The Boy and His Mother

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The Boy and His Mother

We are made by our teachings in youth.

A Boy had been caught stealing and had been condemned to be executed. He desired to see his Mother and to speak with her before execution. When his Mother came to him he said: "I want to whisper to you," and when she brought her ear near, he nearly bit it off. The bystanders were horrified, and asked him what he could mean by such brutal and inhuman conduct. "It is to punish her," he said. "When I was young I began stealing little things and brought them home to Mother. Instead of punishing me, she laughed and said: "It will not be noticed." It is because of her I am here today."

Townsend version

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."

L'Estrange version

A school-boy brought his mother a book that he had stoll'n from one of his fellows. She was so far from correcting him for't, that she rather encourag'd him. As he grew bigger, he would be still keeping his hand in use with somewhat of greater value, till he came at last to be taken in the matter, and brought to justice for't. His mother went along with him to the place of execution, where he got leave of the officers, to have a word or two in private with her. He put his mouth to her ear, and under the pretext of a whisper, bit it clear off. This impious unnatural villany turn'd every bodies heart against him more and more. Well good people (says the boy) here you see me an example, both upon the matter of shame and of punishment; and it is this mother of mine that has brought me to't; for if she had but whipt me soundly for the book I stole when I was a boy, I should never have come to the gallows here now I'm a man.

Moral

We are either made or marr'd, in our education; and governments, as well as private families, are concern'd in the consequences of it.

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