PORK VERSUS GOLD: OR THE PRICE OF A SONG.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2311, 13 August 1880, Page 2

PORK VERSUS GOLD: OR THE PRICE OF A SONG.

SECOND EDITION

■ A correspondent sends us the following, which, although embellished with fictitious names, has the merit of being true iu every particular: —We have glaring evidences of the hard times in

the number of the unemployed, and the large business clone in the Insolvent Court, but an illustration of the scarcity of money which surpasses anything I have heard of was witnessed the other evening in a popular hostelry iu a township not very remote from Timaru, which I shall designate Goldstrcam. Two of the leading tradesmen, Mr Grease and Mr Stamp, met at the “ pub ” to deplore the bad times and enjo3 r a social glass. Mr Stamp possesses a good baritone voice, and Mr Grease happens to bo an ardent admirer of the vocalist. As time flew past the company increased, and it occurred to Mr Grease to press his friend for a favorite song. Mr Stamp was not in a singing mood,and he obstinately declined, saying " be would not sing if lie was to bo paid for it,' 1 and adding, with emphasis, that “ be would always do a great deal for money.” This was a damper, but Mr Crease came to the rescue by temptingly olTerflig Mr Stamp a splendid bacon pig for one song. Visions of flitches did what gold could not accomplish, and Mr Stamp rendered the coveted melody iu a way that would,have done credit to Sims Beeves. The grimier did not long survive Ike song, and Mr Stamp is now studying the art of salting and curing, besides being the talk of the village.