Katherine Mansfield’s short sketch describes a neighbor, Farkey Anderson, a big man with a wooden leg and a caged goldfinch who lives in a very small house. The speaker, likely a child, feels sorry for him—not just because he lost his leg in war, but because his beautiful smile and large presence seem out of place in such a cramped home. Out on the road his leg is less noticeable, but indoors it makes an ugly noise that constantly reminds him of his injury. The final image is tender: Little Brother believes the goldfinch sings louder than any other bird so that Anderson won’t hear his poor leg and feel too sad. The mood is gentle, melancholy, and full of childish sympathy—sadness softened by imagination and care.
The Man with the Wooden Leg — Summary
There was a man lived quite near us; He had a wooden leg and a goldfinch in a green cage. His name was Farkey Anderson, And he’d been in a war to get his leg. We were very sad about him, Because he had such a beautiful smile And was such a big man to live in a very small house. When he walked on the road his leg did not matter so much; But when he walked in his little house It made an ugly noise. Little Brother said his goldfinch sang the loudest of all birds, So that he should not hear his poor leg And feel too sorry about it.