PHYSICAL INFIRMITIES.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:]
SIR,—You often receive letters illustrating the faith and sagacity of animals • so I venture to send you a true anecdote of our own species. I was celebrating at Arpafeelie, a High- land parish, in the Black Isle, last Sunday, at 8.30 a.m. ; and among the congregation a man paralysed in his legs, sitting on a chair, with a form beside him, attracted my attention. Imagine my surprise when I saw him leave the church after service in the following manner. He sat on the chair, placed the form in front lengthways, moved on to the form, moved down the form, dragging the chair, which he placed at the end, sat on the chair again, moved the form again, &c. ; and thus, with his hands, by means of a chair and a form, he comes regularly every Sunday from his cottage to the church and back, to receive the sacrament.
I find that he is an intelligent cobbler, and so thoroughly do his neighbours rely on his judgment in matters of diffi- culty, that he is commonly known as the Sheriff." What a strange fascination there is in the triumph of spirit and mind amidst bodily infirmities! One realises how pain is power, and sufferers the true saviours of humanity.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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