Lazy Jack

Once upon a time there was a boy whose name was Jack, and he lived with
his mother on a common. They were very poor, and the old woman got her
living by spinning, but Jack was so lazy that he would do nothing but bask
in the sun in the hot weather, and sit by the corner of the hearth in the
winter-time. So they called him Lazy Jack. His mother could not get him to
do anything for her, and at last told him, one Monday, that if he did not
begin to work for his porridge she would turn him out to get his living as
he could.

This roused Jack, and he went out and hired himself for the next day to a
neighbouring farmer for a penny; but as he was coming home, never having
had any money before, he lost it in passing over a brook. “You stupid
boy,” said his mother, “you should have put it in your pocket.” “I’ll do
so another time,” replied Jack.

On Wednesday, Jack went out again and hired himself to a cow-keeper, who
gave him a jar of milk for his day’s work. Jack took the jar and put it
into the large pocket of his jacket, spilling it all, long before he got
home. “Dear me!” said the old woman; “you should have carried it on your
head.” “I’ll do so another time,” said Jack.

So on Thursday, Jack hired himself again to a farmer, who agreed to give
him a cream cheese for his services. In the evening Jack took the cheese,
and went home with it on his head. By the time he got home the cheese was
all spoilt, part of it being lost, and part matted with his hair. “You
stupid lout,” said his mother, “you should have carried it very carefully
in your hands.” “I’ll do so another time,” replied Jack.

On Friday, Lazy Jack again went out, and hired himself to a baker, who
would give him nothing for his work but a large tom-cat. Jack took the
cat, and began carrying it very carefully in his hands, but in a short
time pussy scratched him so much that he was compelled to let it go. When
he got home, his mother said to him, “You silly fellow, you should have
tied it with a string, and dragged it along after you.” “I’ll do so
another time,” said Jack.

So on Saturday, Jack hired himself to a butcher, who rewarded him by the
handsome present of a shoulder of mutton. Jack took the mutton, tied it to
a string, and trailed it along after him in the dirt, so that by the time
he had got home the meat was completely spoilt. His mother was this time
quite out of patience with him, for the next day was Sunday, and she was
obliged to make do with cabbage for her dinner. “You ninney-hammer,” said
she to her son; “you should have carried it on your shoulder.” “I’ll do so
another time,” replied Jack.

On the next Monday, Lazy Jack went once more, and hired himself to a
cattle-keeper, who gave him a donkey for his trouble. Jack found it hard
to hoist the donkey on his shoulders, but at last he did it, and began
walking slowly home with his prize. Now it happened that in the course of
his journey there lived a rich man with his only daughter, a beautiful
girl, but deaf and dumb. Now she had never laughed in her life, and the
doctors said she would never speak till somebody made her laugh. This
young lady happened to be looking out of the window when Jack was passing
with the donkey on his shoulders, with the legs sticking up in the air,
and the sight was so comical and strange that she burst out into a great
fit of laughter, and immediately recovered her speech and hearing. Her
father was overjoyed, and fulfilled his promise by marrying her to Lazy
Jack, who was thus made a rich gentleman. They lived in a large house, and
Jack’s mother lived with them in great happiness until she died.