Regular frauds. But it's almost pathetic the way this leg
goes on year in and year out, like an old faithful friend, never
knowing an ache or a pain, no rheumatism, nor any such foolishness as
that, but always good-natured and ready to go out of its way to
oblige you. A. man feels like a man when he gets such a thing under
him. Talk about your kings and emperors and millionaires, and all
that sort of nonsense! Which of 'em's got a leg like that? Which of
'em kin unscrew his knee-pan, and look at the gum thingamajigs in his
calf? Which of 'em kin leave his leg downstairs in the entry on the
hat-rack, and go to bed with only one cold foot? Why, it's enough to
make one of them monarchs sick to think of such a convenience. But
they can't help it. There's only one man kin buy that leg, and that's
you. I want you to have it so bad that I'll deed it to you for fifty
dollars down. Awful, isn't it. Just throwing it away: but take it,
take it, if it does make my heart bleed to see it go out of the
family."
"Really, I have no use for such a thing," said Mr. Brown.
"You can't think," urged the stranger, "what a benediction a leg like
this is in a family. When you don't want to walk with it, it comes
into play for the children to ride horsey on; or you kin take it off
and stir the fire with it in a way that would depress the spirits of
a man with a real leg.
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