Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-12-07
Cards Spiritualized.

Giving account of Richard Lee, a
private soldier, who had been taken be-
fore the Mayor of the town of Glasgow,
tor playing cards during divine service
The sergeant commanded the sol
ders at the church, and when the par
son had read the PRAYER he took the
text. Those who had Bible took it
out; but this soldier had neither Bible,
nor common prayer-hook, but, pulling
out pack of cards, he spread them out
before him. He first looked at one
card, and then another The sergeant
of the company saw him, and said:
''Richard, put up the cards, this is no
place for them.''
"Nercr mind that" said Richard.
When the service was over, the con-
stable took Richard prisoner, and bro't
him before the Mayor.
"Well," says the Mayor, "what have
you brought the soldier here for?
"For playing cards in church,
"Well, soldier, what have you to say
! for yourself?"
':Much, sir, I hope
every good; if not, will punish
you more than ever maa was punish
ed"
II have bccn,' said the soldier,
"about six weeks on the march. | have
neither Bible nor common rayer-book.
| have nothing but a pack of cards,
and hope to satisfy your worship of
the purity Of my intention:''
every good,' said the Mayor.
And spreading the cards before the
Mayor, he began with the ace.
"When | see the ace, it reminds me
there is onl y one God.
When I see the duce, it reminds me
Of Father and Son.
When | see the tray, it reminds Inc
of Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
When | see the four, it reminds me
of the four Evangclists that preached,
viz, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
when see the five, it reminds me
of the five wise virgins that trimmed
their lamps. There were ten. but tive
were wise, and five were foolish, and
were shut out.
when | see the six, it reminds me
that in six daYs the Lord made heaven
and earth.
when I see the seven, it reminds me
that on the seventh day God rested
from the work which he had made, and
haIlowed it.
| When | see the eight, it reminds me
of the eight righteous persons that were
saved when God drowned the world,
viz, Noah and his wife, and his three
sons ana their wives.
When | see the nine, it reminds me
of the nine Lcpers that were cleansed
by our Savior. There were nine out of
the ten that never returned thanks.
When | see the king, it reminds me
Of the Great King Of Heaven: which is
God Almighty.
When I see the queen, it reminds me
of the Queen Of Sheba, for she is as
wise woman rs he was man. She
brought with her fifty boys and fifty
girls, all dressed i'll boys apparel, for
King Solomon to tell which were boys
and which were girls. King Solomon
sent for water to wash themselves; the
girls washed to the elbows, and the
boys only to the wrist, so King Solo
mon told by that"
"Well," said the Mayor; "you have
given a description of AL the cards in
the pack except one"
"Which is that:'' said the soldier.
"The knave.'
II will give your honor description
of that too, if you will not be angry"
= will not," SAID the Mayor, If you
viii! pot term me to hc the kpaye."
"Well," said the soldier, "tke great
est knave | know of is the constable
that brought me here"
Il do not know" said the Mayor,
''whether he is the greatest knave, but
I know he is the greatest fool
When | count how many spots in a
pack Of cards, l find 365-as many
days as there is in a year.
When | count the number Of cards
in pack, find there are 52--the mum
Der of weeks there are in year. And
! find four suits-the number of weeks
in 4 month.
find there arc twelve picture cards
in the pack, representing the number
Of months in a year; and on counting
the tricks, find thlrteen-the number
of weeks in a quarter. So you sec, sir,
the pack Of cards serves for a Bible,
Almanac, and common prayer-book to
me-"