Lazy Jack

(A Retold English Folktale)

Once upon a time there was a boy named Jack, who lived with his mother in a small village. They were very poor, and the mother earned their living by spinning. But Jack was so lazy that he would do nothing but bask in the sun in hot weather and sit by the hearth in cold weather. The townspeople called him Lazy Jack.

One day Jack’s mother came to the end of her patience. She told Jack that if he did not begin to work for his porridge, she would turn him out on his own.

Jack bestirred himself and hired out the next day to a neighboring farmer. However, when the day’s work was done and he was on his way home, he dropped his day’s pay while passing over a brook.

“You stupid boy,” said his mother, “you should have put it in your pocket.”

“I’ll do so next time,” replied Jack.

On Wednesday Jack hired out to a cowkeeper, 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. But the milk was spilled long before he got home.

“Dear me!” said his mother, “you should have carried it on your head.”

“I’ll do so next time,” said Jack.

On Thursday Jack hired out to another 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 there it had melted and become matted in his hair.

“You really are a numbskull!” his mother scolded. “You should have carried it very carefully in your hands.”

“I’ll do so next time,” replied Jack.

On Friday Lazy Jack went to town and hired out to a baker, who gave him nothing for his work but a large tomcat. Jack took the cat and began carrying it very carefully in his hands. But in a short time the animal scratched and fought so much that the simpleton had to let it go.

When he got home, his mother cried, “You silly fellow, you should have tied it with a string and walked it along after you.”

“I’ll do so next time,” Jack promised.

On Saturday Jack hired out to a butcher, who rewarded him for his work with a shoulder of mutton. Jack took the mutton, tied it to a string, and trailed it along after him in the dirt. By the time he arrived home, the meat was completely ruined.

Quite out of patience Jack’s mother exclaimed, “You ninnyhammer! You should have carried it on your shoulder.”

“I’ll do so next time,” replied Jack.

“Now we’ll have to have cabbage for Sunday dinner again,” she complained.

The following Monday Lazy Jack hired out to a cattleman, who gave him an old donkey as his wages. Jack found that it wasn’t easy to hoist the donkey onto his shoulders, but at last he was able to do so, and began walking slowly home with his prize.

Now it happened that in the course of his journey home each evening Jack passed the house of a certain rich man and his daughter. The girl had been unable to speak from birth and had never laughed aloud. The doctors said she would never speak until somebody made her laugh. However, when she saw Jack with the donkey on his back and its legs sticking up in the air, the sight was so comical that she burst into a great fit of laughter. Her father was overjoyed and promised her to Lazy Jack in marriage.

Lazy Jack became a rich gentleman, living in a large house with his new wife. And his mother lived with them in great comfort and happiness.

Illustrated by Barbara McClintock