Lazy Jack

Once upon a time, there was a boy named Jack who lived with his mother. Jack was so lazy that he lay in the sun all day and did nothing at all. At last his mother said, “Jack, if you do not go to work, you will have no supper!”

So on Monday, Jack worked for a farmer, and the farmer paid him a shiny penny. Jack tossed the penny up and down as he walked, and it fell into a stream with a plop. “You silly boy, you should have put it in your pocket,” said his mother. “I’ll do that next time,” said Jack.

On Tuesday, Jack helped a cowherd, and the cowherd gave him a jug of milk. Jack remembered what his mother had said, so he poured the milk into his pocket, and it all dribbled out. “You silly boy, you should have carried it on your head,” said his mother. “I’ll do that next time,” said Jack.

On Wednesday, Jack helped a dairy farmer, who gave him a soft cream cheese. Jack carried it on his head, and by the time he got home, the cheese had melted all over his hair. “You silly boy, you should have carried it carefully in your hands,” said his mother. “I’ll do that next time,” said Jack.

On Thursday, Jack helped a baker, who gave him a big gray cat. Jack held the cat carefully in his hands, but she wriggled free and ran away. “You silly boy, you should have tied a string to it and led it home,” said his mother. “I’ll do that next time,” said Jack.

On Friday, Jack helped a butcher, who gave him a big ham. Jack tied a string to the ham and dragged it home through the dirt, so it was too dirty to eat. “You silly boy, you should have carried it on your shoulder,” said his mother. “I’ll do that next time,” said Jack.

On Saturday, Jack helped a cattle keeper, who gave him a donkey. Jack was strong, so he heaved the donkey up onto his shoulders and walked home. Now, in a big house along the way lived a rich man and his daughter, who had never laughed in her whole life. When she looked out of the window and saw Jack carrying a donkey, she laughed and laughed and laughed. The rich man was so happy that he asked Jack to come and live with them. In time, Jack and the girl were married, and Jack’s mother came to live in the big house too. And they all lived happily ever after, laughing every single day.