The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1879-07-10

An Old Anecdote, Reprinted by Request
A private soldier, by the name of Rich
ard Lee, was taken before the magistrate
OF Glasgow, Scotland, for playing cards
during divine services. At church, those
who had Bibles took them out; but this
soldier had neither Bible nor common
prayer-book, and, pulling out n pack of
cards, he spread them before him. The
Sergeant of the company saw him, and
said:-
Orchard, put up the cards; this is no
place for them"
A"Never mind that, said Richard.
When services were over, the Consta-
bic took Richarda 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"
"Well, soldier, what have you to say
for yourself?"
"Much, Sir, I hope"
every good: if not, l will punish you
severely"
81 have been," said the soldier, "about
six weeks on the march. l have neither
Bible nor common prayer-book. have
nothing but a pack of cards, and | hope
to satisfy Your Worship of the purity of
my intention"
Then spreading the cards before the
Mayor, he began at the ace:--
"When L see the ace, it reminds me
that there is but one God. When 1 see
the deuce, it reminds me of the Father
and Son. When | see the trey, it re-
minds me of the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost. When 1 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 were 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, itreminds
me that on the seventh day God rested
from the great work He had made, and
| hallowed it. When I see the eight, il
reminds me of the eight righteous per.
| sons that were saved when God destroy
ed 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 ten that never returned
thanks. When see the ten, it reminds
me of the ten commandments which Goo
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 Almighty. When l see the queen
it reminds me of the Queen of Sheba
who visited Solomon, for she was as wist
u woman as he was man. She brough
with her fifty boys and fifty girls, al
dressed in boys apparel, for King Solo
mon to tell which were boys and which
were girls. The King sent for water fol
them to wash. The girls washed to thu
elbows, the boys to the wrists; so King
Solomon told by that"
"Well, said the Mayor, "you have
described every card in the pack excep
one"
"What is that? P"
"The knave," said the Mayor.
81 will give Your Honor description
OF that, too, ify you will not be angry"
81 will not" said the Mayor, eff yol
do not term me to be the knave "
"The greatest knave is the Constable
that brought me here"
81 do not know" said the Mayor, 81
he is the greatest knave, but know h,
is the greatest fool"
"When 1 count how many spots there
are in pack of cards, find 365. d
many days as there are in year. Whel
L count the number OF cards in pack,
| find y-twO-the nIIun bar of waalys in {
year. / find there are twelve picture
cards in pack, representing the humble
OF months in a year; and, on counting
the tricks, 1 find thirteen, the number o
weeks III quarter. So, you see, pacl
OF cards serves for Bible, an almanac
and common prayer book"