Weekly Trinity journal., 1873-04-26
HUMOR OF SOLDIER LIFE.


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 journal: A Ser
geant commanded the soldiers at church,
and when the parson had read the prayer
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 he spread
them out before him. He first looked at
one card, then at another. The sergeant
of the company saw him and said
Richard, put up them cards this is
no place for them"
"Never mind that" said Richard.
When the service was over, the consta-
BILE took Richard prisoner and brought
him before the Mayor.
Well" says the Mayor, "what have
you brought the soldier here for ?"
For playing cards in church."
"Well soldier, what have you to say
for yourself?"
" Much, sir, l hope"
"Very good if not, l will punish you
more than man ever was punished"
81 have been," said the soldier, "about
six weeks on the march. l have neither
Bible nor Common Prayer Book. Ihave
nothing but q pack of cards, and l hope
to satisfy your worship of the purity of
my intentions"
Then spreading the cards before the
Mayor, he began with the ace:
"When see the ace it rominds me
there is but one God.
"When l see the deuce it reminds me
Of Father and Son.
"When l see the tray it reminds me
Of Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
"When l see the four it reminds me of
the four Evangelists that atpreached-Mat-
thew, Mark, Luke and John.
"When see the five it reminds me of
the five virgins that trimmed their lamps.
There were ten, but five were wise and
five were foolish, and shut out.
when see the six it reminds me
that the Lord made heaven and earth.
When see tho seven it reminds me
that on the seventh day God rested from
the great work, he had made and hallow-
cd 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 nine il reminds me
of the nine lepers that were cleansed by
our Saviour. There were nine out of the
ten who never returned thanks.
"When see the ten it reminds me of
the Ten Commandments which God
handed down to Moses on the tables of
stone.
" when see the king it reminds me
the great king in heaven, which is God
Almighty.
"When | see the queen it reminds me
of the Queen Of Sheba, who visited Solo
mon, for she was as wise q woman rs he
was man. She brought with her fifty
boys and girls, all dressed in boys ap-
parel, for King Solomon to tell which
we're 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 a
pack except one."
"What is that ?"
"The knave."
" will give your honor q description
Of that too, if you will not be angry"
" l will not" said the Mayor, "if you
do not torn me the knave."
Well" said the soldier, "the greatest
knave l know of is the constable that
brought me here"
81 do not know" said the Mayor, eff
he is the greatest knave, but | know he
is the greatest fool"
"When | count how many spots there
are in pack Of cards, find three hun
dred and sixty-hve-as many as there are
days in year.
"When l count the number of cards
in pack, l find fifty-two-the number
Of weeks in year and | find four suits
the number Of weeks in month.
g find there are twelve picture cards
in pack, representing the number Of
months in year, and on counting the
tricks, l find tbirteen-the number of
weeks in a quarter.
$50, you see, sir, pack Of cards serves
for q Bible, Almanac, and Common
Prayer Book"
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