Answer:
A). To persuade people not to steal
Step-by-step explanation:
The first phrase i.e. 'to persuade people not to steal' most aptly describes the author's purpose behind drafting the given short story. The author primarily aims to convince the readers that stealing is not a good habit/manner as it may lead to unexpected consequences and secondly, it is not the character trait/value of a good human. Thus, he employs numerous descriptions to make this message effective. Hence, option A is the correct answer.