Washington telegraph., 1851-03-26
VALUE OF A PARROTS LEG.

VALUE OF A PARROTS LEG.
The caprice of fortune toward those
who court her, and the humiliation she
sometimes imposes as conditions of sue.
cess, are rather oddly illustrated in the
following history, which an old English
physician gave recently, of his personal
experience, "long time ago: had
completed my studies, and taken my
diploma, when found myself in the great
sea of LONDON. with twenty pounds in
my pocket. l took the lower part of a
small house IN an obscure street, at the
back of some gorgeous square-and raid
out ten pounds in furniture. fixtures and
drugs, reserving the other ten TO pay my
nalf-vear's rent. The first week | sold a
few pennies worth of rAubarb and mag,
nesia, and lived on bread and milk. The
next week was no better nor the next
and as the month was coming to close.
I was determined to shut up shop and go
as an assistant, when servant came in
for shilllng'S worth ofthe best magIesia,
and some smelling salts, and took my
card Next day he called again, and
bought some powdered starch, aud had a
bit of talk with me. had just clean
ed my place aud SELF when in came, in a
hurry, my new friend tie livery servant
He said his mistress wished to see me as
soon as possible. on SOMETHING very press
ing. asked him if I must go as l was
Put on your Sunday caat,' said he, and
go with me- / went With him to great
house in portsmouth square, and was
shown up stairs into splendid drawing
room. A middle-aged lady, of much
suavity and graciousnes, soon entered,
and apologized to me. but hoped, from
what her servant said ofme, | should not
be offended. / thought she little knew
my feelings. to imagine | should be
offended at being sent fol and assured her
+ was most happy to render any service
in my power. She tod me she had a
iavorite parrot that had broken its leg,
and she had asked the doctor who at
tended her to help to set it,, and he had
felt himself insulted ll being called a
bird-doctor. She said she had no inten-
ton to insult him, and only wished for
information what 10 DO. She .old me if
[ would set her birds leg, and charge
her the same as for setting her own, were
1t broken, she would be most happy to
employ me. | thought the terms pro-
posed too liberal, but She insisted on no
less, and | consented. Some slips of
whalebone and little tape enabled US
10 set the creatures leg, aud attended
my frs; patient with an assiduity and
carefulness which | have not since sur
passed A fortnight's services were rem
dered, and my patient restored. The
lady now insisted on my making out my
bill against her. l did so, and charged
her what she had bid ne-the usual sum
for setting such lady leg. trembled
when gave 1t to her. 1t was ten
guipeas. She thanked me. and present.
ed me with twenty-saying that the
other ten were for my modesty, clvilily
and kindness. She then remarked, that
she had an opportunity OF making my
acquaintance and esteeming my abilities,
and. if agreeable to me, she would en-
gage me as her family physician; for her
former doctor had had many hundred
pounds from her, aud might have shown
a little kindness TO her bird-but as he
had made his fortune, he could Go with.
out her patronage, and she preferred to
give it where 1t was appreciated, and
was serviceable. [ blushed, and un-
hesitatingly informed her that my resi-
dence and position were not equal to the
station she was going to put me in. She
told me all that would be bettereC, and
she saw | was deserving of it. She bade
me look out for better residence, and
promised she would help me to the
necessary furniture and fittings She told
me the amount for medical altendence on
herself and her household was never less
than eighty or hundred pounds year,
and that she could secure several families
| took house-she did all that she pro-
missed, and laid the sure foundation for
my future prospects. She was my con
stanr friend until she died, and left me
something handsome in her will. | have
retired from business, and my fortune all
arose from setting that poor parrots leg. >
SILENT INFLUENCE. 1t is the bubbling
spring which flows gently, the little
rivulet which runs along, day and night
,t,nt nf,,l o,