FAIRY TALES 197

Jack to cease his playing so that she might stop. But all Jack would say was:

“ W ill you beat me, then? Will you beat me, then?”

“Indeed I will! Indeed I will!” his mother kept crying. Soon she was so tired that she could cry no longer; she could scarcely keep on her feet, but swayed to and fro. At last she fell and struck her head upon the floor—and then she was ready to promise not to beat Jack, if he would only stop his playing.

But all this while the rent had not been paid.

One day the mother said, “To-day the king will be here. What can we do?”

“I will pay him,” said Jack. “You need think no more about it.” He took some earthen dishes and broke them until they were in small pieces, and put them into a bag. He packed the bag as full as it would hold, and sealed the strings with tar.

Soon the king and two servants came to the door. The frightened old woman ran and hid. But Jack went to meet them, and asked them in. Then he brought in the bag, and placed it upon the table, making it rattle and chink like a bag of money. Then he brought his little magic platter and said to the king:

“My father, before he died, told me to set this most delicious food before you, when you came to the house.”