Jack was carrying a bag of meal home to his mother when the North West Wind came whistling down the mountain and blew the meal right out of the bag. Angry at the loss, Jack marched to the Wind's house to demand payment. The Wind, feeling a bit guilty, gave Jack a magic tablecloth that would spread a feast whenever Jack said, 'Spread, cloth, spread!' On his way home, Jack stayed at an inn where the greedy innkeeper swapped the magic cloth for a common one while Jack slept. When Jack got home and the cloth failed, he returned to the Wind. This time, the Wind gave him a bird that dropped gold. Again, the innkeeper stole it. Finally, the Wind gave Jack a bag containing a magic club. When the innkeeper tried to steal it that night, the club jumped out and gave him a sound thrashing until he returned the cloth and the bird. Jack went home wealthy, and the North West Wind never troubled his meal again.
Justice favors the persistent, but one must always be prepared to protect their hard-earned rewards from those who would steal them.
Questions about this story
What is the moral of Jack and the North West Wind?
The moral is that persistence pays off and that those who try to cheat others will eventually face the consequences of their actions. It also teaches the importance of standing up for oneself against both nature and human greed.
Who is the North West Wind in this story?
The North West Wind is a personified force of nature, depicted as a powerful being who lives in a house on the mountain. Though he causes Jack trouble, he is fair-minded enough to provide Jack with magic gifts as compensation.
What magic items does Jack receive from the Wind?
Jack receives three items: a magic tablecloth that produces food on command, a bird (or sometimes a sheep) that produces gold, and a magic club that beats those who try to steal from Jack.
How does Jack retrieve his stolen items?
Jack retrieves his items by using the third gift, a magic club. When the innkeeper tries to steal the bag containing the club, the club leaps out and beats the thief until he agrees to return the tablecloth and the gold-producing bird.
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Good night.
