Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-07-28
LAZY JACK.

w
too lazy even to play. The only gam,
he ever INDUCED in was marbles, for The
reason that it required less exertioI
than almost any other. 1t required less
exertion than one at cricket.7 rOunder,
touch, or chevy-chase.
sWhen the weather is warm" he used
to say, the best;lark / know is to CREEP
under lhaystack and &c. to sleep, or wher
it is cold to sit by the kitchen fire, warm
ing your nose ana knees
Jack was also found lounging at the
door OF his fathers smithy, with his bacl
against the post, one foot over the other
and his hands in his pockets.
This was a source OF great anxiety u
his father, who frequently strove, though
in vain, Arouse the lad to sense. o
: the vast importance OF acquiring indus
trious habits.
One summer afternoon, when Jacl
was propping himself up as usual agains
the door-post, lie cried out: t
Nov, then. Jack, just run up to Farm
shaw's with the truck, and fetch thu
thiuSsi orderedEtherc this morning
and, bark We, be quick about 1t, for I'm
waiting to finish Il job; so if you aren'
back before o'clock LII give you a goot
hiding, as sure as my names Bates"
'All right" replied Jack, sulkily, tol
he knew better than to tainper with III:
father when he spoke roughly, which
however, WAS not often.
And going into the shed he dragged
forth the truck, and started on his errant
with an amount OF sprightliness he very
seldom displayed.
Before he got halt way to the village
however, Jacks laZiness Overcame him
and he dawdled along in his customary
style, loudly lamenting what he deemed
his unhappy tate.
1t was i've o'clock when he reached
Farnshaw's, but he was too lazy even tC
look 1T the clock, and leisurely loaded his
truck with the goods tor which he had
been sent.
And he made no haste OH his way
hOme-in fact, even ii he had been 81
disposed, the truck was grcal deal
heavier now than formerly.
The old church clock chlmed quarter
to z when he was still Il half mile OF
more from the smitby.
At this moment, Jack, who had for
some time been mOOdily contemplating
the road, CHANGED TO look up, and, to his
horror, saw his father coming toward
him Ut Il rapid pace, and clinchng firmly
in his right hand Il broad strap.
I'm coming, fathcr-l'm coming!" he
called out, I'm being as quick as can"
Being as quick as you can, you lazy
rascal J" bawled old Bates. We'll soon
see about that. Now, then-quick
march.-trot And when we reach
home Ill give you such hiding as you
never lad before. L shall lose my con-
tract if thatjob is not in tonight, and
we've all been standing idle for you a
full hour. Take that as an earnest OF
that is to come J"
And he gave Jack such taste of the
strap there and then as made him below
like bull, and start forward with the
truck in manner which showed he
could be very active indeed, if he liked.
Ill warm your jacket for your
shouted old Bates. Fl,.,s1 81. :
And he kept his word.
He gave lazy Jack just what he de-
served-a sound thrashing, and sent him
to bed without supper.
'4'll stand this no longer ~ sObbed
Jack, rs he writhed in bed, with his face
to the pillow, tor his, back was too sore
to lie upon. II don't like work, and
won't be beat. Ill run away-that's
what III do,p e-r.a -,
True to his purpose, Jack Bates, who
had been unable to getra wink OF sleep,
left his couch fully two hours before any
one else was stirring. and nOiselessly
opened his easement. 81 -,,.r,,o ..r
Just beneath was the she'd, on to the
root of which he lowered. himself at
once; sliding down, this. he dropped in
to wagon, and from the wagon to the
ground. s9''isoo Aux ~ los s1a
Then, never caring whittier his steps
might lead him, he turned his back on
the snug little cottage, and trudged
along the road.
For hours he tramped on, until at last,
overcome with fatigue, he sat down on
the roadside to rest.
The spot was singularly wild and
lonely one. Young Jack Bates had new
er been there before, and so. as he sat,
he looked around with some sort of Curl
osity.,...s 81
On CHANGING to look up, he saw, astride
one of the branches of mighty oak, a
funny, handy legged little man, with a
pointed yellow hat and a pointed red
nOSe.A el fe4lei -sH i4sf s.
The eyes of this stranger tremblcd
with merriment as he regarded our
youthful adventurer, and his thin lips
were wreathed with singular smile.
Halo, Jack, my lad cried he. ss'And
what on earth has brought you to this
part of the country 2" 9ss f
Jack, of course, was very much sur
prised at fading himself known, but he
was TOO lazy to ask any questions, and so
briefly replied si'1 -. s@, Il s
I've run away from home"
THAT'S bad" answered the strange
man. Sand what for %
sulkily..
''And what forsp demanded the
stranger.
Because he says was a long while
gone upon an errand."
''Ah, Jack, | am afraid YOU are very
lazy. You don't like work, do your"
IL hate it."
'Ah thought as much. But il is
very foolish, Jack, to hate to work. for
without it you cannot live.n
"Can't / ? Wen see. I've run AWAY
from it," said Jack.
'.Run away from work Ha, ha, ha ~
and the strange little man laughed so
heartily that he had to hold his sides.
well, that's the richest notion I've ever
heard expressed. Run away from work.
That's thing you can't do,''
why not ?" demanded jack with a
scOrnful look. 80 rr
Because it will follow you every
where, and, no matter what your station
may be, you will find yourself obliged
to do something, either for your own
good or the sake of Others