Year: 1879

Value of a Parrots Leg:
The caprice of Fortune towards those
who court her, and the humiliation she
sometimes imposes as condition 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. I took the lower part Of
small house in al obscure street, at
the back of an aristocratic square, and
laid out ten pounds in furniture, fixtures,
and drugs, reserving the other to pay my
half years rent. The first week I sold
few pennies worth of rhubarb and mag
nesia, and lived on bread and milk. The
next week was no better-nor the next;
and ss the month was coming to close,
was determined to shut up shop and 60
] as an assistant, when a servant came in
for shilling's worth of the best mag
| nesia and some smelling-salts, and took
my card. Next day he called again.
and bought some powdered starch, and
had bit of talk. A day or so after, I
had just cleaned my place and self,
when in came, in hurry, my new friend
the livery servant. He said his mistress
wished to see me as soon as possible, on
something very pressing. l asked him if
l must 60 as I was?


'Put on your Sunday coat" said he,
"and 60 with me-"


I went with him to a great house in
Portman Square, and was shown up stairs
into splendid drawing room. A mid
die aged lady, Of much suavity and
graciousness, soon entered, and apollo
gized to me, but hoped, from what her
servant said of me, I should not be Of
Tended.


I thought she little knew my feelings
to imagine I should be offended at being
sent for, and assured her I should be
most happy to render any service in my
power.


She told me she had favorite parrot
that had broken its leg, and she had ask
ed the doctor who attended her to help
to set it, and he haG felt himself insulted
at being called bird-doctor. She said
she had no intention to insult him. and
only wished for information what to do.
She told 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 proposed too iber-
| al, but she insisted on no less, and con.
sented. Some slips of whalebone and a
| little tape enabled us to set the creatures
leg, and attended my first patient with
an assiduity and carefulness which I
have not since surpassed. A fortnight's
services were rendered, and my patient
restored. The lady now insisted on nv
making out my bill against her. I did
so, and charged her what she had bid me
the usual sum for setting such a lady:s
leg. I trembled when I gave it to her.
1t was ten guineas. She thanked me and
presented nae with twenty-saying that
the other ten were for my modesty, civil
ity, and kindness.


She then remarked that she had an op-
portuniry Of making my acquaintance
and esteeming my abilities, and, if agreea.
BILE to me, she would engage me as her
family physician; for her former doctor
had had many hundred pounds from her,
and might have shown little kindness
to her bird; but as he had made his for
tune, he could do without her patronage,
and she preferred to give 1t where it was
appreciated, and was serviceable. l
blushed, and unhesitatingly Informed her
that my residence and position were not
equal to the station she was going to put
me in. She told me all that would be


bettered, and she saw was deserving of


it. She bade me look out for a better
residence, and promised she would help
me to the necessary furniture and fittings.


She told me the amount for medical at


tendance on herself and her household


was never less than eighty or hundred


pounds year, and that she could secure
several families. I took house, she did


all that she promised, and laid the sure
foundation for my future prospects. She


was my constant friend until she died,
and left me something handsome in her
will.


I have retired from business, and my
fortune all arose from setting that parrots
leo.