[113] Now at that time, a family of supporters of the Venerable Ānanda, faithful and devout, had died of a pestilence (ahivātakaroga). Two boys remained. Seeing the bhikkhus, they ran up to them in their former, accustomed manner. The bhikkhus rebuffed them. Being rebuffed by the bhikkhus, they wept. Then it occurred to the Venerable Ānanda: "It has been laid down by the Blessed One that a boy under fifteen years of age is not to be given the going forth (pabbajjā); and these boys are under fifteen years of age. By what means, then, might these boys not come to ruin?" Then the Venerable Ānanda reported this matter to the Blessed One.
"But, Ānanda, are those boys able to scare away crows?"
"They are able, Blessed One."
Then the Blessed One, having given a talk on the Dhamma with regard to that occasion, with regard to that circumstance, addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, I allow a boy under fifteen years of age who is a crow-scarer (kākuḍḍepaka) to be given the going forth."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.