NOT TO BE MOVED.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 8, 20 February 1892, Page 187

NOT TO BE MOVED.

When Anna Dickinson was travelling about the country in war time to fulfil her lecture engagements, she was abundantly entertained and bored by the pertinacious questioning of many a chance acquaintance. One man, who insisted upon talking with her during a railway journey, ended their interview with an astonishing proposition, beginning with the leading question : • Lecturin’s your trade, ain’t it ? You make your bread and butter by it, don’t you ?' My tired head nodded what served for an assent to his inquiry. ‘ Well, now, all’s grist that comes to your mill, then. One fellow’s stamps are’s good as another’s hey ’’ I was forced to admit the very self-evident proposition. ‘ Well, now,’ growing emphatic and dragging out some bills and currency, ‘ look here. You’ll never lecture in our town ; it’s too small. But I’d like to hear what you can do when your steam’s up. There’s half-a-crown ’ll pay you for a good square talk and all the fixin’s.’ I made it manifest to him that it would not, and once more held my peace. ‘ What ! Not for half-a-crown ’ Well, then, it’s pretty steep, but I don’t mind just for once going five shillings.’ Not even for five shillings would I be wound up and made to go, and his forbearance was exhausted. ‘ Well, I never did see your beat! You won’t be sociable, and you won’t make a square trade. You’re not the woman for my stamps,’ putting back his currency. ‘ I wouldn’t talk to you if—well, I’d as lief talk to a stone wail. Perhaps you'd like your own company ?’ As I did not contradict him, he gathered himself up and re planted himself for a slow roast by the fiery dragon of a stove ; but evidently he bore no malice, for, getting out at a lumber town in the woods, he paused near me, and said : • If you ever should speak anywhere round, I’ll come to hear you. ’