The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1872-09-04
The Religious Card Player.

A private soldier by the name Of
Richard Lee, was taken before the
magistrates of Glasgow, for playing
cards during divine service. The ac-
count of it is thus given in an English
journal:
The Sergeant commanded the SOL
ders at the chnrch, and when the
parson had read the prayers he took
the text. Those who had Bibles took
them out; but the soldier had neither
Bible nor Prayer Book but pulling
out a pack of cards he 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"
"Never mind that" said Richard
cody.
When the services were over, the
constable took Richard a prisoner,
and brought him before the Mayor.
"Well, what have you brought the
soldier here for?" said the Mayor.
"For playing cards in the church" |"
"Well, soldier, what have you to
say for yourself?"
"Much, sir, hope"
Every good; if not l will punish
you severely"
81 have been," said the soldier,
"about six weeks on the march. |
have neither Bible nor Prayer Book.
l have nothing but pack of cards,
and hope to satisfy your worship of
the purity of my intention"
Then spreading the cards before the
Mayor, he began with the ace:
"When | see the ace it reminds me
there is but one God.
"When l see the deuce it reminds
of Father and Son.
"When see the tray it reminds me
of Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
"When | 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 the five wise virgins that trimmed
their lamps. There were ten, but five
were wise and five were foolish, and
were shut out.
"When l see 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 resteC
from the great work which He ba(
made and hallowed it.
"When l see the eight it reminds
me of the eight righteous persons wht
were saved when God destroyed tn,
world, viz: Noah and his wife, hi
three sons and three wives.
"When l see the nine it reminds IN
of the nine lepers that were cleanseC
by our Saviour. There were nine o
the ten who never returned thanks.
"When / see the ten it reminds m
of the ten Commandments which Coz
handed down to Moses on the table
of stone.
"When l see the King it remind
me of the Great King of Heaven
which is God Almighty.
"When / see the Queen it remind
rne of the Queen of Sheba, who visite
Solomon, for she was as wise woma
as he was man. She brought wit
her City boys and fifty girls, all dress
| ed in boys apparel, for King Solomo
to tell which were boys and whic
were girls. The King sent for waite
to wash. The girls washed to tn
, elbows and the boys to the wrists; S
King Solomon told by that"
"Well," said the Mayor, "you hav
described every card in the pack e1
= cept one."
"What is that?"
"The knave," said the Mayor.
> 81 will give your honor a descriI
tion of that too, if you will not g
}, very angry"
81 viii not, if you DO not term m
to be the knave," said Mayor.
: "The greatest knave that know
is the constable that brought me dow
here"
"I do not know if he is the greate
- knave, but l know he is the create
fool" said the Mayor.
"When | count how many spo
there are in a pack of cards, l fin
three hundred and sixty-fve, as man
o days as in a year.
"When | count the number of care
in a pack, count fifty-two-the nun
ber of weeks in a year.
81 find there are twelve pictu
> cards in a pack, representing the nur
IS ber of months in a year-and
, counting the tricks / find thirteen
. the number of weeks in quarter.
$50, you see a pack of cards serv
- for Bible, Almanac and Commo
Prayer Book"