The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-01-04
THE RELIGIOUS CARD-PLAYER.

The KELlGlUUS CARU-PLA1EK
A private soldier by the name of
Richard Lee was taken before the
magistrate of GLASGOW for playing
cards during divine services. The
account of it is thus given in an Eng
lish Journal:
A sergeant commanded the sol
diers at the church, and when the
parson had read the prayers he took
the text. Those who had a Bible,
took it out; but this soldier had
neither Bible nor common prayer
book, but pulling out pack of cards
he spread them before him. He first
looked at one card and then another.
The sergeant OF the company 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
constable took Richard q prisoner,
and brought him oefore the mayor.
"Well,'' said the mayor. ''what
have you brought the soldier here
for p
"For playing cards il the church"
"Well, soldier, what have you to
say for yourself -
.'Much, sir, hope
Every good; if not l will punish
you severely"
Il have been," said the soldier.
about six weeks on the march, l
nave neither Bible nor common
prayer book. / have nothing but a
pack OF cards, and hope to satisfy
your worship OF the purity OF my
intentions"
Then, spreading the cards before
the mayor, he begu. with the ace:
.Wnen l see the ace it reminds
me that there is but one GOd.''
when see the duce 1t reminds
me of Fat her and Son.
when see the trey it reminds
me OF Father. Son and Holy Ghost.
"When | see the four it reminds
me of the four EvangeIists that
Observation-Disclosures, Mark, Luke and
John.
"When see the five it reminds
me OF the five wise virgins that trim
med their lamps. There were ten
out five w.re wise and five were fool.
ish, and were shut out.
"When | see the six it reminds me
that in six days tue Lord made
heaven and earth.
"When | see the sever it reminds
me tha, on the seventh day God rest
ed from the great work which he had
made, and hallowed 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 pine lepers that were
cleansed by our Saviour. There
we're nine out of ten who never re-
turned thanks.
when | SEQ the ten it reminds me
of the 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 Almighty.
sWhen | see the queen it reminds
me of the queen of Sheba, who visit
ed Solomon, for she was as wise a
woman as he was q man. She
brought with her fifty boys and fifty
girls, all dressed in boys apparel. for
King Solomon to tell which were
bows and which were girls. The
king sent for water for item to wash.
The girls washed to the elbows and
the boys to the wrists; so King Sol
onion told by that"
SWELL" said the mayor, 'you have
described every card in the pack ex'
cept ene."
What is that -
1.-The knave," said the mayor.
81 will give your honor descrip'
ton of that, too, if you will not be
angry
II will not said the mayor, ''if
you do not term ME to he tho knave.
"The greatest knave l know OF is \:
the constable that brought me here.
IL do not know" SAID the mayor,
s.if he is the greatest knave, but
know he is the greatest fool
/ when l count how many spots
there are in a pack of cards, l find
three hundred and sixty'fve. as
many days as there are in year.
i ii find there are twelve picture
cards in pack, representing the
numbe.: of months in a year, and on
counting the tricks | find thirteen
the number Of weeks in quarter.
/ $50, you see, a pack of cards
serve for a Bible, almanac and com
mon prayer book"