p,
and promised to excuse him to her father.

In the morning the princess told the king, to his great astonishment,
that Jack must not be beheaded, for he had been fishing in the hall all
night; but when he heard how Jack had caught such beautiful fish out of
his pocket, he asked him to catch one in his own.

Jack readily undertook the task, and bidding the king lie down, he
pretended to fish in his pocket, having another fish concealed ready in
his hand, and giving him a sly prick with a needle, he held up the fish,
and showed it to the king.

His majesty did not much relish the operation, but he assented to the
marvel of it, and the princess and Jack were united the same day, and
lived for many years in happiness and prosperity.

[Illustration:
OYEZ OYEZ OYEZ
THE ENGLISH FAIRY TALES
ARE NOW CLOSED
LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS
MUST NOT READ ANY FURTHER]

Notes and References

For some general remarks on the English Folk-Tale and previous
collectors, I must refer to the introductory observations added to the
Notes and References of _English Fairy Tales_, in the third edition.
With the present instalment the tale of English Fairy Stories that are
likely to obtain currency among the young folk is complete. I do not
know of more than half-a-dozen "outsiders" that deserve to rank with
those included in my two volumes which, for the present, at any rate,
must serve as the best substitute that can be offered for an English
Grimm. I do not despair of the future. After what Miss Fison (who, as I
have recently learned, was the collector of _Tom Tit Tot_ and _Cap o'
Rushes_), Mrs. Balfour, and Mrs. Gomme have done in the way of
collecting among the folk, we may still hope for substantial additions
to our stock to be garnered by ladies from the less frequented portions
of English soil. And from the United States we have every reason to
expect a rich harvest to be gathered by Mr. W.W. Newell, who is
collecting the English folk-tales that still remain current in New
England. If his forthcoming book equals in charm, scholarship, and
thoroughness his delightful _Games and Songs of American Children_, the
Anglo-American folk-tale will be enriched indeed. A further examination
of English nursery rhymes may result in some additions to our stock. I
reserve these for separate treatment in which I am especially
interested, owing to the relations which I surmise between the folk-tale
and the _cante-fable_.

Meanwhile th