The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-05 00:00:00

A GAME OF CARDS.

He was evidently determined not to lose sight of
his trumps, and carried them off on his person into
the church. I ran round to the front entrance, and
was just in time to witness the commencement of
the service. It is a wonder judgment did not Pal
on the chief priest. And it did in a way. At ono
part of the service, just as he was stepping on the
platform, be put his hand inside his robe to pull out
his handkerchief, and, as he drew it out, the cards
came also unbidden and fell scattered over the altar
floor. This would have paralysed any ordinary
man, but that priest never winced for a moment.
He looked coolly at the cards, then steadily at the
people, as much as to say, " You all see that ; take
notice of it. I shall tell you about that by-and-
by." He then continued the services. At
the close he pointed to the cards—then beck-
oned a little peasant boy, with a shock head of
white flaxen hair, dressed in a shirt of coarse linen
and trousers to match, not very clean, who had been
crossing and bending beside a poor peasant woman,
his mother : " Come here, boy !" The boy went.
Turning to the congregation, ho said : " I shall give
you a lesson you will not forget for some time. You
see these cards lying on the floor. Do you think
put them there for nothing ? We shall see ! What
is your name, my boy ? " "Peter Petrovitch."
" Well, Peter Petrovitch, go and pick up one of
those cards you see on the floor, and bring it to me.
There, that will do. Now tell me, Peter Petro-
vitch, what card is this ? " " The ace of spades !"
said the boy, with ready knowledge. " Very
good, Peter Petrovitch ; bring me another,
that's a good boy. What card is that?" " The
queen of spades," said Peter. " How well you
hnow them. Peter Petrovitch ; bring another. And
what may that one be ?" " The ten of hearts."
" That will do, Peter, the son of Peter. Now turn.
round and look at this picture. Can you toll me
what saint it represents ?" The boy scratched his
head, then shrugged his little shoulders, lifting
them to his ears, then scratched his head again, and
said :—" Ya naes nigh." (I don't know.) " Now
look at this one. Who is this ?" The same answer.
" And this ?" " I cannot tell." " That will do,
Peter, the son of Peter. You may go to your
mother." Turning to the people, he continued :
" Do you know now for what purpose I put these
oards on the floor ? Do you not think shame of
yourselves, tell me—say, is it not disgraceful and
scandalous that that nice white-haired boy can tell
me in a moment the name of every card in the pack,
and yet ho does not know the name of one of the
blessed saints ? Oh, shame, shame on ye, so to
bring up the young, after all the good teaching I
have given ye ! Go away and learn the blessed
lesson I have given you this blessed day. Don't
forget it, and don't force me to bring cards into this
holy place again. Vassillia, pick the other cards
up, and keep them for me." So with solemn steps
he left the church to play out his interrupted game
for a hundred roubles.—Dickens's " All the Year
Round."

COUNTRY MA ItELI 6*.

.._ ~.

SALISBURY—JUNE 3.
At to-day's market the supply of wheat was moderate,
and the trade dull, but firm, at former quotations, with an
occasional advance. In barley, oats, and beans there WAS
no change.

NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE -JUNE 3.

At io-day's market trade was depressed, owing to dig-
appointing accounts from Mark-lane. Wheat of all de-
scriptions had a slow sale, and prices rather lower. Flour
neglected, and spring corn without alteration.