The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-09-01
EU8aEAS EDEzEE4T.
EeeEEE=or, and S'arGz-.-A Fresh
kbcal Alter .Sers5CS.

| Religion and S'1rC2E--A E'rest
Ltcsal After Service.
| The character of the Russian Priests is no
| portrayed IN attractive coors but the fol
| lowing i good story of . gambling ecclesI
| sstic, who sat up al! .atCrday night ever tts
| c-r,l-, dear 20 almost all Russiahs, playing
with t7o o,her priests end an Etglishman
! till AZ VAS tire for morning service
| the PRIEST AND HIS CARDS.
! J cannot FAY these men were drunk or
| the contrary. they seer1el more sober than
! they kei been vheE | left then, at two
! o'clock but the demon of play held them in
| his grip; they were rs fresn for it, and C,
absorbed IS If they had only played two oi
three hours. Iy remonstraEces and expos
| tulztions were thrown awa7, and IN indignant
! curiosity sat down TO catch the end
| Tae priest and his partner lost. Pins and
| his partner won another fifty. The next
! game ga to De double or quits, the deal made
with . irr,l p-c}; and, as / sat IN iuli view
OF tae tall priest, / could see his fac brighten
up, aud look ol intelii Ience pass between
him aaa his partner. At this moment the
tecJuOC!; again entered. Three mInute.
70 e.ght clock:
Al but tie ,zll priest threw their cards on
the isble aud rose. -aylng, "A ie>h deal
afa5 s-rgice."
No, no" lie said keep your hand parts
ner SHALL Keep mine. it is good one and
~ shall play Ine game after our RETURN
Here, Eassilia, give me towel, Wet; that
will 90. Now my robes-there-tha comb !;
and now go every one of you to your posts.
J shall be there presently Thus s1ylng,
he proceeded with firm step to the church
bv the private entrance already mentioned
As he left the room saw him place his good
= l. Z, ,.,I.- .Ggy
the inside fastening. Le was evidently de-
termiued not to lose sight OF his trornps, and
carried them off on his person into the church
rxp ground to the front entrance, and WAS
lust in time to witness the commencement o.
The service. 1t is wonder Judgment did not
fall on the chief priest. And it did III 4 way.
At one part Of the service, just a. he was
stepping on the platform, he put his hand III
side his robe to pull out hIs handkerchief,
and, as he drew 1t out, the cards came also
unbiaien, and tc.I scattered over the altar
floor. This would have paralyzed any ordl>
nary man; bGt that priest never WINGED for
g moment. He lookel coOlly at the cards
thea steadily at the people, much as to
say. "Iou all see that; take notice OF it. !
shall tell YOU about that by aud by.' He
.hen continued the services. At the close he
pointed to the cards-tacn bcckoued little
peasaut bay, with q shock head of white
faxen hair, dreS-ed in a SHIRT Of course linen
sEd trows RS /, match, not very clean, who
had been cros>iug and bending beside poor
peasant wOmai. nia mother:
Come her. spy!" The boy went. Turn
ing to the coug.e- alton, he said - shall
give you a lco-Cu vo4 I'll not forget for some
TIM You se- ,l.,- ards lying on the floor.
DO YOU taiub pa. 'aem there for nothing?
Ill 81 my l,f,yp
- Peter Petroyitch.'
Well Peter Per Itch, 90 and pick up
enc of tGose cards yoI see on the floor, and
bruE il TO NJ. There, that Will do. N"w
tell mn, Petor r.trovitch, What card is this z
:. Tie ace OF spe3vs,' laid the boy, with
ready knowledge. e.
W.. good, Peter Petroyitch; bring ne
a'.cri-r, that's good boy. V Via, card Is
that ?'
d" The queen Of spades" sail Pc ter.
How vei! you know them, Pd ter Petro>
witch br.ng smother. What may that one
2"
The .eu Of hearts"
That vii DO Peter, the son Of Peter
Now trrn round and look a. this picture.
Can Won tell me what saint it represents -
TIE boy scratched his head. then shrugged
his little shoulders, lifting them PIP 20 his
ears, then scratched Lis head AGAIN, and
said "Ya n.es nigh Il don't know
Now lool. st tins one. Who j. this?'
The.san'e answer.
"Ard rLis:"
"F cannot tell"
That viii DO, Peter, sen Of Peter. Io@
NAV 20 to vour mother
Turning to the people. he continued:
"Do you know now for what purpose |
mt these cards on the floor? Do YOU not