMm
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" The oven opened; TEDDY-B peeped out
To see what the row was all about.
You heard how the Milky Cow was sold
For five queer beans instead of gold,
And how the beans grew up one night
Beyond the clouds, clear out of sight,
And then how Jack went up to see
The fruit that grew on this beanstalk tree,
And how he found a big estate,
Where lived a giant in a castle great,
And how the giant, roaring mad,
Down that tall beanstalk chased the lad
And then how Jack came down the tree
And told the story to TEDDY-B,
And how each Bear on Halloween
Planted again a mysterious bean," r;
And how next day Billy Blink and Jack
And TEDDY-B with hunter's pack
And TEDDY-G in comic suit
With whip to crack and horn to toot
Climbed up that beanstalk, boys and bear
To catch this giant unawares.
They saw the castle a mile ahead,
As big and grand as Jack had said ;
So on they tramped at a lively rate
To the castle wall and the entrance gate.
Billy Blink was nervous and said that he
Would just as soon let giants be, -
So long as they lived in worlds so high;
And his advice was not to try
To go into the castle the giant to scare;
But if the famous goose were there
And had an egg or two to spare
He'd like to take some samples back, .
One for himself and one for Jack.
But Jack was braver and spoke right out
And said if they found that giant about
The thing to do was for TEDDY-B
to say "Hands up, or you'll a deader be,"
And then to tie him hands and feet
And drop him down to the village street.
Then TEDDY-B spoke up to say
That detectives didn't work that way.
"You boys stay here at the gate," said he,
"And I'll go in with TEDDY-G,
And look about and the grounds explore
And find the way to the castle door.
Don't move an inch till you hear a shot,
But then come quick to the very spot."
The lads remained and the bears went thro"
The castle gate the grounds to view; ', -But
it's only fir to the lads to say
That the bears themselves were scared that
day.
They stepped tiptoe, and at every sound
They trembled so they shook the ground.
They didn't laugh; they didn't talk;
But crept along the garden walk
Till they reached the door; then TEDDY-B
Said, "I'll go in this giant to see ;
You stay outside and do your best .
To find this famous goose's nest."
Said TEDDY-G, "My trembling legs
Are fitted best to hunt for eggs.
If I find the .goose I'll have a ride
While you explore the rooms inside."
TEDDY-B got brave from head to knee
And walked right in the giant to see.
The giant's wife said, "Who comes there?"
And he answered kindly, "A Teddj' Bear;
I've called, good madam, on, you today
To get some breakfast, and to ask the way
To the giant's home ; from things I hear,
The giant himself must be quite near."
Just then they heard, an "awful roarx
And a cross, gruff Aoice at the kitchen door
,And smashing sounds from the giant's stick
And words which sounded like "Open,
' quick."
"Yes, that's the giant," the woman said;
"Betfer hide at once, or he'll kill you dead'
She opened the oven and pushed TEDDY-B
Away inside, where he couldn't see.
The giant came in and tramped about
And this is what he was heard to shout:
"Fee, fi, fo, fum; in the oven there
I smell the blood of a Teddy Bear;
Be he alive, or be he dead,
I'll grind his bones to make my bread."
TEDDY-B,- shut up in the oven nook,'
Could feel his bones begin to cook,
But he didn't speak or breathe or stir,
Though he smelt the scorching of his fur.
Meanwhile, TEDDY-G had found the goose
And had cut the cord and let her loose, ; "
And was on her back, cracking his whip,
And making her go. at a lively, clip,
And tooting his horn as he passed the gate
Where Billy and Jack were asked to wait.
The lads stepped into the castle court
To see the two and enjoy the sport.
"Bring in the goose," the giant said;
"She's tied by a cord in the castle. shed ;
And stir the fire and make it flare,
For I like the smell of that Teddy Bear."
The door was opened; in ran the goose,
As though a circus had broken loose;
For TEDDY-G was on her back
And close on her heels Billy Blink and Jack;
And all three laughing until they saw
The giant's eyes and mouth and jaw
And awful teeth and the way he shook
: His tousled head at every look.
Then Billy and Jack and TEDDY-G
Were just as frightened as they could be.
The oven opened; TEDDY-B peeped out
To see what the row was all about;
And just in time to save poor Jack
From the giant's club, an awful whack.
Like a warrior bold and a soldier brave,
He made that great big giant behave.
"Put down that club!" and a pistol, shot
:;;: ' ;
04 And was on her Back, cracking his whip.
And making her go at a lively clip,"
Fired by TEDDY-B just hit the spot .
' And smashed the club and a window broke
And filled the room so full of smoke
That before he knew it the boys and bears
Had tied the giant to bench and chairs
So tight with ropes he couldn't twist
Or stand or kick or move his fist.
The goose just laughed at the giant's plight
And urged the bears to tie him tight.
Said TEDDY-B, "We'll cut you loose
If you'll give for freedom your famous goose.
But you must promise if you get free
That till we get down the beanstalk tree
You'll sit right here on this bench of wood
. And ever after this be good."
The giant promised, and his wife said she'
Would lock the door and hide the key
And keep him there till they got back
With the famous goose to the home of Jack.
What happened after has not been told,
Except that the goose laid an egg of gold
For Jack and his mother every day,
And the beanstalk tree was cut away,
And nobody ever heard again
Of the giant who roasted boys and men.