What the bear said

I was walking through the woods when I came upon a bear who said he knew you. The bear had some good things, and some embarrassing items to say about you. I didn't say anything because you're an enigma to me, and I was curious. 

The thing that most interested me was a story about how you were once one of the early sidewalk toll collectors. People that wanted to pass through gave you a lot of grief, but in the end, everyone paid.