The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1876-09-01
WAS III WORTH A LEG.


of Etlenne Lefebyre, received letter,
not bearing any signature, requesting
him to repair OH the following day to a
country house which was situated on
the road leading to Calais, and to bring
along such instruments as would be re-
J quired for performing an operation.
Lefebvre was at that period well known
as distinguished and successful ope-
rator SO much SO, indeed, that he was
not uptrequebtlv sent for from great
distances. He had served for consid-
erable time in the navy, and his man
ners had, therefore, acquired certain
degree of bluEtneSs but, when you
once became acquainted with him, you
could not help liking him for the Iatur-
al ard unaffected goodness of his heart.
He was naturally somewhat surprised
At this anonymous communication tor,
although the time aud place were, as
already stated, mentioned with great
nlluutenesS, there was no clew afforded
by which the writer could be identified
He. theI etoTe, came to the conclusion
that some of lis jocular friends were
making trrn of HIM, and he did not keep
the appointment.
Three days afterwards he again re-
/ ceived similar summons, but couched
| III more pressing terms than the first,
aud he was informed that at 9 O'Clock
In the morning carriage would be sent
to bring him to the place where he was
anxiously expected. Accordingly next
| morning, sure enough, OH the last stroke
of 8, carriage drove mp to bis door.
| II i'hn lnprYor A.
tion, but at once took his seat III the
carriage. As he was getting in, he IN
| qulred of the coachman where he was
to be taken to but the man appeared
either not to know, or did not choose
to tell; but, as he spoke in English,
Letebvre said to himself, $50 it is an
Engllshman to whom | am summoned" !"
| and he accordingly prepared himself
for any exhibition of eccentricity on the
part OF that nation which even Row is
SO little understood by continentals
At length the carriage stopped, and the
doctor fastened iuto the house.
lie was received at the entrance by
fine-looking young man of about 25
years of age, who requested him to
walk into large handsome room on
the first floor. Ills accent showed hin,
to be All Engiishman. The following
conversation then eisued between them:
"Yoa have sent for me-" said the
doctor.
Il am very much obliged to you for
the trouble you lave taken in coming
here" Fejoiued the Englishman. ''Be
SO good as to seat yourself at the table,
where you wi find chocolate, coffee. or
wine, in case You would like To partake
OF any thing before commencing the ope-
ration"
''l5ut first show me the patient. l
wish to satisfy myself that an operation
Is absolutely necessary"
''It is necessary, Monsieur Iefebvre;
pray be seated. [ lave entire confi- |
dence iii you only listen to me. Here
is purse containing 100 guineas, wlicIl
| offer you as fee for the operation you
are asked to perform, 10 matter what
the result may be. In case OF your re-
fusihg compliance with my request, YOU
see this pistol. It is loaded, and You
are III my power. As l hope for saliva
ton, will blow your brains out.''
''Sir, | am not to be deferred from
doing What | consider proper by any
fear Of your pistol. But what do you
desire? What am l expected To do 90
& on must cut my right leg OFF,
''With all my heart," answered the /
surgeon, thinking that this was char
acteristic specimen of those mad Eng
tiSh land your hand, also, if necessary
or desirable However, unless | am
greatly mistaken, your leg is perfectly
| i
with the greatest activity What can
be the matter with your leg 90
" \ 1thing; but it must come off"
"Slr, you are mad"
''I'hat is 10 concern of yours, Mon
sieur Letebvre''
Nv hat harm can that handsome
limb have done ?''
'tNone at all; still you must make up
your mind to amputate it.''
SIR, L have 10 acquaintance with
You; give me some proof that you are in
sound mind,'' demanded the doctor.
ri you consent to my wishes,
Monsieur Lefebyre 90
As soon as yon can assign any ade-
qnate or responsible motive for so un-
necessary all operation"
S~'t NV eAO lAS9Cilb SL tGE It1bO dI1F /
year, perhaps, will
do SO. But | will bet you, sir, that
then you will acknowledg ge that nv rea-
sons Tor my present seemingly extrava-
giant conduct are most pure, manly and
noble, and even rational"
at is quite impossible for me,'' re-
monstrated the doctor, "to comply un-
til you tell me your name, place OF resi-
dence, position and tamily''
"You shall be made acquainted with
all these particulars at some future
time, but not at present. beg you to
consider me man of honor.''
"A man OF honor does not utter un-
Jnstifiabie threats against his doctor.
have to perform duty even towards
you, who are stranger to me- My
reasons for refusing to accede to your
absurd request are, as you must admit,
sound and just. Do you wish to be the
murderer Of an innocent father of a large
tamfly 20