In the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" Boo Radley has been set-up through the years to be the town boogie man. He is never seen and this enables the townspeople especially the children to crate their own image of Boo. Stories about his stabbing his family member circulate with no real knowledge of why it happened. The reader is aware that Boo had a controlling father, and it was not uncommon for people like Boo to be mistreated by family members, especially during stressful times in their lives. The state of the economy during Boo's time, his disability, and his father's temperament may have led to some level of abuse, but the reader does not know because Boo is always hidden away. There is also a mention by Miss Maudie that Boo's father was a strict religious man.
Jem had left an article of clothing behind when he and was taking a dare at the Radley place. He realizes it and sneaks off in the night. The item had been torn during his escape from the property. When he goes back to get his item, he is scared. He makes it back home with it but he finds that it has been sewn. It is the first mention of something kid that Boo does for the children.
"They'd been sewed up. Not like a lady sewed 'em, like somethin' I'd do." (58)
Boo begins putting small items in a hole in the tree for the children. One day he puts a watch in the tree.
"Our biggest prize appeared four days later. It was a pocket watch that wouldn't run, on a chain with an aluminum knife."
In the end of the book Boo saves the children giving credence to the goodness within him.
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