Three Hundred Æsop's Fables/The Thief and his Mother
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, when she yet further commended him. The Youth, advanced to man's estate, proceeded to steal things of greater value. At last he was taken 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, whereon the young man said, "I wish to say something to my mother in her ear." She came close to him, when 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."