The Thief and His Mother

英语自学网

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."