The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-09-04
The Religious Card Player.

in an English journal 80 sergeant com
manded the soldiers at church, and while
there the parson had read the prayers and
took the text. Those who had a Bible
took II out, but this soldier had neither
Bible nor common prayer book, but pulling
out pack of cards spread them before
him. He first looked at one card and
then the other. 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 services we're over the con.
stable took Richard prisoner and brought
him before the Mayor.
"Well, said the Mayor, "what have
you brought the soldier here for" "For
playing cards in the church. swell, sol.
dier, what have you to say for yourself?''
"Much, sir, l hope" "yery good; If not
| will punish you severely"
~ have been, said the soldier, "about
six weeks on the march. / have neither
bible nor common prayer book. l have
nothing but pack of cards, and 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 reminds me that
there is but one God. When | see the
ducee it reminds Of the 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 eyangelists that preached, Mathew
Mark, Luke and John.
"When | see the Eve it reminds me Of
the five wise virgins that trimmed their
lamps. There were ten, but FIVE we're wise
and five were foolish, and we're shut out
"When | see the six il reminds me that
in six days the Lord made heaven and
earth.
"Whcn | see the seven il reminds me
that on the seventh day God rested from
the great work which he made and hal
lowed it.
"When | see the eight it reminds me
of the eight righteous persons who were
saved when God destroyed the world, viz
Noah and his wife, his two sons and their
wives.
when / see the nine it reminds me OF
the nine leper that were eleaused by our
Saviour. There were nine out Of ten who
never returned thanks.
"When | see the ten il reminds me Of
the ten commandments which God handed
down to Moses on the table Of stone.
"When l see the king, it reminds
me Of the great King of Heaven, which is
our God Almighty.
"When ! see the queen, it reminds me
Of the Queen of Sheba, who visited Solo
mon, for she was as wise woman as he
was man. She brought fifty boys and
fifty girls, all dressed in boys 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 their elbows and the boys to their wrists;
SO King Solomon told by that. :"
"Well," said the Mayor, "you have des-
cribed every card in the pack except one
"What is that ?"
"The knave, said the Mayor. 81 will
give your honor description of that, too,
if you win not be angry" II will not, !"
said the Mayor, "if you do not term me to
be the knave." "The greatest knave
know Of is the constable who brought me
here" II do not know" said the Mayor,
"if he is the greatest knave, but know
ne Is the greatest fo0l.
"When | count how many spots there
are in pack of cards, find three hun
dred and sixiy-fye, as many as there are
days in year When count the num-
Der of cards in pack l find fify,two-
the number of weeks in a year. ! find
there are twelve picture cards in pack,
representing the number Of months in
year, and on counting the tricks l find
thirteen-the number Of weeks in quar-
ter" So you see pack Of cards serves
for "Bible, almanac and common prayer
book"