Certainly, there are indications that Roger experiences a change of attitude about stealing by the end of the story, "Thank You, Ma'am." Because Mrs. Jones is understanding of his neglect and empathizes with him as a person who has committed shameful deeds, Roger is moved by what she teaches him.
One key passage which underscores the inference that Roger has changed his attitude about stealing occurs after Mrs. Jones kindly takes him to her home...
Certainly, there are indications that Roger experiences a change of attitude about stealing by the end of the story, "Thank You, Ma'am." Because Mrs. Jones is understanding of his neglect and empathizes with him as a person who has committed shameful deeds, Roger is moved by what she teaches him.
One key passage which underscores the inference that Roger has changed his attitude about stealing occurs after Mrs. Jones kindly takes him to her home and cooks a meal for him. As she stands at the stove behind a screen, Mrs. Jones seems unconcerned about her purse which she has left on the day-bed. Roger worries that she may think he wants to steal it yet, so he moves to the other side of the room
...where he thought she could easily see him out of the corner of her eye, if she wanted to. He did not trust the woman not to trust him. And he did not want to be mistrusted now.
This passage suggests that Roger has changed his attitude; he does not want to be thought of as a thief, and wants to be trusted. Later, when Mrs. Jones escorts him to the door and says, "Behave yourself, boy!" that Roger is so moved by her acts of charity toward him that he could not even murmur "Thank you, ma'am" also illustrates his change of heart.
The boy wanted to say something other than, "Thank you, m'am," to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, but although his lips moved, he couldn't even say that as he turned at the foot of the barren stoop and looked up at the large woman in the door.
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