Publisher's Synopsis
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 athief.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 moredetermined to get it. So all the answer she made was that the end of thieves washanging at the bridge of Dublin, and then she left him alone, hoping that when hewas older he might become more 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, tocome with 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 youcome out 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 lighterthan before as she bade him farewel
