£100 from " the Ugly Man."

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 50

£100 from " the Ugly Man."

The recent death of a celebrated physician recalls an incident in which 1 played the part of the terrible child some 15 years ago He was a man of the highest reputation in his profession, eccentric, and of extraordinary ugliness.

Possibly it was that last characteristic which doomed him to bo an old bachelor.

One day, when I was a child of about eight, I first met him, on the occasion of his being called in to attend my mother in a dangerous illness. He was writing -a prescription in our dining room, when, having watched him in silence (he hadn't taken the least notice of me), I remarked, in what must have been a very audible whisper, to my father, ' ' What an ugly man ! " Dashing down his pen, he glared at me. "Ugly, young gentleman!" he exclaimed. " What do you mean ? " a remark which I suppose nettled me, for I repeated my uncomplimentary remark, and as my nurse was hastily summoned to carry me from the room, through the fast closing door I yelled as a parting shot, " Well, you are ugly ! " The next day a packet of sweets came for me with " From the ugly man " written on a piece of paper accompanying them. When the physician called again he asked for me, and insisted on seeing me. I suppose the spirit of rebellion was hot within me, for even now on his asking, "Well, am I ugly still ?" I replied boldly, " Yes." " Well, I suppose I am," he remarked, thoughtfully. Years passed, and " the ugly man" attended me .through a serious illness, and to his care and kindness I perhaps owe my life. When he died a few months past he left me £100 in memory of " the ugly man." The Watchword. During the Afghan war, having left our encampment to attend a party, I was one night returning home, after a heavy dinner at the mess of another regiment, when it suddenly struck me I had forgotten the countersign. The sentry that night happened to be an Irishman in my own company. As I drew near he met me with the usual " Who's comes there ? " So going up to him I said : "Hang it, man! I've forgotten the countersign." And his reply was : "Begorra, sor, and so have I ! "