The 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.Taken from kidsgen
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar