The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-03-22
What a Pack of Cards Serves For.

What Pack Of Cards Serves For.
A private soldier by the name of Richard
Lee was taken before the magistrates of elias
cow for playing cards during divine service.
The account is thus given in the English
journals:
Scrgcants commanded the soldiers at the
church, and when the pastor had read the
prayers he took the text. Those who had
Bible took it out, but this soldier having
neither Bible nor common Prayer Book, pull
ng out a pack of cards, he spread them out
before him. he first looked at one card and
then at another. The sergeant of the com.
pany saw him and said, Richard, put up
the cards this is no place for them
Never mind that" said Richard.
When the service was over, the constable
took Richard prisoner and brought him be
fore the mayor.
"WeIl,' said the mayor, "what have you
brought the soldier here for"
For playing cards in church"
yourself?"
Much, sir, hope"
Very good; if not, | will punish YOU more
than man was ever punished"
~ have been,' said the soldier, "about six
weeks on the march: I have neither Bible
nor Common Prayer Book have nothing
but pack OF cards; and | hope to satisfy
your worship OF the purity of my Intentions
Then, spreading the cards beford the
mayor, he began with the ace.
when | see the ace, it reminds me that
there is but one God.
"When | see the deuce, il reminds me of
the Father and Son.
"When | see the tray, 1t reminds me of the
Father Son and Holy Ghost.
"When | see the four, it reminds me of the
four Evangelists that preached-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 five were wise and five
foolish, and were shut out.
"When | 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 rested from the great
work he had made, and hallowcd 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 wife, his three sons and their wives.
when | see the nlne it reminds me of the
nine lepers that were cleansed by our Savior.
There were nine out of the ten who returnsl
thanks.
W Htu L Stt lllt tCli, IL ltlllitlS lllt Ol lllc
Ten Commandments which God handed down
to Moses on the table of stone.
when | see the king it reminds me of the
Great King Of heaven, which is God Al.
mighty.
when | see the queen, it reminds me Of
the Queen of Sheba, who visited Solomon,
for she was as wise woman as he was a
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 wrists. So
King solomon told by that"
well" said the mayor, you have given
description of all the cards in the pack eX-
cept one"
"What is that?"
"The knave," said the mayor
Il will give you a description of that too,
if you will not be angry"
II will not" said the mayor, "if you do
not term me to be the knave."
THE greatest knavc that know of is the
constable that brought me here
II don't know" said the mayor, off he is
the greatest knave but he is the greatest
fool"
when l count how many spots are in Il
pack Of cards, find three hundred and sixty
five, as many days as there are in year
"When | count the number of cards in Il
pack, find there are fifty two, the number OF
weeks in II year; and | find four suits, the
number of weeks in a month.
Il find there are twelve picture cards in q
pack, representing the number Of months in
year; and on counting the tricks, | find
thirteen, the number of weeks in quarter.
So you see sir, pack of cards serves for Il
Bible, Almanac and Common Prayer Book