| His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish
farmer. One day, while trying to make out 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 Scotsman'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,"
said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life."
"No, can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied,
waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the
family hovel. "Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.
"Yes," the farmer replied proudly.
Then the nobleman said, "I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him
a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll grow to be a man you
can be proud of." And that he did.
In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in
London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander
Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin. Years afterward, the nobleman's son was
stricken with pneumonia.
What saved him? Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman ? Lord Randolph Churchill.
His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill.
Several have said, "What goes around comes around.", "Work like
you don't need the money.", "Love like you've never been hurt.",
and "Dance like nobody's watching."
Your friendship brightens my world. It's National Friendship Week. Friends
are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to
succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open
their heart to us. |