Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-05-11
Religious Card Player.


 cards during divine services. The ac- count of it is thus given:
 Sergeant commanded the soldiers at the church, and when the parson had read the prayers he took the text. Those who had Bible took it out ; but this soldier had neither Bible nor common prayer book, but pulling out pack of cards lie spread them before him. He first looked at one and then another. The sergeant of the company saw him and said;
 Richard, put up the cards; this is no place for them. 1 Never mind that said Richard. When the services were over, con stable took Richard prisoner and brought him before the Mayor.
 Well, said the Mayor, what have you brought the soldier here for.
 Forplaying cards in the church.
 Well soldier, what have you to say for yourself?
 Much, sir, hope. Very good-if not l will punish you severely.
 1 have been, said the soldier, about six weeks on a march. have neither Bible nor common prayer books have nothing but pack of cards, and l hope to satisfy your worship of the purity of my intention. Then spreading the cards before the Mayor, he began with the acc When I see the ace it reminds me that there is but one God. When I see the duce it reminds me of Father and Son. When see the tray it reminds mo of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost When I see the four it reminds me of the four Evangelists that preached, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. When l see the five it reminds me of five wise virgins that trimmed their lamps. There were ten, but five were wise and five were foolish, and were shut out.
 When 1 sec the six it reminds me that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth. When see the seven it reminds me that on the seventh day God rested from the great work which he had made and hallowed it.
 When see the eight it reminds me of the eight righteous persons that were saved when God destroyed the world, viz; Noah and his family, his three sons and their wives. When see the nine it reminds mo of the nine lepers that were cleansed by our Saviour. There were nine out of ten who never returned thanks.
 When see the ten it reminds mo of the ten commandments which God handed down to Moses on tablet of stone.
 When I see the King it reminds me of the Great King of Heaven, which is God Almighty.
 When sec the Queen it reminds me of the Queen of Sheba, who visited Solomon, for she was as wise woman as he was q man. She brought with her fifty boys and girls, all dressed in Boy's apparel, for King Solomon to tell which were boys and which were girls. The King sent for water for them to wash. The girls washed to the elbows and the boys to the wrists so King Sol- omon told by that.
 We'll, said the Mayor, you have de- scribed every card in tho pack except one.
 What is that?
 The knave, said the Mayor,
 will give your honor description of that, too, if you will not be angry.
 will not said the Mayor, if you do not term me to be the knave.
 The greatest knave l know offs the constable that brought me here.
 do not know, said the Mayor, if he is the greatest knave, but know he is the greatest fool
 When l count how many spots there are in deck of cards, I find three hun dred and sixty-five and as many days as there are in year.
 When count the number of cards in q pack, find fifty-t~o-the number of weeks in a year.
 find there are twelve picture cards in n pack, representing the number of months in year, and on counting the tricks find thirteen--the number of weeks in quarter.
 So you see, a pack of cards served him for Bible, Almanac and Common Prayer Book.