HE WHISTLED FOR HIS MONEY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2246, 27 August 1891, Page 4

HE WHISTLED FOR HIS MONEY.

The Sheffield Weekly Telegraph gives a weekly prize of £1 for the best joke or anecdote contributed by its readers, and on June 20th last this prize was awarded to Mr Sidney Maskery, in care of Mrs Williamson, 32 St. George street, York, for the following anecdote: — When Mr Albert Walker, of Messrs William Walker & Sons, printers, of Otley, Yorkshire, travelled for the firm some years ago, a brother commercial relates the following story of one of his many escapades. Now, Albert was in his time one of the most energetic practical jokers on the road; indeed, his book on some phases of life on the road is full of rollicking fun from begining to end. But to our subject. Albert, after obtaining a good order from a rather crusty member of the trading community in Sheffield, called for his account in the usual way. He was and still is, always respectful and business-like. The crusty customer told him he could not pay his account that journey. The firm were always noted for prompt payments, and exacting all the discount they could reasonably claim and Albert did not see any reason why the customer should not settle up. He quietly, but firmly qnd respectfully, told him so, when he was informed rather grumpily, to “go outside and whistle for his money.” Albert, nothing loth, and enjoying the joke immensely, went outside, and putting on a grave look he stood on the elevated doorstep and began to whistle for his money in good earnest. The very peculiarity of the thing struck the fancy of the passers-by. Two fine looking lads with a piece of machinery on their shoulders stood open-mouthed. Other passengers stopped, until the street was blocked. The Otley man kept on whistling, until at last a pugnacious half-drunken grinder in--1 sisted upon knowing why such a respectable looking gentleman was whistling in such a ridiculous position. Walker suddenly stopped, and, in answer to the grinder’s question, said “ he was whistling for his money.” His debtor, and two or three clerks, with their faces glued to the window were simply astonished at the proceedings, and soon the office door was opened, the whistler invited inside, and the account was promptly paid. For once the tradesman had “ reckoned without his host.” Albert Walker was known far and wide as the “Whistling Commercial,” and he could whistle then, and no mistake. Talk about a piccolo, it wasn’t in it with Walker, During the exhibition held at York in 1878, the writer heard him accompany several songs on the piano, when his wonderful whistling powers brought people from every part of the vast building to listen to the charming display of his undoubted talent, Mrs Shaw, the American siffleuse, is not in it over against the Yorkshire exponent of her favourite art.”