"Worst Boy" Proves His Worth in the End, Aug. 6, 1925

“Worst Boy” But Not Wholly Bad. . . Judge Astonished at Remarkable Reformation

A police court reporter sees a great deal of the wrong side of human nature. He could perhaps become a hopeless misanthrope if once in a while something did not happen that shows how much good there may be hidden even in the most unpromising human beings. William T. Ewens in “Thirty Years in Bow Street” tells of a case that came under his own eye that thought him not to condemn anyone as wholly bad.

“He’s the worst boy in the district,” said the jailer, referring to a red-haired urchin in the dock. “He treats his mother shamefully.”

“Oh, don’t say that,” pleaded the mother tearfully. “He’s a good, dear boy to me, ain’t you, Joe?”

Joe grinned he was an accomplished young liar, but he drew the line at aiding and abetting his mother when she told such a palpable untruth as that. The jailer had not slandered him when he described the way in which he treated his mother.

Fortunately perhaps for her, he was the only child she had. She lavished all her love on him, worked day and night in order that he might live in idleness and contented herself with scanty fare so that he might have good food and plenty of it. Even in the depth of winter she wore thin clothing in order to provide him with good boots and a warm overcoat. Every night he went for her pocket money and got it. At least twice a week she had to give him enough to take him into the gallery of one of the cheap theaters, and while he was enjoying the play for a sixpence or so, with perhaps fried fish and potato to follow, his poor old mother was probably crying herself to sleep. He rewarded all her kindness with base ingratitude and sometimes with personal violence.

As the years rolled on and the boy grew into a red-haired ruffian it was useless for his mother to plead for mercy on the ground that he was “a dear, good boy,” and he was sent to prison on several occasions. His mother always met him at the prison gates, and he had what he described as “a high old beano” with the money she had saved during his retirement.

Then there came a sudden change—the most remarkable change the missionary then at Bow street had ever known or heard of—the poor old woman suddenly became blind. The son, instead of ill-using her because she was no longer ablet o minister to his wants, became a reformed character. He gave up his evil companions and worked hard in order that his mother might have all that she required. On Sunday night he astonished all who knew him by leading the poor creature to church. H was virtually the only nurse she had during a painful illness, and just before she died in his arms, she was heard to say: “He’s a dear, good boy to me, is my boy. I’ll pay his fine, sir, if you’ll let me.”

And soon after the funeral Joe went to one of the colonies where he did well and reared a number of red-haired boys who never saw the inside of a police court.

From the front page of The Alamance Gleaner, Graham, N.C., Thursday, August 6, 1925

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