The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 228: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

TWO FRIENDS 211 relish the vocation. I was thinking of giving up the news- paper, when a vacancy for a prophet suddenly occurred.” ‘A prophet?’’ ejaculated Ben Limber, his eyes staring wide with astonishment. | ‘Yes, to be sure,” said his friend, coolly, “a prophet at a weekly salary of two guineas. You don’t twig, I see. Well, then, I mean a prophet to predict the winning horses at all-forthcoming races.”’ ‘Ah, I understand,” said Ben Limber. ‘“ But how long did you keep that situation? ”’ “Only six months,’ responded Mr. Bealby, “for the truth is that in no single instance did I ever predict ac- curately. Not that in this respect I was in any way worse than the prophets on other newspapers, only the proprietor of the one to which I belonged was rather particular, and he thought that a prophet ought to predict right at least once out of twenty times. So he discharged me, and I was again thrown upon the world.’’ “And what did you do then?” asked Ben Limber. “T got up a benefit society,’ replied Mr. Bealby. ‘A benefit society? ’’ echoed his friend. ‘‘ For whose benefit? ”’ “For my own,” was the response. ‘ It was ostensibly for the advantage of the working classes, but in reality for mine. Every one who paid a few pence a week was to have fifteen shillings a week during illness, to be buried, when he died, with a good walking funeral, and his widow to have a ten-pound note to buy mourning for herself and the children. I was secretary and treasurer and auditor and manager — I think I was the committee too, but I know very well that I was the principal recipient of the society’s benefits. At. last there was an exposure and an inquiry; I was summoned before the magistrate, but I had taken very good care not to have the society enrolled, and therefore his worship had no power of jurisdiction. The case was dis- missed, and in order that the members should not fall into most unchristian feuds amongst themselves relative to the division of the remaining funds, I put them into my own pocket, and bidding an eternal farewell to the ungrateful neighbourhood of Whitechapel where the exposure had _ taken place, I established my quarters in another.’’ ‘ And what was the next course? ’’ inquired Ben. (EIA MICE JOO CS (E(@)