My sister sent the following story, and it's something I'd like to share with you.
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.
There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the farmer's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. "I want to repay you," he said. "You saved my son's life."
"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the farmer replied, waving off the nobleman's offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.
"Is this your son?" the nobleman asked.
"Aye, he is," the farmer replied proudly.
"I'll make you a deal," the nobleman said. "Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of." And that he did.
Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London. He went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia.
What saved his life this time? Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill.
Someone once said: What goes around comes around.Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.
It's National Friendship Week. Share this, and brighten someone's day.
Thanks for visiting!
14 comments:
What goes around certainly does come around. That's a beautiful story.
In honor of your wonderful blog I've given you The Honest Scrap Award over at http://www.StarlightBlog.com
Don't worry if you don't have time to do the whole award thingy. Just know you're appreciated.
We, the people, work hard for not much money; we're passionate; our representatives in Washington are complaining because we are dancing and they are trying hard NOT to listen to our voices. Hopefully we live long enough to feel like our country is closer to being heaven on earth. We, the people must prevail....
I love that story. DH is a Pharmacist and knows it well. Our friend was one of the first to issue the antibiotic.
I love the quote too!
Lovely story. Unfortunately my brother took great delight in sending me this link when I sent the story to him: http://www.snopes.com/glurge/fleming.asp
What a great story.
It cheered me up having just heard Mitterand on the box, denying what he plainly admitted in his book...we need farmer Flemings in government, not this breed with no conscience.
Mary Anne!!! How very sweet of you to honor Sunflower Ranch!! Without all the wonderful visitors and their comments, it wouldn't be as much fun for me. I love the conversations that spring up -- that's what makes it meaningful! And now your lovely award -- wow, all I can say is "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!" I will proudly display it and do the whole award thingy. That's part of the fun! :D
SG!!! Excellent!! I love the way you've taken that little ditty/quote for a happy life and turned it on its ear. I agree, we MUST prevail or true happiness will be stripped of our lives. No more "Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness," for us. Keep putting their feet to the fire, SG!!! :D
Glynis!! Thanks for stopping by!! That is so interesting your hubby is a pharmacist!! I have always admired them that talented group of scientists and their encyclopedic knowledge of drugs and nature's medicines!! That is very cool!! And also that you know one of the earliest pharmacists to issue the drug. It must have felt like handling a miracle every time they filled a prescription! :D
Rosie!!! LOL thanks for the link!! Your brother -- what a wet blanket, throwing cold water on things! [Snopes is the queen of wet blankets!!] LOL But, that's ok. I'm glad you sent it to him anyhow -- just in case the meaning of the story managed to slip past the facts and he learned something about kindness, friendship, and responsibility. Tell him we all still love him. :D
Fly!! Yes, I agree, we do indeed more Farmer Flemings in the world!! Thanks for the update on the Mitterand situation. Unbelievable he would deny what is plainly in the book!! Their arrogance knows no bounds. Have you had the opportunity to go into town and read the book, as you had intended? I think with so many of the details out now, you probably don't need to sicken yourself unnecessarily. I think the fallout now is the story -- it could bring down a government. I hope the crisis resolves itself to the satisfaction of the decent people of France.
I have the book today....it is an appalling farrago of self congratulatory smut.
This is a man with every advantage in life, congratulating himself on being able to buy vulnerable people...of whatever age.
It won't bring down the government...the opposition has withdrawn calls for his resignation...because they're frightened of the counter accusations of what their leaders have been up to in other third world countries!
I always knew that French politics was dirty, but just how dirty is this!
My neighbours are disgusted....but we clearly have no voice. The press here is so supine that what would rouse outrage in the 'anglo saxon' world will be pushed aside, using the excuse of witch hunting of homosexuals - it is not, it is sex tourism which is in focus here - to let this man continue to hold public office..and, of all things, as minister for culture!
Sorry to be steaming at the ears, but there are times when I cannot believe the world in which I am living.
On a much more sane note, congratulations on your award. Much deserved.
ooh, that sent a chill down me, really cool story, surprised I've never heard it before! thanks for posting that, -kate
Fly!! Thank you so much for the update on the appalling situation in France. It is always a shock when these kinds of scandals occur -- a person feels so powerless and disgusted. You are correct about the Anglo-Saxon response, though. It's not witch hunting of gays -- it's common decency toward the most defenseless in our society -- do these people have to be told repeatedly that doing adult things to children ruins the child forever???? Keep railing against them, keep letting them know it is wrong, no matter what country, what era, what planet -- sheesh! Now I'm getting ranty here. oops! Sorry.
Thank you for your sweet comments about my award. Very much appreciated! :D
Kate!! Thanks for your comment!! If it is true, it is an absolutely wonderful story, if it isn't as Rosie's brother [see post above] suggests, well, it still is wonderful. It's one of those "kindness all around" type stories that should make us want to improve a little each day. It's a lot to live up to. But not impossible, as the story illustrates. That's heartwarming! :)
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