Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-06-18
Ingenuity at a Pinch.

who kept great number Of servants, re-
posed considerable conf1ehce in one Of
them, which excited u Jealousy in the
| others, who, in order to prejudice their
master against him, accused him Of being
notorious gamester. Jack was called
up, and interrogated closely; but he de-
MED the fact, at the same time declaring
that he had never played game Of cards
in his life To be fully convinced, the
gentleman ordered him to be searched /;
when, behold pack Of cards was found
in his pocket. Highly inceused at Jacks
want of veracity, the nobIeman demanded,
in a rage, how he dared to persist in an
untruth
"My lord" replied he, 81 certainly do
not know the meaning of card; the bum
die in my pocket is my almanack."
"Your almauack, indeed then de-
sire you to prove it."
"Well, sir, l will begin. There are
four suits in the pack; that intimates the
four 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 lunations; the
twelve signs of the zodiac, through which
the sun steers his diurnal course in one
year. There are fifty two cards in pack;
that directly answers to the number Of
weeks in a year. Examine more minute
ly, and you will ind three hundred and
sixty-fve spots, as many as there are
days in the year; multiply these by
twenty-four and sixty, and you will have
the exact number of hours and minutes in
a year. | look upon the four suits as the
four prevailing religions; Christianity,
Judaism, Mahomedauism, and Paganism /;
the twelve ourt-cards remind me Of the
twelve patriarchs from whom sprung the
twelve tribes of Israel, the twelve Apos-
ties, and the twelve articles Of the Chris.
tian Faith. The king reminds me of the
allegiance due to his majesty. The queen
of the same to her majesty. The ten
brings to my recollection the ten cities in
the plains Of Sodom and Gomorrah, de-
stroyed by fire and birthstone from heaven;
the ten plaques Of Egypt the ten COM
mandments from heaven the ten tribes
cut off for their vices. The nine reminds
me of the nine muses. the nine noble or
ders among men. The eight reminds me
Of the eight beatitudes; the eight at'i-
tudes; the eight persons mentioned in
Scripture to be released from death to
life. The seven reminds me of the seven
administering spirits that stand before the
throne of God the seven seals wherewith
the book Of life is sealed, the seven iber.
al arts and sciences given by 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 five
senses given by God to man-hearing,
seeing, feeling, tasting, and smelling
The four puts me in mind of the four
evangelists and the four seasons of the
year. The three reminds me of the Trim
ity !; the three hours our Saviour was on
the cross; and the three days be laycd in
tered. The two remind me of the two
and the two contrary prinei-
pies struggling in man-virtue and vice.
The ace reminds ME of the only true God,
to adore, worship, serve; one faith to be- !
lievc; one truth to practice, and one
good master to serve and obey"
$50 far, very well" said the nobleman;
"but l believe you have omitted one card |
the knave."
"True, my lord, the knave reminds me
of your lordship's informer"
The nobleman became more pleased .
with Jack than before, freely forgave !
him, raised his wages, and discharged the .
informer