Alexander & Churchill: How their parents saved and nurtured the other!

A few days back I had brought to you the story of the chance meeting of Swami Vivekananda & Jamshedji Tata and how it affected the future of India in such a profound manner!  Here is another story of some compassion and selfless action that gave life and education to two gentlemen in England – who went on to change the world as we know it!

A poor Scottish farmer, Fleming, heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to it. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and trying to free himself.

Farmer Fleming saved the child from what would have been a slow and horrible death. Next day, a fancy carriage pulled up at the Scotsman’s poor home.

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, I can’t accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer said stoutly. Just then, his son appeared at the door of the hovel. "Is that your son?" asked the nobleman. "Yes," replied the farmer proudly "Let me provide him with the level of education that my son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he’ll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of." And that he did.

Farmer Fleming’s son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School, London University. He went on to become famous throughout the world as Sir Alexander Fleming, the man who discovered penicillin.

Years later, the young nobleman who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time? Penicillin. The name of his father, who educated Fleming? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son’s name? Sir Winston Churchill.

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