What happend in the irst 2 pages in the book the thief and the beanstalk

"Nick opended his eyes and blicked.He felt the warmth of decaying straw risinf from below and cool autum air penetrating frmo above.but it was an unpleasant sensation that woke him:three points of cold metal pressing into his throat,chest and belly.He though of the  pitch fork,always propped agains the wall near the barn door."Get up"a familiar voice said."How c-can I?" Nick replied.he knew there was fear in his voice  but that was all right the man holding the pitchfork might take pity."show your face then"the voice growled.he prodded with the pitchfork as he spoke.Nick whimpered.he was sure the middle tine pierced the  skin on his chest.he could feel his heart hammering under the wound.Moving cautiously he reached and pushed the straw away revealing his dirt-smuged face.The farmer glared down(this was page 1)

Explanation:

answer: common sense was the pamphlet that thomas paine used to convince reluctant americans to abandon the goal of reconciling with britain and to accept that independence was the only option to preserve their liberty.