Nevada County picayune., 1886-09-15
A Religious Card Player.

The sergeant commanded the soldiers at the church, and when the parson had read lae prayer he took the text. Those who had bl- bles took them out; but the soldier had neither bible or prayer book; bu, pulling out pack of cards, he spread them before him. He first looked at one and then at another. The sergeant of the company saw him and said.
 "Richard put up those cards; this is no place for them"
 "Never mind that" said Rich ard cooly.
 When the services were over the constable took Richard a prisoner and brought him before the mayor.
 "Well, what have you brought the soldier here for?' said the mayor.
 "For playing cards in church."
 "Well, soldier what have you to say for yourselfW
 Much, sir, I have"
 "Very good; ifnot, will punish you severely"
 II have been," said the soldier, lon the march about six weeks, have neither bible nor prayer book. I have nothing but 9 pack of cards and hope to satisfy your worship ofthe purity of my intention"
 Then spreading the cards before the mayor he began with the ace.
 "When l see the ace it reminds me that there is but one God. When I see the deuce it reminds me of the Father and Son. When see the tray it reminds me of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. When see the four it reminds mo of the four evangeliSts that preached Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. When see the five 1t 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 I see the six 1t re- minds me that in six days God made the heaveus and the earth. When I see the seven it reminds me that on the seventh day God rested from the great work he had made and hallowed it. When see the eight it reminds me Of the eight righteous persons who were saved when God destroyed the world, viz: Noah anl his wife, his three sons and their wives. When I see the nine 1t reminds me of the nine lepers that were cleansed by our Savior. There were nine or ten that never return ed thanks. When l see the ten it reminds me of the ten command. ments which God handed down to Moses on the tables of stone. When l 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 Solo. mon, 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 were girls. The Girls washed 10 their elbows and the boys to the wrists, so King Solomon told by that"
 "Well, said the mayor, you have described every card in the pack but one"
 "What is that?'
 'The knayc said the mayor.
 Il will give yonr honor a descrip- ton if you will not get angry"
 ''I will not ify you do not term me to be the knave," said the may or.
 "The greatest Knave l know of is the constable that brought me down herr.'
 Il do not know that he is the preatcst kLave but l know he is the greatest fool" said the mayor.
 "When I count how many spots there are in pack of cards, l find three hundred and sixty five, as many as days in year, When l count the number of cards in pack, coun: liitN-two, the number of weeks in year. 1 find that there are twelve picture cards in pack, representing the number of months in a Year, aAd in counting the