New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-10-15

2 Silently, silently.
a Come when thou wilt grim winter
Ny years. crowned and bleEt;
II when my love 10 dying
she viii. e upon my breast.
WAS IT WORTH A Leg -
1t was in the autumn of the year LIS
that surgeon in Boulogne, of the name q
, Etienne Lefebvre, received q letter, nc
bearing any signature, requesting him (
; repair on the following day to y countr
! house which was situated ON the road lead
, ing to Calais, and to bring along such il
strumeoss - would be required for pei
forming IN operation. Lslebvre Was q
that period we'll known - Q distinsuishe,
and successful operator; 90 much 10, in
deed, thst he was not unfrequently sent fol
from great distances. He had served for ,
Considerable time in the navy, and BIZ
manners had, therefore, acquired Q certain
degree Of bluntness; but when you oncs
became acquainted with him you could no,
help liking him for the natural and unaf
fected goodness Of his heart.
He was naturally somewhat surprised q,
this anonymous comm unication: for, al
though the time and place were a. alread y
stated, mentioned with great mioateness,
there was no clue afforded BY which the
writer could be identified. He, therefore,
came to the conclusion that come of his
jocular friends were making fun of him.
and he did not keep the appointment.
Three days afterwsrd he again received
| q similar summons, but couched in more
| PIT ssiDg terms than the fest, and he was
| informed that ct nine O'Clock in the morn
| ing carriage would be cent to bring him
| to the place where he was anxiousiy ex-
pected. Accordingly next morning, sure
enough on the last stroke of nine, . ear
rage drove up to his door. The doctor no
m bee hnt
took bis seat in the carrisge. As he was
getting in he inquired of the coachmsu
where he was to be taken to; but the man
appeared either not TO know or did not
choose to tell; bur, as he spoke in English,
Lefebvre said to himself, $50 it is an Eng
lishman to whom / am summoned" and he
accordingly prepared himself for ary exhi.
6ition OF eccentricity en- the part of one of
that nation which even COW is 90 little I'M
derstood BY c6niinentals At length the
carriage stopped and the doctor fastened
into the house.
He was received at the entrance by a fine
looking young man of about TWENTY-FIVE
years OF age, who requested him to wax into
large and handsome room on the first
floor His accent showed lin to be an
Epglishmen. Inc following conversation
then ensued between them:
You have sent for me-" said the doc
tor.
81 am very much obliged to you for the
trouble You have taken in coming here
rejoined the Englishnen. "Bs 60 good as |
to seat yourself at the table, where Won /!
will lind chocolate, coffee or wine, in case |
you would like to partake of anything be-
fore commencing operating"
But first show me the patient ] wish |
to satisfy myself that an operation is alb
sOlutely necessary"
at il necessary, Monsieur Lefebyre;
pray be seated. l have entire confidence
IN you; only listen to me. Here is purse
100 guineas, which / offer you
As fee for the operation you are asked to
perform, NO matter what the result may be.
10 case of your refusing compliance with
my request. you see this pistol. 1t is load
"a, and you are in my power: As hope
Sir. am not to be deferred from doing
what consider proper by any fear of your
pistol. But what do you desire! What am
expected to dO!"
You must cut my right leg off"
With all my heart" answered the sur
yeon," thinking that this was q character
site specimen Of these mad English; land
'our hand, also, 4 necessary or desirable.
However, unless l am greatly mistaken,
7our leg is perfectly sound. / saw you
walk down stairs with the greatest activity.
What can be the matter with your legln
Nothing; but it must come off,"
"Sir. you are mad"
THAT is no concern of yours, Monsieur
1efebvre."
What harm can that handsome limb
ave dOneF
None at all; still you must make up
our mind to amputate it,"
Sir, l have no acquaintance with you
i've me some proof that you are in sound
mind. naturally demanded the doctor.
viii you consent to my wishes, Mon
eur Leiebvre"
"As soon as you can assign any adequate
r reasonable motive for SO unnecessary an |
peratiOn."
II can not, at present. enter into any ex-
lanatiOn-in q year, perhaps, will do 80.
ut l VIII bet you, Sir, that then you will
knowledge that my reasons for my pres
ut seemingly extravagant conduct are
ost pure, manly and noble, and even
ltional."
ut is quite impossible for me-" remon- J
rated the surgeon, Ito comply until you
III me your name, place OF residence, po-
ton and family"
"You shall be made acquainted with all I
lese particulars at some future time, but {
1t at present beg you to consider me {
an of honor" &
"A man Of honor does not utter uniustif.
'le threats against his doctor. have to t
'fAOIu uuIy even toward you, VINO are
ranger to me. My reasons for refusing to q
cede to your absurd request are, as you c
ust admit, eound and just. Do you wish
be the p,urderer of an innocent father of 9
large family?"
''Well, Monsieur Lefebvre," replied the t
,glshman, taking up the pistol, II will q
t fire upon you, and vet l will compel g
u to cut of this leg. What you refuse to ! 9
to oblige me, through love of gain or O
IT of q bullet, you shall do though hui b
nifty"
How so, sir!' a
Il intend to shatter my leg with this
tol, and that, too, before your eyee," s
,wered the Engliehman, who accordingly O
ted himself, cooked the pistol, and then 81
k deliberate aim at his knee joint. 81
1efebvre rushed forward to prevent him, o.
the Englishmsn coolly exclaimed: 81
Do not come near; If you do, I fire. p
W, only answer me this question: Do n
! wish to prolong my suffering need I"
'ly"
Sir, you are mad, !" answered the doctor d
despair; "but have your own way. l am .
dy to do as you wish" te..s II
was ready for the operation. ! K