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.