CHAMBERS'S JOURNAL
OF
POPULAR
LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART.

THE WOODEN LEG.

A number of years ago, when temporarily residing at a quiet sea-sideresort in the south of England, time hung heavy on our hands. We hadno conversable acquaintances, no books to fall back upon, nothing toexcite any particular interest. Before quitting home we had promisedto write to an aged invalid lady and her two daughters about anythingthat occurred during our stay at this sea-side retreat, but felt at aloss what to write about. At length something cast up. It was greedilyseized upon, and formed the subject of a letter, which long after beingforgotten, has been accidentally put into our hands by the elder of thetwo daughters, to whom it was addressed, with the remark that it hadbeen the means of amusing her poor dear mamma, now passed away. Theremark consoled us, for the letter was anything but brilliant. We offerour readers a copy, as a specimen of an attempt at squeezing literarymaterial out of a dreadfully dull watering-place.

'Since coming to this retired spot, I have noticed two ladies withwooden legs. These require to be described separately, for the legsdiffer in character, and I daresay materially differed in price. Theymay be spoken of as legs Nos. 1 and 2. Leg number one consists of arounded black pin of the old genuine wooden-leg type, and which is nowvery much less common than it used to be within my remembrance. The legis neatly turned, with no disguise about it—a downright wooden leg asmay be seen by all the world. To all appearance it does not form anentire leg. It evidently goes only as high as the knee. This half-leg,as it correctly should be called, belongs to a smart well-dressedyoung lady, who stumps about with it beautifully, though no doubtwith considerable exertion. As the knee seemingly rests on a cushion,the lower part of the unfortunate limb projects behind, yet not inan ungainly way. Thanks to crinoline, the real leg and foot are to acertain extent shrouded from observation. However, one can see a kindof jerking out of the foot, on every movement of the red petticoat andtucked-u

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