Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-11-10

A private soldier by the name of Rich
ard Lee was taken before the magistrates of
Glasgow, for playing cards during Divine
service. The account Of it is thus given:
Sergeant commanded the soldiers at the
church, and when the parson had read the
prayers, he took the text. Those who had
Bible used it, but this soldier had no Bible
or common prayer book; but pulling out a
pack of cards, he spread them out before
him. He looked first at one card aud then
at another. The sergeant 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 a prisoner and brought him
before the Mayor.
"Well, what have you brought the soldier
here for2" says the Mayor.
"For playing cards ia church."
"Well, soldier, what have you to say
for yourself?"
"Much, sir, l hope"
VERY good it not, | will punish you
more than ever man was punished"
have been" said the soldier, "about six
weeks on the march. | have no Bible or
common prayer book; have nothing but
pack of cards, aud | hope to satisfy your
worship Of the purity Of my intentions"
Then spreading the cards before the May.
or, he began witA the ace.
when | see the ace, it reminds me that
there is but one God.
"When | see the duce, it reminds me of
the Father, Son aud Holy Ghost.
"Whcn | see the four, it reminds me Of
the four evangelists that prcached-Matthew
Mark, Luke and john.
when l see the five it reminds me Of the
the five wise virgins that trimmed the lamps.
There were ten, but five we're wise and five
were foolish aud were shut out
"When see the six it reminds ma 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 aud haIlowed
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, it reminds me of
the nine lepers that were cleansed by our
Saviour. There were nine out of the ten
who never returned thanks.
"When l see the ten 1t reminds me of the
Ten Comman 1ments which God handed
down to Moses on the tables 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 we're girls. King Solomon sent for
water for them to wash; the girls washed to
the elbows, and the boys to the wrists, so he
told by that"
"Well," said the Mayor, "you have given
a description Of all the cards in the pack
except one"
"What is that"
1.-The knave," said the Mayor.
81 will give you a description of thai,
too, if you will not be angry"
81 will not" said the Mayor, "if you do
not term me to DO the knave."
"Well," said the soldier, "the greatest
knAvo know Of is the constable that brought
me here"
81 don't know" said the Mayor, "if he is
the greatest knave, but know he is the
greatest fool"
"When l count how many spots in pack
of cards, | find 365-as many as there are
days in the year.
"When l count the number of cards in
pack find there are ffty.two-the number
of weeks in year; and on counting the
number of suits fnd four-the number of
weeks in month,
find there are twelve picture cards in
pack, representing the number Of months in
year aud on counting the number of
tricks find thirteen the number Of weeks
10 II quarter.
80 you see, sir, pack of cards serves
for Bible, almanac and common prayer
book.