The Thief And His Mother
A Boy stole a lesson-book from one of his schoolfellows and took it
home to his Mother. She not only abstained from beating him, but encouraged
him. He next time stole a cloak and brought it to her, and she again
commended him. The Youth, advanced to adulthood, proceeded to steal
things of still greater value. At last he was caught in the very act,
and having his hands bound behind him, was led away to the place of
public execution. His Mother followed in the crowd and violently beat
her breast in sorrow, whereupon the young man said, "I wish to say
something to my Mother in her ear." She came close to him, and he
quickly seized her ear with his teeth and bit it off. The Mother upbraided
him as an unnatural child, whereon he replied, "Ah! if you had beaten
me when I first stole and brought to you that lesson-book, I should
not have come to this, nor have been thus led to a disgraceful death."
|
|