JACK’S SLUGGARD
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.
.JPG)