The Three Questions
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NURSEY STORIES
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Popular Rhymes And Nursery Tales
There lived formerly in the county of Cumberland a nobleman who had
three sons, two of whom were comely and clever youths, but the other a
natural fool, named Jack, who was generally dressed in a party-coloured
coat, and a steeple-crowned hat with a tassel, as became his condition.
Now the King of the East Angles had a beautiful daughter, who was
distinguished by her great ingenuity and wit, and he issued a decree
that
whoever should answer three questions put to him by the princess
should have her in marriage, and be heir to the crown at his decease.
Shortly after this decree was published, news of it reached the ears of
the nobleman's sons, and the two clever ones determined to have a trial,
but they were sadly at a loss to prevent their idiot brother from going
with them. They could not, by any means, get rid of him, and were
compelled at length to let Jack accompany them. They had not gone far,
before Jack shrieked with laughter, saying, "I've found an egg." "Put it
in your pocket," said the brothers. A little while afterwards, he burst
out into another fit of laughter on finding a crooked hazel stick, which
he also put in his pocket: and a third time, he again laughed
extravagantly because he found a nut. That also was put with his other
treasures.
When they arrived at the palace, they were immediately admitted on
mentioning the nature of their business, and were ushered into a room
where the princess and her suite were sitting. Jack, who never stood on
ceremony, bawled out, "What a troop of fair ladies we've got here!"
"Yes," said the princess, "we are fair ladies, for we carry fire in our
bosoms." "Do you," said Jack, "then roast me an egg," pulling out the
egg from his pocket. "How will you get it out again?" said the princess.
"With a crooked stick," replied Jack, producing the hazel. "Where did
that come from?" said the princess. "From a nut," answered Jack, pulling
out the nut from his pocket. And thus the "fool of the family," having
been the first to answer the questions of the princess, was married to
her the next day, and ultimately succeeded to the throne.