[The original of 'The house that Jack built' is presumed to be a hymn in _Sepher Haggadah_, fol. 23, a translation of which is here given. The historical interpretation was first given by P. N. Leberecht, at Leipsic, in 1731, and is printed in the 'Christian Reformer,' vol. xvii, p. 28. The original is in the Chaldee language, and it may be mentioned that a very fine Hebrew manuscript of the fable, with illuminations, is in the possession of George Offer, Esq. of Hackney.] 1. A _kid_, _a kid_, my father bought, For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid. 2. Then came _the cat_, and ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid. 3. Then came _the dog_, and bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid. 4. Then came _the staff_, and beat the dog, That bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid. 5. Then came _the fire_, and burned the staff, That beat the dog, That bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid. 6. Then came _the water_, and quenched the fire, That burned the staff, That beat the dog, That bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid. 7. Then came _the ox_, and drank the water, That quenched the fire, That burned the staff, That beat the dog, That bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid. 8. Then came _the butcher_, and slew the ox, That drank the water, That quenched the fire, That burned the staff, That beat the dog, That bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid. 9. Then came _the angel of death_, and killed the butcher, That slew the ox, That drank the water, That quenched the fire, That burned the staff, That beat the dog, That bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid. 10. Then came _the Holy One_, blessed be He! And killed the angel of death, That killed the butcher, That slew the ox, That drank the water, That quenched the fire, That burned the staff, That beat the dog, That bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid. The following is the interpretation: