25. EXTREME ECONOMY

[Economy is a great virtue, but it should not be extreme.]

An old lady of Massachusetts was famed in her native township for health
and thrift. To an acquaintance who was once congratulating her upon the
former she said:

"We be pretty well for old folks, Josiah and me. Josiah hasn't had an
ailin' time for fifty years, 'cept last winter. And I ain't never suffered
but one day in my life, and that was when I took some of the medicine
Josiah had left over, so's how it shouldn't be wasted."


26. SENSIBLE TO THE LAST

[How we commend those who take our standards and help us.]

A story is told of a late Dublin doctor, famous for his skill and also his
great love of money. He had a constant and profitable patient in an old
shopkeeper in Dame Street. This old lady was terribly rheumatic and unable
to leave her sofa. During the doctor's visit she kept a L1 note in her
hand, which duly went into Dr. C.'s pocket. One morning he found her lying
dead on the sofa. Sighing deeply, the doctor approached, and taking her
hand in his, he saw the fingers closed on his fee. "Poor thing," he said
as he pocketed it, "sensible to the last."