Andrew Lang

The Lilac Fairy Book Andrew Lang

In the land of Erin there dwelt long ago a widow who had an only son. He was aclever boy, so she saved up enough money to send him to school, and, as soon as hewas old enough, to apprentice him to any trade that he would choose. But when thetime came, he said he would not be bound to any trade, and that he meant to be a thief. Now his mother was very sorrowful when she heard of this, but she knew quite wellthat if she tried to stop his having his own way he would only grow more determined toget it. So all the answer she made was that the end of thieves was hanging at the bridgeof Dublin, and then she left him alone, hoping that when he was older he might becomemore sensible. One day she was going to church to hear a sermon from a great preacher, and shebegged the Shifty Lad, as the neighbours called him from the tricks he played, to comewith her. But he only laughed and declared that he did not like sermons, adding: 'However, I will promise you this, that the first trade you hear named after you comeout from church shall be my trade for the rest of my life.'These words gave a little comfort to the poor woman, and her heart was lighter thanbefore as she bade him farewell