A BOY stole a lesson-book from one of his schoolfellows and took it home to his Mother. —
一个男孩偷走了一个同学的教科书，并把它带回了家。 —

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. —
他的母亲不仅没有打他，还鼓励他。他下次偷了一件披风带给她，她又表扬了他。 —

The Youth, advanced to adulthood, proceeded to steal things of still greater value. —
这个年轻人长大后，开始偷更有价值的东西。 —

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. —
最后他在行窃时被抓住，双手被绑在背后，被带到了公判处。 —

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. —
他的母亲跟在人群中，悲伤地猛击胸口。年轻人说：“我想对我的母亲说一些话。” —

” She came close to him, and he quickly seized her ear with his teeth and bit it off. —
她靠近他，他迅速用牙齿咬住她的耳朵，咬掉了一部分。 —

The Mother upbraided him as an unnatural child, whereon he replied, “Ah! —
母亲谴责他是一个不孝顺的孩子，他回答道：“啊！母亲！ —

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.”
如果你当初在我偷走并给你那本课本的时候打过我，我就不会来到这里，也不会被引领到这样一个可耻的死亡。”