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 made her living by spinning cotton, 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-fire 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 earn his living on his own. This roused Jack, and he went out and found work the next day at a neighbouring farmer for a penny, but as he was coming home, never having had any money before, he lost it while crossing over the river. “You silly boy,” said his mother, “you should have put it in your pocket." “Yes Mother, I’ll do so next time,” replied Jack. On Wednesday, Jack went out again and found a job with 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.” “Yes Mother, I’ll do so next time,” said Jack. So on Thursday, Jack again found work, this time with 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. “Oh, you nincompoop!” said his mother, “you should have carried it very carefully in your hands.” “Yes Mother, I’ll do so next 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 tomcat. Jack took the cat and began carrying it very carefully in his hands, but in a short time the kitty scratched him so much that he was compelled to let it go. When he got home, his mother said to him, “You twit! you should have tied it with a string, and dragged it along after you." “Yes Mother, I’ll do so next time,” said Jack. So on Saturday, Jack hired himself to a butcher, who rewarded him with 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 daft boy!” said she to her son, “you should have carried it on your shoulder.” “Yes Mother, I’ll do so next 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 lovely girl, but unable to hear or speak. 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 to show his gratitude, he showered Jack with gold as a reward. Jack returned home to his mother, who was overjoyed at his luck. She showered him with hugs and kisses and promised him that from now on, he could be as silly as he wanted!
QUIZ TIME! 🎉
What was the name of the boy in the story? 🤔
A) John 😀
B) Jack 😎
C) Jake 🤓
D) Jim 😄
Why did they call him Lazy Jack? 😴
A) Because he loved to read 📚
B) Because he played all day 🏀
C) Because he didn't like to work 😴
D) Because he liked to cook 🍳
What happened to the jar of milk Jack got from the cow-keeper? 🥛
A) He drank it all 🍼
B) He spilled it in his pocket 😢
C) He gave it away 🎁
D) He put it on his head 🤕
Why did the girl start to laugh? 😂
A) Because Jack told a joke 🤣
B) Because Jack was dancing 💃
C) Because Jack was carrying a donkey on his shoulders 🐴
D) Because Jack was singing 🎤
What did Jack receive as a reward for making the girl laugh? 💰
A) A new hat 🎩
B) A house 🏡
C) Gold 🏆
D) A cat 🐱
Answers 📝
B) Jack 😎
C) Because he didn't like to work 😴
B) He spilled it in his pocket 😢
C) Because Jack was carrying a donkey on his shoulders 🐴
C) Gold 🏆
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