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.
Well, the next day, Jack went out again and hired
himself 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, 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 the following day, 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.
Now the next day, 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 the following day, Jack hired himself to a butcher,
who rewarded him by the handsome present of a shoulder
of mutton. Jack took the mutton, tied it with
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 do with cabbage for her dinner.
[Illustration: Jack found it hard to hoist the
donkey on his shoulders]
“You ninney-hammer,” said she to her son,
“you should have carried it on your shoulder.”
“I’ll do so another time,” replied
Jack.
Well, on the Monday, Lazy Jack went once more and
hired himself to a cattle-keeper, who gave him a donkey
for his trouble. Now though Jack was strong he
found it hard to hoist the donkey on his shoulders,
but at last he did it, and began walking home slowly
with his prize. Now it so happened that in the
course of his journey he passed a house where a rich
man lived with his only daughter, a beautiful girl,
who was deaf and dumb. And she had never laughed
in her life, and the doctors said she would never
speak till somebody made her laugh. So the father
had given out that any man who made her laugh would
receive her hand in marriage. Now this young
