The father of the "boy" Jack had married a second time, and Jack's stepmother behaved most harshly to him, and half starved him.
"Nay, tho' his meat and drink was poor
He had not half enough.
Yet, if he seem'd to crave for more
His ears she strait did cuff."
His father, however, behaved kindly, and to get the lad away, proposed he should look after the cows all day, taking his provision with him. One day, an old man came to him and begged for food, on which Jack offered him his dinner, which the old man thankfully took and eat.
Indeed, he was so grateful that he told Jack he would give him three things, whatever he liked to choose. Jack replied—