The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-01-28
A Religious Pack of Cards.
THEIR SERVICE AS BIBLE, ALMANAC AND
BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER To A SOLDIER.
AN OLD STORY REPRODUCED.

AN OLD STORY REPRODUCED.
A private soldier by the name of Richard Lee
was taken before the magistrates of Glasgow
for playing cards during divine service. The
account of it is thus given:
A sergeant commanded the soldiers at the
church. and when the parSon had read the
PRAYERS he took out 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 out before him.
lie looked first at one card and 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.
"Wel, what have you brought the soldier
here for?' said the mayor.
For playing cards in church,
"Well. soldier, what have you to say for
yourself:'
much, sir. hope"
VERY good; if not, | will punish you moro
than ever man was punished"
Il have BEEN" said the soldier, 'about six
weeks on the march. | have no Bible or com
mon 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,
/
''Whcn the ace, it reminds me that
| there is but one God.
When see the duce, it reminds me of
Father and Son.
''When | see the three. it reminds NE of
Father, son and Holy Ghost.
when | 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 the lamps.
| There were ten. but five We're wise and five
We're foolish and Were shut out,
''When | see the six, il reminds me that in
| >lN days the Lord made heaven and earth.
NV hen see the seven, it reminds me that
on the seventh day God rested from the great
work he had made and hallowcd it.
when ! see the eight, it reminds me of
| the eight righteous persons that We're saved
when God destroyed the world; viz, Noah
and his wife. his three sons and their wives,
Nv hen see the nne it reminds NE of the
nine leperS that We're cleanSed by our Saviour.
! There were nine out of the ten who never re-
| turned thanks.
'When see the ten, it reminds me Of the
ten commandments which God handed down
| to Moses on the tables of stone.
''Whcn see the king. it reminds me of the
| Great king of heaven, which is God Almighty.
Nv hen | see the queen. it reminds me of the
| Queen Of Sheba, who visited Solomon, for she
was as wise woman as he was man. She
brought with her 30 boys and 30 girls, all dress
cd in boys apparel, for King solomon to tell
which We're girls. King solomon sent for wat
cr for them to wash; the Girls washed TO the
! elbows, and the boys 10 the wrists. he told
! by that
WELL said the mayor. 'you have given a
| description of all the cards in the pack except
one
''Wh hat is that
| The lnaNe." said the mayor,
Il will give your honor a description of that
| too, if Won will not be anrry.'
| II will not" said the mayor, ''if you do not
| term me to be the knaye."
| "Well,' said the soldier, ''thc greatest knave
| know of is the constable that brought me
| here"
II don't know" said the mayor, ''if he is the
greatest knave. but know he is the greatest
| fool
when | count how many spots in pack OF
| cards, lind 363-a> many as there are days III
| the year.
| when count the number of cards in Il pack
| | ind there are 52-the number OF weeks in a
year; and ! lin,i four suits-the number OF
| weeks in a month.
Il find there are II picture cards in pack
| representing the number of months in a year
and on counting the number of tricks | find Is
the number Of weeks in a quarter.
$50 You see. sir, a pack Of cards serves for a
| Bible. almanac and common prayer book"