Long ago there lived an old man with his wife and only son Jack in a small dirty cottage. Although the old man stayed in a dirty cottage he was a very rich man and he had great treasures with him. However the old man was a great miser and would not not even think of spending his money. He and his family would often go without having food for days than change his gold for money. The old man's only son and wife were quite irritated with the old man's miserly behavior but were left with no option than to obey him. After few years the old man became terribly ill but did not bother to call a physician for he feared, the physician may charge a huge sum of money for getting him cured. After a while the old man died because of his sickness.
After the old man died Jack and his mother mourned for many days. One night when Jack was sleeping he dreamed that an unknown man appeared to him and said: "My dear son your father was a very bad man and all the wealth he had earned is ill-gotten. Now you be a good man and donate half of your wealth to the poor and throw the other half into the sea. After throwing into the sea if anything sails, you catch that and keep it with you, even if it is nothing more than a bit of paper". The man vanished and Jack opened his eyes. He could not believe what he saw and heard in his dream. The remembrance of his dream troubled him badly. Jack did not want to part with the wealth that his father had left for him. He wanted to spend some money on comfort and pleasure for all the years he never had a chance to do so because of his miserly father. Days passed and at last Jack decided that he would not use to money to pleasure himself rather he would distribute half of the money to the poor and the other half he would throw it inside the sea.
Jack found out the details of all the poor people living in the village and donated them half his wealth. He then tied the other half of wealth in a cloth and threw it inside the sea. After few seconds he saw a tiny scrap of paper cover floating on the sea. He carefully managed to get the cover and opened it, and found ten coins inside. Now he had nothing but ten coins left with him. He went home and was surprised to find his mother dead. With a heavy heart he laid her in her grave. Jack then decided to travel to the nearest town in search of fortune and so he started his journey. After travelling for the whole day during night he came across a cottage. He knocked the door and an old lady came from inside. Jack asked if he could get some shelter for free that night and the old woman who was a kind lady agreed and said that she won't take money from him. The old lady showed him the room where he had to stay that night and then told him to come down for supper. Jack went down for supper and while having his supper he noticed a strange animal sitting by the fire and singing a song in an unusual manner unlike any animal. He asked the old lady "What's the name of this strange creature?". The old lady replied "We call it a cat".
Jack said that he would like to buy the cat for it would give him a company on his journey. The old lady agreed but said that if he can pay ten coins in return she would give the cat to him. The next day Jack gave the ten coins to the old lady, took the cat and started his journey. After travelling for the whole day Jack came across a small hut. He knocked the door and an old man opened the door. Jack asked the old man if he could stay there that night for free. The old man agreed and then he led Jack inside the house and showed him his room. The old man asked Jack to come down for supper and left. After a while Jack came down and he saw that two women were sitting around the dinner table. One of the women was the old man's wife and the other was his daughter. Jack took his seat and then placed his cat on the mantle shelf. All of them crowded round the cat for the cat started singing in an unusual tone. Everyone was delighted to see and hear the cat singing.
The old man asked Jack about his whereabouts and Jack told him his story. After hearing his story the old man felt pity on Jack and said "There is a palace nearby and the King is very kind to everyone, go and ask him for some help and work and he would certainly help you". Early next morning Jack set out for the royal palace. He reached there and asked the king's guardsmen to take him to the king. The king was at dinner with his court when Jack went inside. Jack bowed low when he saw the king. The King signed him to come near. Jack was surprised to see a crowd of little black creatures running around the floor. The creatures were bold enough to snatch pieces of food from the king's plate and if the king drove them away the little creatures would bite the king's hands and so the king and his courtiers were unable to eat their food.
Jack asked one of the courtier who was sitting next to him "What sort of animals are these?". The courtier replied "They are called rats and from many years we have been trying to put them away but it has become quite impossible". At this moment something was seen flying through the air. The cat was on the table, and with two or three shakes a number of rats were lying dead round him. Then a great scuffling of feet was heard and within few minutes the hall was clear.
The King and his courtiers were surprised to see this and looked at each other in astonishment. They asked Jack "What kind of animal is this?". Jack replied "This animal is called cat and he had bought that for ten coins. The king was happy to learn this and said "Young man because of the luck you have brought me in freeing my palace from this dirty little creatures who troubled us for so many years, I would like to give you the choice of two things. Either you shall become my Prime Minister, or you shall marry my daughter and rule the kingdom after me". Jack was clever enough to ask for the princess hand in marriage. So clever Jack married the princess and lived happily forever.
