The Prophet arises, takes a stone tablet from his waistcoat-pocket, and reads
The Gospel according to St. Benjamin.
Chapter xiv.
1. And lo! it was the fall of the year, and the greatest fall was that of Benjamin.
2. And his lyre was hushed.
3. Yet he stretched his hand out unto the people and cried, “Lo, I like this! I would rather be put under the people, having the suffrages of a hundred and fifty thousand, than be put over them with the suffrages of a hundred and thirty-five thousand.”
4. And the people smote their knees and laughed, and cried “If thou likest it, Benjamin, so we do, also. Go to, and write a Thanksgiving proclamation.”
5. And he did.
(The stone tablet falls upon a finger-bowl with a crash, and the club votes that the Chronicles be printed at the Prophets expense.)
Spurius Lartius.—But who is this man, that arises with flashing eye and curling lip? Mayhap he is a Kelt.