The Van Buren press., 1873-08-26
A Literary Curiosity.
What a Pack Of Cards Serred For.

A private soldier by the name OF Rich
ard Lee was taken before the magistrate
of Glasgow, for playing cards during di-
vine service. The account of it is thus
given in the English journals:
Saresnts commanded the soldiers in
church, and when the pastor had read
the prayers he took the text.
Those who had q Bible took il out.
those soldiers having neither Bible nor
common prayer book, took out pack OF
cards he laid them out before him; ho
first looked at one card and then at an
other. The Sargent Of the company saw
him, and said to Richard put up the
cards; this is no place for them. "Nev
Or mind that, /" said Richsrd.
When the service was over the consia
IL SSle took Richard prisoner and brought
him before the Mayor,
Well, SAID tho Mayor, what have you
brought the soldier here for1
For playing cards in church
Well, soldier, what have you to say
for yourself?
Much, sir, hope.
Very good; if not, will punish you
more than man ever was punished.
have been, said the soldier, about six
weeks on the march. have neither hi
bic nor common prayer book-l have
nothing but pack of cards, and ! hope
to satisfy your worship Of the putty OF
my intentions.
Then spreading the cards before the
Mayor, he began with the acc.
When l see the ace, it reminds me that
there is but one God.
When see the ducc, it reminds me of
the Father and Son.
When / sec the tray, II reminds me of
the Father, Sou and Holy Ghost.
When | see the four, 1t reminds me OF
the four evangclists that preached--Mst
thew, Mark, Luke and John
When | see the iive it reminds Inc OF
the FIVE wise virgins that trimmed their
lamps. There were ten, but five were
wise and five were foolish; tho foolish
were shut out
When 500 the six, 1t reminds me that
in six days the Lord made Heaven and
earth
When ! see the seven II reminds me
that on the seventh day God rested from
the great work he had made end hallow
ed It,
Whca see tho eight, 1t reminds me oi
tho eight righteous persons that were
saved when God destroyed the world,
viz: Noah end his wife his three sons
and their wives.
I thG nina 10 rantpHQ nj
the nine lepers that were clcnsed by our
Savior. There wcro nine out of the ten
who returned thanks
When / see tie ten, 1t minds me OF the
Ten Commandments which 0sd handed
down to Moses on the table Of stone.
When SEQ the king, it reminds me OF
the Great King Of Heaven, which is God
Almighty.
Wnen / look at the queen, 1t reminds
of the Queen OF Shsba, who visited Solo
mon, for she was ns wise a woman as no
was man. She brought with her fifty
boys and fifty girls, all dressed in boys
apparel, for King Solomon to tell which
were boys and which were girls. King
Solomon sent for water for them TO wash.
The girls washed to the elbows and the
boys to the wrist So the king told by
that.
Wsll, said the Mayor you have given
a description of all the cards bu, one.
What 10 that2
The knave, said the Mayor.
will give you a description Of that
too. ifysu will not be angry.
will not, said the Mayor, II you do
not term me the knave
The greatest knave that know Of is
tho constable that brought inc here.
/ don't know, said the Mayor, il he is
tho greatest knave, but he 10 the greatest
fool
When count how many spots are IN
a pack Of cards, l lind three hundred and
sixty Eve, - many days as there are in
q year. %
When / count the number OF cards In
pack, l And ffly.two, the number OF
weeks in a year; aud flud four suits. tue
number Of weeks in month.
l find there are twelve pictures in a
pack, representing the number OF months
In year; and in counting tho tricks, ]
and thirteen, the number Of weeks In a
quarter. So you see, sir, pack Of cards
serve for Bible, almanac and common
prayer book.