The social occasion was said to be the highpoint of the season, yet the young doctor found it impossible to enjoy. Every few minutes his conversation was interrupted by people describing their afflictions and asking for free medical advice.
As he was just ready to give up and start for home, he saw a venerable lawyer from the community, a noted local personality for the last 50 years. In a few minutes he had engaged the older man in conversation and in due course asked him the question that was on his mind:
“What do you do to stop people from asking you for legal advice when you’re out of the office?”
"Tut, tut," replied the doctor. "That is part of the professional man's life. You must make allowances."
"What sort of allowances?"
"Well, when people ask me for advice I always give it to them,” replied the lawyer, “ ... and then I send them a bill.”
The doctor was shocked, but after some reflection determined to give it a try.
The next day, feeling more than slightly guilty and considerably cheap, the doctor prepared his bills.
As he made his way to his mailbox he collected his own mail ... And found a bill from the lawyer.
----------------A Final Thought ...
"A soul that is reluctant to share does not as a rule have much of its own. Miserliness is here a symptom of meagerness."
- Eric Hoffer (1902-83), U.S. philosopher