Old mother Goose and her son Jack
“Old Mother Goose and her son Jack“ here gives us two important lessons; the first one is always to try to give help to whoever needs help no matter what is your stands or situation, and the second one is “goal determination,” always try to reach your dreams and goals despite all obstacles or people trying to discourage or stop you.
Old Mother Goose and her son Jack
Old Mother Goose lived in a cottage with her son Jack. Jack was a very good lad,
and although he was not handsome, he was good-tempered and industrious,
and this made him better-looking than half the other boys. Old Mother Goose carried
a long stick, she wore a high-crowned hat and high-heeled shoes, and her kerchief
was as white as snow. Then there was the Gander that swam in the pond
and the Owl that sat on the wall. So you see, they formed a very happy family.
But what a fine, strong fellow the Gander was! Whenever Old Mother Goose wanted
to take a journey, she would mount upon his broad, strong back, and away he would
fly and carry her swiftly to any distance.
Now Old Mother Goose thought her Gander often looked sad and lonely, so one day
, she sent Jack to market to buy the finest Goose he could find. It was early
in the morning when he started, and his way lay through a wood. He was not afraid
of robbers, so on he went, with his Mother’s great clothes-prop over his shoulder.
The fresh morning air caused Jack’s spirits to rise. He left the road and plunged
into the thick of the wood, where he amused himself by leaping with his clothes-prop
till he found he had lost himself.
After he had made many attempts to find the path again, he heard a scream.
He jumped up and ran boldly towards the spot from which the sound came.
Through an opening in the trees, he saw a young lady trying to get away from
a ruffian who wanted to steal her mantle. With one heavy blow of his staff, Jack sent
the thief howling away and then went back to the young lady, who was lying
on the ground, crying.
Jack asked, “he is gone. Are you ok?”
She dried her tears and thanked Jack for his help, and then she told Jack, “I am the
daughter of the Squire, who lives in the great white house on the hilltop.
I know the path out of the wood quite well, and when we reach the border, you must
come to my father’s house so that he might thank you for his noble conduct”.
When Jack was left alone, he made the best of his way to the marketplace. He found
little trouble in picking out the best Goose, for when he got there, he was very late,
and there was, but one left. But as it was a prime one, Jack bought it at once
and, keeping to the road, made straight for home. At first, the Goose objected to being
carried; and then, when she had walked along slowly and gravely for a short time,
she tried to fly away; so Jack seized her in his arms and kept her there till he reached
home.
Old Mother Goose was greatly pleased when she saw what a fine bird Jack
had bought; the Gander showed more joy than I can describe. And then they all
lived very happily for a long time. But Jack would often leave off work to dream
of the lovely young lady whom he had rescued in the forest and soon began to sigh
all day long. He neglected the garden, cared no more for the Gander, and scarcely
even noticed the beautiful Goose. But one morning, as he was walking by the pond,
he saw both the Goose and the Gander making a great noise as though they were
in the utmost glee. He went up to them and was surprised to find on the bank a large
golden egg. He ran with it to his mother, who said, “Go to market, my son; sell
your egg, and you will soon be rich enough to pay a visit to the Squire.” So to market,
Jack went and sold his golden egg, but the rogue who bought it for him cheated him
out of half his due. Then he dressed in his finest clothes and went up to the Squire’s
house. Two footmen stood at the door, one looking very stout and saucy and the other
sleepy and stupid.
When Jack asked to see the Squire, they laughed at him and made sport of his fine
clothes; but Jack had wit enough to offer them each a coin when they at once
showed him to the Squire’s room.
Now the Squire, who was very rich, was also very proud and fat and scarcely turned
his head to notice Jack; but when he showed him his bag of gold and asked for his
daughter to be his bride, the Squire flew into a rage, and ordered his servants to throw
him into the horse-pond. But this was not so easy to do, for Jack was strong
and active, and then the young lady come out and begged her father to release him.
This made Jack more deeply in love with her than ever, and he went home determined
to win her despite all. And well did his wonderful Goose aid him in his design.
Almost every morning, she would 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.
So Jack soon grew to be a richer man than the Squire himself. His wealth became
known to all the country round, and the Squire at length consented to accept Jack
as his son-in-law. Then Old Mother Goose flew away into the woods on the back of her
strong Gander, leaving the cottage and the Goose to Jack and his bride, who lived
happily ever afterward.
The End