Old Stingy Jack and the Jack O Lantern Story
Adapted by Beth Anz
shared at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brevard on 10-30-22
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB-hsyTI4S4
Every year on Halloween night you see pumpkins and turnips
lit up in front of houses up and down the streets. Carved in
fun shapes of ghouls and goblins and scary smiles.
But where does this spooky gorded creature come from,
we’ll none other than “Stingy Jack”. Who is
stingy Jack you ask?
We’ll a no good louse that I had the misfortune to
come across one moonlit night. You see, my name is Lucy,
and I am one of the good folk. The wee ones who
may grant you good fortune or back luck, a “trick or treat”
if you will. And on all hallows eve, us wee folk can move
through the veils and interact with mere mortals
on their journeys.
Now “Stingy Jack” as he was known to the townsfolk
had a reputation, and not a good one. He lied, cheated
and stole from everyone he could. He had few friends
and many enemies. One All Hallow’s Eve, on his
way to the Harvest Festival, Jack came across an
otherworldly woman on the road. She had a large
cart, full of treats, which had toppled over.
“Good Sir” I shouted. “Will you help me turn over my cart,
it is so heavy and many hands make light work”.
Now us wee folk have been known from time to time
to grant treats, and kind wishes to those who show
good character, but this gentleman was of no good character.
“What concern is that of mine?” He said.
“Well concern for your fellow man” I said.
“All of the other townsfolk are already at the harvest festival
and there is no one else to help. Could you please
assist me and we can be on our way?”
“Well what’s in it for me?” he said. “Why should I strain
my back for your cart?”.
After going back and forth for some time, I relented.
Clearly this man was looking for a trick, and not a treat.
“I will give you coin for your harvest cider” I said.
“Make it several” he said, and then reluctantly assisted
me with my cart and we continued on the road to
the harvest festival. Well any fool knows that kindness
is its own reward, but this man was an
exceptional fool indeed.
As I learned from the townsfolk, “Stingy Jack” as
he was known, was universally disliked for his lying
and thieving ways. Surely he was ripe for a trick.
As promised I gave the barkeep my coin for his cider.
I bought him 3 as is the wee folks custom, and Jack
became more and more inebriated as night went on.
Of course the barkeep warned me “Stay away from
that Stingy Jack, he’ll steal your coins as soon as
you’re not looking”. Sure enough 3 free ciders for one
good deed was not enough. When I refused to buy
him another, he reached into my pockets and tried
to steal my coins for what he was owed.
As quickly as he tried to steal the coins, they dissolved
in his hands. His selfishness knew no limits. Over and
over he was thwarted until he became desperate.
“Please”, he said “Just one more drink” I’ll give you
anything, anything.
“Would you sell your soul?” I said.
“My Soul” he said, “Sure, what is a soul anyway”,
anything, just give me another drink.
So a special drink was made, that only the wee folk know of,
that Jack happily consumed. Of course any fool knows
not to take food or drink from the fae, but Stingy Jack was
no ordinary fool. Once he had fallen into my trap,
I revealed myself for only his eyes to see.
“You see, I'll take your wretched soul, and drag you to
the otherworld where no good lying cheating rogues such
as yourself are tricked into our realm for eternity”.
Suddenly the earth opened up and Jack learned that
his soul was very real indeed.
“No, wait” Jack begged and pleaded and looked around
everywhere for some loophole to avoid his fate.
It was then he pulled out his horseshoe necklace and
wrapped it around my neck. “Iron,” I said. Rookie mistake.
I should have checked him before I revealed myself.
Everyone knows that Iron traps our kind
and prevents our mischief.
“Let me go” said Jack, and I will remove this horseshoe.
“A debt must be paid” said I,”but I will make you a deal.
10 years you may have, and not a day more.
10 years and I will return to repay the debt.
In that time if you grow and learn from your stingy
ways a new bargain may be struck”.
“I will change”, he said “I promise. I have learned
my lesson”.
So I let him go on his way.
Now 10 years passed on all Hallow’s eve, and
Stingy Jack quickly forgot his promise. He continued
in his miserly, thieving and unkind ways. And on
all Hallows eve, 10 years later, I met him again
on the road.
“It’s time”, I said to Jack. “I have come to collect
and take what’s mine”.
Jack grabbed for his neck and searched for
his lucky horseshoe.
“Not falling for that again” I said, as I pointed to
his horseshoe swaying in the top of a nearby apple tree.
Frantically, Jack started to climb up the tree, desperate
to reach the horseshoe and avoid his fate again.
But this time I was ready. My elemental friends caused
a strong breeze to move across the land, swaying
the tree to and fro. Jack reached the very top and
grabbed onto the horseshoe just as the branches broke
in the breeze, and down he went, tumbling down
to the ground to his death.
Jack had tricked me again, unable to claim his soul
for the fae, he went on to the afterlife. But the afterlife
didn’t want Stingy Jack. All his thievery and lies left
him alone in limbo after his death, cursed to walk the
earth for his crimes. And so I took pity on him, and
gave him a fairy light to guide him on his way.
Jack found a gourd and carved a toothed smile on its
skin to carry that light for all eternity. And that is how
Stingy Jack became the Jack of the Lantern on
Halloween night. So make sure to say hello to Jack this
Hallow’s Eve, and remember to share your treats
so you don’t get tricked.
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