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Jack the Beanies and Doctor Seuss© Virginia Marin
While waiting for a prescription to be filled the other day, I sat down, and, picking up a child's book, I began to read...
The Cat in the Hat. A delightful first book from the famed Dr. Seuss. Cute book. Fast reading. I picked up another. I Love My Beanies. I did not recognize the author. Hey, lots of kids' books here. Must be a sickly generation. Ah! Castles. Now I'm getting there. Then in small print, very small print - Sand Castles. I heaved a great sigh, and decided to people watch. Lots of people. Oops! They are taking MY books! Soon the floor was crawling with kids, and MY books. Only one left. Jack and the Beanstalk. Must have been stuck in another book!
Jack and the Beanstalk - a well-known, and well-worn nursery tale. But, this book was shiny new. The other books were tattered and dog-eared. Why, when Jack is found among a wide variety of races from the Icelanders to the Zulus did no one want him? Now, Jack and his mother were very poor. (That should appeal to the parents buying these prescriptions!) He was sent by his mother to sell a cow, which he parts with to a butcher for a few beans,instead of money. His mother, in a rage, throws the beans out of the window. (these moms are very calm. Guess they just can't relate to Jack's mom). During the night, the seeds begin to grow - and grow - and grow! Into the heavens the beanstalk grew! Jack decides he must climb the stalk, and, by the direction of a fairy, comes to a giant's castle, where he seeks entry. He does this three time, and at each of the visits avails himself of a "gift." He steals the giant's red hen which lays golden eggs, his money bags, and his harp. As he is leaving with the harp, it cries out, "Master! Master!" The giant awakens and chases after Jack. But Jack is too fast. He slides down the beanstalk with the giant in pursuit. Reaching the bottom first, Jack cuts down the stalk with his axe, and the ugly giant falls to his death. |
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