The weekly union record., 1864-03-26


fast some spring morning. and then take
draught of the water at the right spot, you viii
find it has given you the sharpest appetite VOC
ever had in your life.
You would have thought that these two
miSadventures would have pretty well sickened
Jack OF the cunning old giants presents; bu
no. He still relied on wha, remained to him
the coat of darkneSs-"thst, al least. must b
useful TO me- be said 10 himself. So he wen
up more hills and down more dales with th'
coat in his saddle bag as before.
He travelled long time, however, withou
having any sport. THIS put him out, and h
got very cross for he bad been nearly spoil
BY being made so much of at King Arthur
court. One day, when be was in the worst o.
humoTs, he met knight in armor riding quietly
along the road and, having nothing else TO ven
his i'll temper on. he determined to pick
quarrel with him. "Hollo. you sir" be cried
out, how dare you pass me without salutiug /
Don't you know that am the great Jack thd
Giant Killer Y You shall either salute me OF
fight me -
III you are indeed he" replied the stranger
'you had better pursue your profession, instead
of moleSing peaceable travellers. shall not
salute YOU because am as good knigh, a
you; and l will not fight you. because bear
you carry magic weapons for which | am no
match"
Il will not use them against you." reptile
Jack; "it shall be all fair; but fight me you
shall"
Very we'll. said the other. Il don't want tc
fight you or anybody; but if you attack me
of course l must defend myself"
Then Jack lowered his lance, and ran full til
at the knight but the other kept his seat with
out moving au inch. Again and again Jack
tried TO overthrow him, bat he might as wei
have tilted against Stonehenge. You may
suppose that this did not improve his temper
He got nearly mad with rage and vexation
and at last. | am sorry to say, the desire td
defeat his adversary took such hold of him tha
he forgot his promise, and was tempted to sG
on the Coat o. Darkness. Il will not hurt him,
be said to himself; but really must have Tho
pleasure of seeing him roll over in the mud jus
once So he made himself invisible, and ther
rode at the knight again. The knight, no
seeing which side the blow was coming from
of course was unable to resist it. So be wa;
hurled from his horse 10 the ground, and there
be lay. motionless as one dead.
When be saw what be had done, all Jack
bad passion left him in an instact, and be was
seized by shame and remorse. He ran up I'd
the knight and endeavored to raise him. The
wounded man recovered little, but refused bis
help. "Begone p be said, in a stern though
feeble voice 'you have slain me by a fou
blow : let not my last moments be disturbed
by the presence of oorqrd. With these
words be fell back his face turned pale, hi
limbs stifened, and he spoke no more.
Jack, in the greatest distress, did all be
could think of 10 revive him, but with no sue
cess Then. rising up, he slowly and sorrow
fully turned bis horses head homewards.
The knight spoke truly" he said within
himself Il have done shameful aud COW
ardy deed, and am no longer worthy TO pun
ish the crimes of others. HeDceforth l viii
retire from the world, and live in penitence and
obscurity. l now perceive that those magic|
gifts were only fatal snares Oh that l had
listened to the advice Of the wise Merlin -
But will 60 now aud tell him ALL"
So he returned to Camelot in a very differ
ent mood from that in which be had set out
lie sought the wise Merlin. and freely told himI
everything that had happened, confessiug all
his errors and misfortunes without any con-
cealment When be had finished his tale, tbeV
wise Merlin smiled checrfuly, and answered.
him thus:
MY sou, be comforted | see with joy|
that you are now cured of the faults which,
were creeping over you, and may safely tell
you the truth. Learn, then, that the two|
giants and the knight were DO other than my-|
self You know that | have the power of as
suming any shape please and perceiving|
that you needed q sharp lesson to rouse you'll
from your state of Incidence and selfsatistac-
ton, took this means of bringing you to al
sense of your duty. Cheer up. therefore,
there is no harm done, and you are betterI
man than ever. You have already got rid of
the shoes and sword, get rid of the coat also Il
and then you will be worthy to wear the only|
one of the giants treasures that was really
useful, the Cap of knowledge, which | now
return to you"
Jack embraced the good Enchantcr with
the warmest gratitude and delight.
you have taken load off my heart" he
cried, land have given me lesson which I
will never forget. But as for the Cap of
knowledge, pray keep it yourself. You are
wise, and will know how to use it; but per.
ceive that knowledge without wisdom is Of no
avail. possessed it; but it did me no good.
Henceforth | will learn TO depend on myself
alone"
Just then King Arthur was busy making
up huge fire to boil that famous plum pud-
ui0g Vi DIS lDat you nave 50 uIltu Heafu oI-
So Jack went up TO the furnace and thrust the
coat into it.
Merlin kept the cap, and became ten times
more knowing than even he bad been before.
Nevertheless. he was made regular fool OF
by pretty woman soon aflerward.
Jack got up early the very next morning
after his return and practiced the dumb bells
two hours before breakfast; and after few
weeks of training be felt Fl; for his old work
once more, and went forth in proper state Of
mind, as be had done in the days OF Cormoran.
to destroy all the race of wicked giants on
the face of the earth He had vast number
OF adventures, which l have no time to tell
you. can only say, that in the end he was
perfectly successful and the best proof of it
is that you may travel from the Lands En- TO
John O'Groats and back again without
meeting single giant, except, perhaps, at
fair, and be will be only a puny stunted crea-
ture, barely eight feet high, who couldn't eat
much as baby if be tried.