“The Language of Animals” Europa’s Fairy Book, Joseph Jacobs, New York, London: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1916, pp. 66-71.

Tale Summary

There was once a simple-minded boy named Jack, who was sent off to school for a year by his father in order to learn something. When he returned home, he told his father that he now understands a dog when it barks. His father sends him away again, and he once more comes home, saying he understands what a frog is saying when it croaks. He is sent away to school one more time, and comes back to say he understands the sounds of birds singing. His father decides to test him, and asks him what the birds over their heads are saying. Reluctantly, Jack repeats their words, which are that there will come a day when Jack’s father will offer him water on bended knees, and his mother will offer a towel. Jack’s father is very angry, and pays a robber to kill him to prevent this from happening, but the robber alerts Jack and tells him to run away, and gives a deer heart to the father. On his way, Jack stops at a castle, where there are dogs barking. He tells the lord of the castle that there will be an attack that night, and even though he is made fun of, there are extra men put on guard. There is an attack, so Jack is paid a reward, and continues onward with another traveler. They stop at another castle, where the lord’s daughter is very ill. Jack says he heard the frogs talking about it, and the cause of her illness was that she dropped her holy wafer and a frog ate it. They retrieve the wafer, and the daughter is cured, so Jack receives another reward. The two men continue traveling, with the company of another traveler. They are journeying towards Rome, when Jack says that he heard the birds say that one of them will be the Pope. When they reach the city, they learn that the Pope has just died, and that they are naming his successor. Everyone will pass through an arch with a bell and two doves, and whoever the doves land on will be the next Pope. His two companions go first with no luck, and then Jack goes through the arch, and the doves land on him. He travels back to his home town and demands a great banquet, ordering his father to bring him water and his mother bring him a towel. He reveals himself as their son, and forgives his father, taking them both to live with him.