Gratified.

Otago Witness, Issue 2181, 19 December 1895, Page 33

Gratified.

Most of us have seen a specimen of the very self-important men who gaze at public buildings as if they had money invested in 1 hem, and who regard public officials with the piercing gaze which counsels them to earn their money or account for themselves. Such was the little man who approached a tall policeman the other day, with indiguation glistenining in his eyes. ! " I demand to know," he said, in a firm voice, "why I am forced to remain on tbis side of the street when my business calls me to to the other ? " The policeman looked a trifle startled for a second or so, but recovering himself, he replied : " Well, who's keeping you from goin' ? " "The traffic, sir, the traffic of vehicles; yeb pedestrians are supposed to have the right of way." " Well," gruffly responded the officer, " what nre jou going to do about it ? " " I am going to insist upon ray rights, sir," s-iid the responsible cit:z n. "That's easy," said the t.fficer. " And Fee that I get th.m." " That will be harder." " You are a public servant in the public pay, and at the call of the publ'c. I therefore demand a safe passage for my person across this thoroughfare. It ia jour duty to see that my demands are complied with." And the little man expanded his chest with a real citizen-like independence. The big policeman looked at him fee a mo-

menfc in a quandary, then seeming to solve the problem, ha said, with a wink in his eve : "A safe passage you want, is it ? "Well, you shall hay« it." And before the little man could divine his intentions he picked him up. tucked him under his arm, and was dodging between the heroes' heads in a tortie across the street. The little man had nob recovered his breath before the bluecoat dropped him on the opposite pavement and started on a return expedition.