The speech below was delivered at Hedley’s 125 Anniversary celebration, and also at the Canada Day festivities. Male speakers were required to sport a beard, ladies needed to wear apparel reflecting the early years.

Good Evening Ladies and Gents,

My name is Iverson. If you don’t recognize me, it’s because I’m new to these parts.

When I heard gold had been discovered here in your fair community, I jumped on the first stage and arrived late last night. If you’re wondering why I came and why the rush, it’s because I knew men would have jobs and money. There would be ample opportunities for anyone in my profession.

I suppose you might be thinking I don’t look like I’d be a good miner, so am I here to establish a brothel? No, neither of these are my reason for coming. I’m actually a professional gambler. Been at it a long time.

In the beginning I lost many a paycheck from my day job. With time though, I learned to read faces and now the paychecks of other gamblers most often end up in my pockets.

Are you thinking by now I’m just a greedy old man who has come to take money from your hardworking miners? Well, I have a little story to tell you.

Just last week I was in the smoky back room of a hotel, setting up to do some gambling, as is my practise. I looked up and saw a big man enter the room and start toward my table. I observed him carefully and guessed he was in his late thirties. His stooped shoulders and a cough suggested to me he had worked underground many years. He had the appearance of a man down on his luck.

“My name is Barney,” he said. “I have a missus and half a dozen young’uns. The mine pays me enough to cover the rent, put food on the table and buy clothes and shoes for the family, but not much more. Two of the young’uns are ill, and I don’t have money to buy medicine. I haven’t ever gambled but I’m ready to start today.”

Listening to Barney and observing him, I wanted to change his mind. “Barney, glad to meet you,” I said, “my name is Iverson. I see you have an honest face and your body tells me you’re a hard worker. I have to tell you this is not a good idea. If you sit down at this table, by midnight your money will be in my pocket. Don’t do it.”

Inspite of my words, he lowered his big frame into the chair across from me and said, “Mr. Iverson, I don’t have no choice.”

He was desperate and determined, so I started dealing and Barney started losing. Half an hour later I asked if he wanted to quit, but as is so often the case, he hoped his luck would change. As I had warned him, by midnight his money was in my pockets. Totally dejected, he got up to leave.

“Barney,” I said, “I’ll be in the hotel cafe at 10 tomorrow morning. If you join me, I’ll buy you a big breakfast.”

I didn’t expect Barney to show up but when I arrived at the cafe he was already at the entrance, waiting for me. His haggard face told me he had slept little. We entered and he ordered ham and fried spuds. I was sure he had an appetite for much more, so I said to the waitress, “My friend works hard. Add some flapjacks, toast, and three eggs. And please leave us a pot of coffee.”

We chatted until the food arrived. Then Barney ate hungrily, like a man who hasn’t had a good meal in weeks. The toast and ham, however, he wrapped in a napkin. “For my family,” he explained. When we had finished eating he pushed his plate aside and leaned forward. “Thanks for the breakfast Mr. Iverson,” he said, “ and thanks for trying to stop me from gambling. When I told my missus I’d lost our money, she wept half the night. You won’t see me at your table again. I was just a doggone fool last night.”

These were the words I had hoped to hear. I reached into my shirt pocket and withdrew an envelope. “Barney, here’s the money you lost, plus an extra hundred,” I said. “Use it to buy the medicines your youngsters need, and whatever else you decide.”

He hadn’t expected this, and his hand trembled as he accepted the envelope. “Thanks, Mr. Iverson,” he said, with little more than a whisper. As he turned away, I saw him brush tears from his cheeks. If he had looked back, he would have seen that I was also brushing tears from my cheeks.