The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-05-15
TIE LEG-A TRUE STORY.


net, Il distinguished surgeon II Calais, III
p France, received billet without sigma
iure, requesting him on the following day
, Ia repair TO public house not fir of,
, With such instruments as were nccrssary
Ior m amputation.
iheVenet WIS somewhat surprised AZ
the manner Of the invitation, but conchz
ding that II was the work Of some war;
pad no regard 10 IT. Three days after
he received second invitation, still
more pressing, aud containing the infor-
! nation that the neat day, nj o'clock,
p Carriage would stop before his house
IN ofder to conway hun. 1heYcnot con-
eluded IN let the affair take lis course.
and when ON the following day, at the
striking of the clock, an elegant carriage
stopped before his door, Inc seated him
sell mt, and asked the driver to whom
he was Ia carry him 2 Tic driver re-
piled IN English, What | donot know,
! eannottcll,o Al length tho cnrriape
stopped before the designated public
house. A handsome young man of n
bout 3 years OF aye, received the sur
lgeon al the door, and conducted him up
STAINS into alarge chamber, where he held
the following dialougc:
| 1hcceHet.--bou have sent for me.
| ERgishmdn-l am much Obliged 10
you for the trouble you have taken to
+ visit ne. Here are coffee, chocolate
and vine, if you would take any thing
before the operation
Show me the patient, sir mus.
first ascertain whether the injury is such
as 10 render an amputatlon necessary.
| Fit is necessary, Mr.. Theyenet
seat yourself have perfect confidence
IN you--listen To me. Here IS q purse
oil one hundred gnlneaS this is the pay
You will receive for the operation. II
done successfully, it is yours. Should
you refuse TO comply with my wishes,
see, here IS a loaded pistol. You are IN
my power will shoot You.
Sir ] am not afraid olyenr pistols
- But what is your particular dosile tell
me without a preamble.
E.-lou must cut of my right lee.
P.--Wth all my heart and If you
ple'se your head TOO. But tho leo is
sound. You sprapg up stairs just now
with the agility Of dancing nasler.--
What ais your Iee1
E.-Nothing. ! only want I. of,
. T.-Why does that trouble you
TheVenet.
/, What sin basthe leg committed !
E.---None but are You ready to take
it off!
/ T.--Ss do not know. Bring me
A evidence that you are Of sound mind.
I E.---Will You comply with my re.
, quest
3 - Yes, sir, so soon as you give me
l. sufficient reasons for such mutation OF
' yourself
+ Ell cannot tell you the ruth per-
haps for some years but will lay a
70 wager that after certain time you shalj
understand that my reasons are me-
noble---that my happiness, my very 4x
s'ence, depend upon my being free,
from this op.
b. Sir, lay no waaers. Tell mi
. your name, residence, family and occu.
y patton.
E.--You shall know all that bcreaf.
Ter, Do you take me for an honourabI,
70 man
FL cannot A man ofhonor doe,
not threaten his physician with pistols
n } have duties towards you as "A stranger
l will not mutllate you. II you wish IL
be the murderer of a guiltlcss father o
- family, then shoot
i F. Wei, Mr., Thevenet, will no
= shoot you j but l viii force you 10 tax,
. oil my leg. That which you will not d,
g Tor the love OF my money, nor the fea
g ai bullets, You shall do from compas
n sion. T.---hud how so1
Ell will break my leg by dischar
h glug my pistols, and here before yon
IA eyes.
!, The Englishman seated himself an,
:, placed the mouth Of the pistol close Il
re his knee. Iheyenet was on the poin
d OF sprlnging 10 prevent him, but he re
n Piled stir not, or fire. Now, says be
will you increase and Icnglhon out m,
pans for nothing
ID You are fool, says Thevenet, but
stall be done, | will take off the unior
tunate leg. The Englshman calml
4. laid down the pistol, and all was mad
I'd ready for the operation. As soon n
e. the surgeon began to cut, the English
r. man lighted his pipe, and swore
i. should not 90 out. He kept his word
81 Ihelcg lay upon the floor, and the En-
n gllshman was still smoking. Thevenc
u u did lls work like master the wound
>; by his skill and the PATIENTS own goo,
S, nature, was healed at fixed time h
N rewarded the surgeon like king than
o. ked him with tears ofjoy for the loss 0
he his leg, and sailed over the strait wlth
5, wooden one.
About eighteen weeks after his de-