A SHORT CONVERSATION.
The celebrated physician, Dr. Abernethy, was famous for the brevity and bluntness of his answers; he never used a word more than was necessary. One day a lady who knew his peculiarity came to him and held out her finger without a word.
'Cut?' asked the doctor.
'Bite,' answered the patient.
'Dog?'
'Parrot.'
'Go home and poultice,' said Abernethy.
The next day the finger was again shown.
'Better?' was the doctor's question.