The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-07-24

time, but after a while when she came
10 herself and saw what Jack had done
done and how they were now without
further money or food or COW, she got
very, very angry at Jack and scoldei
him hard, and then sat down and began
TO cry.
Poor Jack when he looked at himself
confessed that he was a stupid fool en-
tirely. And what" says he, shall !
now do for my poor mother" He went
out along the road thinking, thinking,
and he met a wee woman who said good
morrow to you.
Jack" says she. how is it you are
not trying for the Kings daughter of
Ireland?"
What do you mean?" says Jack
Says she: Didn't you hear what the
whole world heard-that the King of Ire
land had a daughter who didn't laugh
for seven years, and have promised 10
give her in marriage and get the kingdom
along with her, to any man who would
take three laughs over her?"
If that is So" says Jack, says he.
1T is not here | shall be-
Back TO the house he went and gath
ers together the bee. the harp. the mouse.
and the bum-clock, and. putting them into
his pocket, he bode his mother good-by.
and tolr her 1t wouldn't be long till she
got good news from him, and off he hur-
ries
When he reached the castle there was
ring of spikes all around the castle.
and mems heads on nearly every spike
there.
"What heads is them?" Jack asked
one OF the Kings soldiers.
ANY man that comes here trying 20
win the kings daughter, and that fails
10 make her laugh three times loses his
head and has it stuck on spike Them
ere the heads that's failed once"
A mighty big crowd" says Jack. says
he. Then Jack sent word 10 tell the King
daughter and the King that there was a
new man who tried to come to win her.
In very little time the King and the
Kings daughter and the Kings court oil
came out 10 sit themselves down on gold
and silver chairs in front Of the castle
and ordered Jack TO be near until he
would have his trial. Jack before he went
took out % his pocket a bee and a harp
and a mouse and a bum-clock. and he gave
tho harp 10 the bee. and he tied a string
10 one and the other and took the end 81
the string himself and marched under the
castle yard before all the court with his
animals coming on string behind him
When the Queen and the King and the
court saw tie Prince and poor. ragged
lack with his bee and the mouse and
bum-clock hopping behind him on a string
they set up one roar OF laughter that was
long and loud enough. and when the King
daughter herself lifted her head AMI
Z I
at. and saw Jack and his paraphernaliia
she opened her mouth and she let out If
her such laugh as was never heard be-
fore.
Then Jack dropped a low courtesy ard
said: Thank you, my lady; l have ore
II the three parts Of you won"
Then he drew Up his animals in a circle
and began 10 whistle, and the minute he
did TIE bee began 10 play the harp. and
;hr mouse and bum-clock stood up on
their hird legs. got hold Of each other.
and began 10 dance. and the King and
Kings court and Jack himself began 10
dance and TO Jig, and everything about
the Kings castle. pots and pans. wheels
and reels and the castle Itself, began TO
dance also. And the Kings daughter
when she saw this opened her mouth
again. and let out OF her a laugh ts-ice
louder than she let before, and Jack, in
the middle Of his igging. drops another
courtesy and says. Thank you. my lady:
that is two Of the three parts OF you
won" But Jack and his menagerie had
been playing and dancing. From this Gay
Jack could not get the three laughs on;
az her. and poor Jack saw his big head IN
danger % going on the spike. But the
brave mouse came TO Jacks head and
wheeled round upon its heel. and as II did
so it, tail sWiped into the bum-clock I
mouth. and the bum-ciock began 10 cough
ana cough and cough. And when the
Kings daughter saw this she opened her