The Thief And His Mother
Aesop Fable: The Thief And His Mother
A boy stole a lesson-book from one of his school-fellows
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."
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