Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-02-26


The PACK OF CARDs.-A nobleman
in the city of London, who kept a great
number oiservants reposed considerable
confidence in one of them, which excited
jealousy in the others, who, in order to
prejudice their master against him, ac-
cused him Of being notorious games
ter. Jack was called up and closely in
terrogated, hut he denied the fact, a, the
same time declaring he never played a
card in his life. To be more fully con-
vinced, the gentleman ordered him to be
searched, when behold pack of cards
was found in his pocket. Highly in
cens,d at Jacks want Of veraci,y, the
nobleman demanded, in a rage, how he
dared persist in in untruth ? "My lords
replied he, a" ! certainly do not know the
meaning ofa card the bundle in my
pocket is my almanac" "Your alma
nae, indeed then desire you will prove
it,"
"Well, sir, will begin. There are
four suits in the pack, that intimatcs the
fur quarters in the year, as there are
thirteen cards in each suit so there are
thirteen weeks in quarter. There are
also the same number of Iunation /; the
twelve signs Of the zodiac, through
which the sun steers his diurnal course
in one year. There are f'ty-'wo cards
in pack tha, directly answers the
number Of weeks in year. Examine
them more minutely, and you will find
three hundred and sixty-fve spots, as
many as there are days in the year
these multiply by twenty-four and sly,
and you have the exact number of hours
and minutes in year. Thus. sir, |
hope have convinced you it is my
almanac and by your lordshp's per-
mission, will prove it my Prayer-Book
also. look upon the four suits as rep
resenting the four prevailing religions
Christianity, Judaism, Mahometanism.
and Paganism; the twelve court cards
remind me Of the twelve tribes of Israel
the twelve Apostles, the twelve articles
of the Christian faith. The king re.
minds me Of the allegiance due to his
majesty. The queen, of the same to
her majesty. The ten brings to my rec
objection the ten cities in the plains Of
Sodom and Gomorrah, destroyed by fire
and birthstone from heaven the ten
plaques of Egypt; the ten command
ments the ten tribes cut of for their
vices. The nine reminds me of the nine
muses.; the nine noble orders among
men. Tie eight reminds me Of the
eight bea,itudes; the eight attitudes
the eight persons saved in Noah's ark;
the eight persons mentioned IN Scrip
ture TO be released from death TO life
The seven reminds me of the seven ad
ministering spirits that stand before the
throne Of God the seven seals " here
with the book Of lie is sealed; the seven
liberal arts and sciences given ty God
for the instruction Of man the seven
wonders OF the world. The six reminds
me of the six petitions contained in the
Lords prayer. The five reminds me Of
the senses given by God TO man, hear
ing, seeing feeling, tasting, and smell
ing. The four puts me in mind of the
four evangelis,s,; the four seasons of the
year. The three reminds me Of the
Trinity; TIE three hours our Saviour
was OH the cross; the three days he lay
inferred. The two reminds me Of the
two testamenis the two contrary prn-
cipI,s s struggling in man, virtue and vice.
The ace reminds me Of the only true
God to adore, worship and serve; one
truth to practice, and one good master
to serve and obey" $50 lar is very
WE'LL" said the nobleman, but believe
you have omitted one card, the knave.b
"True, my lord the knave reminds me
Of your lordship's iniormer." The no
bleman became more pleased with Jack
than before, iorgavc him, raised his wa
pes. and discharged the iniormer.