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A
WEALTHY
citizen of Glasgow, who had the misfortune to require
the frequent services of his medical man, was in the habit of having the
gold always ready in his hand wherewith to electrify the doctor when he
felt his pulse.
One day, on the doctor making his
stated visit, the servant, with a rueful countenance, said to him
mournfully:
"Allis over!"
"Over !" re-echoed the doctor with
sad surprise, as the vision of his accustomed fee flashed before his
mind’s eye;
and he then added:
-
"Impossible! let me see him; surely
he cannot be dead yet; some trance or heavy sleep perhaps?’
Accordingly the doctor was ushered
in to the sable apartment, lifted the hand of the pale corpse, applied the
finger to that artery which once ebbed and flowed with life, gave a
sorrowful shake of his head, while, with dexterous legerdemain, he
relieved from the grasp of death two guineas, the last fee, which
in truth had been destined for him. Then turning to those present, he
said: "Ay, ay, good folks, he is dead; there is a destiny in all things."
And, full of shrewd professional
sagacity, turned on his heel. |
