The tale of Jumping Jim 1/3

Jennifer Jane lay in bed thinking about the bedtime story which her Mother had just read to her. It had been a nice story, all about goblins and dwarves, dragons and brave deeds. There had been fairy castles and lots of treasure. In fact, it was just the sort of story book that grown-ups would give to their children and then keep borrowing to read for themselves.

Jennifer Jane sighed and wondered why the writers of fairy stories always seemed to make the goblins into bad characters. All the goblins she had met were very polite and friendly. Why, even the goblin charm on her necklace looked happy. She couldn't imagine any of them doing nasty things to people and decided that tomorrow she would visit her goblin friends and ask if they knew the reason for their bad reputation in stories.

After breakfast the next day, she told Mum that she was off to the woods for a walk.

"Hadn't you better take your umbrella?" laughed Dad.

"Not today," said Jennifer Jane, "it won't be needed."

She set off quickly for the goblin village in the wood and was soon knocking on Mr Kernell's front door.

"Hello, Jennifer Jane," he said, "you're just in time for a cup of something. Come down into the parlour."

"Hi there, J.J., surprise!" Sitting in the parlour was Jasper the American goblin, who was staying with Mr Kernell during his holidays.

"That's cocoa for three, I guess," he shouted at Mr Kernell, who was out in the kitchen.

While they were drinking their cocoa, Jennifer Jane told Mr Kernell the reason for her visit. Neither Mr Kernell nor Jasper quite knew what to say.

"Is that what humans really think about us?" Jasper asked at last.

It seemed that goblins never read human books and the idea that goblins could be so bad really upset them both.

Jennifer Jane tried to cheer them up. She showed them the little golden goblin on her necklace.

"At least the person who made this thought goblins should look happy. He's got a lovely smile."

"What on earth is that?" asked Mr Kernell.

"Jehosophat, a Jumping Jimmy!" said Jasper.

"A what?" asked Jennifer Jane and Mr Kernell together.

"A Jumping Jimmy," repeated Jasper, "I've seen them back in the States. Some of the old guys brought them over on the Mayflower. Where did you get it?"

Jennifer Jane told them both the story of the treasure, which Dad had found. "The figure looks just like an ordinary goblin, except for the funny looking boots, do either of you know anything about it?"

Mr Kernell had never seen or heard of such charms before and Jasper only knew that they were very old.

"I've just had a good idea," said Mr Kernell, looking at Jennifer Jane proudly, "let's go and ask the Oldest Goblin. He's bound to know, if anyone does!"

So off they all went to the tree where the Oldest Goblin lived.

"Just like Mr Kernell's," thought Jennifer Jane when they were sitting in his front parlour, "I wonder if all the goblin houses are the same inside?"

The Oldest Goblin heard her thought.

"Oh yes, all our winter houses are the same, though it does rather depend on the size of the family who lives there."

Jennifer Jane didn't quite understand but before she could ask the next question, the Oldest Goblin said "you'll see in a minute or two; now tell me why you're here."

So, once more, Jennifer Jane told the story of the buried treasure and asked him why goblins in stories were always naughty.