shif'less

"Well, a slack help will make a shif'less husband."

McClure's Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 4, March, 1896 Various

Why, lad, 'tw'u'd be like throwin' yer silver into the sea to spend it on them good-fur-nothin ', shif'less critters.

Culm Rock The Story of a Year: What it Brought and What it Taught Glance Gaylord

"Some folks call you shif'less, Theodore," Armida retorted with bitterness.

McClure's Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 4, March, 1896 Various

Helen says we're shif'less an 'good for nothin' but frivolin '; but Mother tells us how to crack the walnuts so's not to let 'em fly all over the room, an' so's not to be all jammed to pieces like the walnuts was down at the party at the Peasleys 'last winter.

Good Cheer Stories Every Child Should Know Asa Don Dickinson 1918

Some o 'them,' specially down in the gullies, got lazy an 'shif'less.

The Boy With the U.S. Census Francis Rolt-Wheeler 1918

To the "idle, shif'less critter" from his father's good right arm.

Cape Cod Ballads, and Other Verse Joseph Crosby Lincoln 1907

Anybody'd think we was the most shif'less lot that ever lived, but we wa'n't.

Cap'n Eri Joseph Crosby Lincoln 1907

She ain't shif'less, but she ain't what you'd call practical.

Rimrock Trail 1906

Ye're a right old man, Caleb, an 'I reckon thet gives ye some license ter shoot off yore face, but ef any of them no-'count, shif'less boys of yores wants ter back up what ye says, I'm ready ter go out thar an' make 'em eat hit.

The Call of the Cumberlands Charles Neville Buck 1904

Seemed so their morals grew fat an 'flabby an' shif'less an 'in need of exercise.

Keeping up with Lizzie Irving Bacheller 1904