goes to church, a' Sunday." At this, even
the losers laughed. "Will he be here
a' Monday, then?" asked a desperate young
green-grocer. "A' Monday?" said the miracle,
reflecting. "No, I don't think he'll be here,
a' Monday, coz he's going to a sale a' Monday."
At this, some of the boys taunted the
unmoved miracle with meaning "a sell instead
of a sale," and others swarmed over the whole
place, and some laughed, and some swore,
and one errand-boy, discovering the book—
the only thing Mr. Cheerful had left behind
him—declared it to be "a stunning good 'un."
We took the liberty of looking over it, and
found it so. Mr. Cheerful had received about
seventeen pounds, and, even if he had paid his
losses, would have made a profit of between
eleven and twelve pounds. It is scarcely
necessary to add that Mr. Cheerful has been
so long detained at the sale, that he has never
come back. The last time we loitered past
his late establishment (over which is inscribed
Boot and Shoe Manufactory), the dusk of
evening was closing in, and a young gentleman
from New Inn was making some rather
particular enquiries after him of a dim and
dusty man who held the door a very little
way open, and knew nothing about anybody,
and less than nothing (if possible) about Mr.
Cheerful. The handle of the lower door-bell
was most significantly pulled out to its utmost
extent, and left so, like an Organ stop in full
action. It is to be hoped that the poor gull
who had so frantically rung for Mr. Cheerful,
derived some gratification from that expenditure
of emphasis. He will never get any
other, for his money.

But the public in general are not to be left
a prey to such fellows as Cheerful. O, dear
no! We have better neighbours than that,
in the Betting-shop way. Expressly for the
correction of such evils, we have THE
TRADESMENS' MORAL ASSOCIATIVE BETTING
CLUB; the Prospectus of which Institution
for the benefit of tradesmen (headed in the
original, with a racing woodcut), we here
faithfully present without the alteration of
a word.

"The Projectors of the Tradesmen's Moral
Associative Betting Club, in announcing an
addition to the number of Betting Houses in
the Metropolis, beg most distinctly to state
that they are not actuated by a feeling of
rivalry towards old established and honourably
conducted places of a similar nature, but
in a spirit of fair competition, ask for
the support of the public, guaranteeing to
them more solid security for the investment
of their monies, than has hitherto
been offered.

"The Tradesmen's Moral Associative
Betting Club is really what its name imports,
viz., an Association of Tradesmen, persons in
business, who witnessing the robberies hourly
inflicted upon the humbler portion of the
sporting public, by parties bankrupts alike in
character and property, have come to the
conclusion that the establishment of a club
wherein their fellow-tradesmen, and the
speculator of a few shillings, may invest their
money with assured consciousness of a fair
and honourable dealing, will be deemed
worthy of public support.

"The Directors of this establishment feel
that much of the odium attached to Betting
Houses, (acting to the prejudice of those which
have striven hard by honourable means to
secure public confidence) has arisen from the
circumstance, that many offices have been,
fitted up in a style of gaudy imitative
magnificence, accompanied by an expense, which, if
defrayed, is obviously out of keeping with the
profits of a legitimate concern. Whilst, in.
singular contrast, others have presented such
a poverty stricken appearance, that it is
evident the design of the occupant was only to
receive money of all, and terminate in paying
none.

"Avoiding these extremes of appearance,
and with a determination never to be induced
to speculate to an extent, that may render it
even probable that we shall be unable "to
pay the day after the race."

"The business of the club will be carried
on at the house of a highly respectable and
well-known tradesman, situate in a central
locality, the existence of an agreement with
whom, on the part of the director, forms the
strongest possible guarantee of our intention
to keep faith with the public.

"The market odds will be laid on all events,
and every ticket issued be signed by the
director only, the monies being invested,"
&c. &c.

After this, Tradesmen are quite safe in
laying out their money on their favourite
horses. Aud their families, like the people in
old fireside stories, will no doubt live happy
ever afterwards!

Now, it is unquestionable that this evil has
risen to a great height, and that it involves
some very serious social considerations. But,
with all respect for opinions which we do not
hold, we think it a mistake to cry for
legislative interference in such a case. In the first
place, we do not think it wise to exhibit a
legislature which has always cared so little for the
amusements of the people, in repressive action
only. If it had been an educational
legislature, considerate of the popular enjoyments,
and sincerely desirous to advance and extend
them during as long a period as it has been
exactly the reverse, the question might assume
a different shape; though, even then, we should
greatly doubt whether the same notion were
not a shifting of the real responsibility. In
the second place, although it is very edifying
to have honorable members, and right honorable
members, and honorable and learned
members, and what not, holding forth in their
places upon what is right, and what is
wrong, and what is true, and what is false—
among the people—we have that audacity
in us that we do not admire the present