English Story The Table, The Donkey and The Stick | Learn English Through Stories | Fairy Tales

Summary

This is a tale of three brothers—Tom, Bob, and Jack—who each receive magical gifts after working hard for a year. Tom gets a magical table, Bob a magical donkey, and Jack a magical stick. However, a jealous old man steals their gifts. Tom and Bob, deceived by the old man, return home disappointed. Jack, however, uses the magic stick to retrieve all the stolen items. In the end, the brothers return to their mother’s home, where the magic table and donkey provide abundant food and gold, ensuring a happy life for the family.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tom, the youngest son, works for a kind man and receives a magic table that provides food when he says 'I am hungry.'
• 😀 Bob, the middle son, works for a man who gives him a magic donkey that produces gold when he says 'Brickle bat.'
• 😀 Jack, the oldest son, works for a woodcutter and receives a magic stick that hits anyone unkind when said 'stick out of the box.'
• 😀 A jealous old man steals Tom’s magic table and Bob’s magic donkey while they are sleeping, replacing them with fake versions.
• 😀 Both Tom and Bob return home with their magical items stolen, only to discover the deception when they try to use them.
• 😀 Jack retrieves both the magic table and magic donkey from the old man by using his magic stick to punish him.
• 😀 Jack's magic stick is powerful enough to make the old man beg for mercy in exchange for returning the stolen items.
• 😀 Tom and Bob are reunited with their magic table and donkey thanks to Jack, restoring their family's fortune.
• 😀 The story emphasizes the power of hard work and kindness, as each son is rewarded for their efforts with a magical gift.
• 😀 Greed and jealousy are portrayed as negative traits, as the old man’s desire for the magic items leads to his downfall.
• 😀 The story concludes with the family living happily and generously sharing their newfound wealth with the villagers.

Q & A

What were the three sons' names in the story?

The three sons were named Tom, Bob, and Jack.

What kind of work did Tom do during his journey?

Tom worked for a kind man who made tables and other wooden items.

What special gift did Tom receive from the kind man?

Tom received a magic table that could produce food when he said, 'I am hungry.'

How did the old man in the story deceive Tom?

The old man stole Tom's magic table while Tom was asleep, replacing it with a fake one.

What did Bob receive from the friendly man he worked for?

Bob received a magic donkey that could produce gold when he said the magic word 'bricklebat.'

How did the old man manage to steal Bob's magic donkey?

The old man swapped Bob's magic donkey for a normal one while Bob was asleep.

What was Jack's special gift from the woodcutter?

Jack received a magic stick that could hit anyone unkind to him when he said, 'stick out of the box.'

How did Jack retrieve the magic table and donkey from the old man?

Jack used the magic stick to make the old man give up the magic table and donkey after the stick hit him until he agreed.

How did Jack's mother react when he returned home with the magic items?

Jack's mother was very happy to see him and the magical items, especially the stick that helped retrieve the table and donkey.

What was the final outcome for the family and the village?

The family lived happily ever after, with the magic table providing wonderful food and the magic donkey providing gold. The village also benefited from these gifts.