The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1902-07-24
The Mysteries of
A Pack of Cards.

A private so dier of the name of Rich
ard Lee was taken before magistrate
recently for playing cards during divine
service. 1t appears sergeant command
ed the soldiers at church, and when the
parson had read the prayers he took the
text. Those who had 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 looked at one card, and then
at another. The sergeant of the COM
pany saw him. and said. Richard, put
up the cards; this is no place for them. >
"Nevcr mind that" said Richard. When
the service was over the Constable took
Richard before the Mayor.
"Well," says the mayor, what have
you brought the soldier here fory' For
playing cards 10 church." "Well, sol.
der, what have you to say for yonrself?"
"Much sir, hope" "Very good; if not,
| will punish you more than man was
ever punished" II have been," said
the soldier, "about six weeks on the
march. | have neither Bible Dor com
mon prayer book. have nothing but a
pack OF cards, and I'll satisfy your wor-
ship Of the purity OF my intentions
And spreading the cards before the
Mayor, he began with the ace.
when | see the ace, it reminds me
that there is but one God. When | see
the duece 1t reminds me of Father AMI
Son. When | see the tray. it reminds
me of Father. Son and Holy Ghost.
When | see the four-spot, it reminds me
of the four evangelists that preached
Matthew, Mark, Luke aud John. When
! see the tiye-spot, 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 cast
out. When see the six, it reminds me
that in six days God made heaven and
earth, When | see the seven, it reminds
me that on the seventh day he rested
from the great work he had created and
hallowed ii. When see the eight, il re-
minds me of the eight righteous persons
that were saved when God destroyed the
world, viz, Noah and his wife. with
three sons and their wives. When | see
nine it reminds me OF nine lepers that
were cleansed by our savior--ihere were
nine out Of ten that never returned
thanks When see ten, it reminds me
OF the commandments which God hand.
ed down TO Moses on tablets of stone.
When | see the king, it reminds me
Of the king of heaven, which is God Al
mighty. When / see the queen, it re.
minds me OF the Queen Of Sheba, for she
was as wise woman as Solomon was
man. She brought with her fifty boys
and fifty girls all dressed in boys ap-
parel, for King Solomon to tell which
were ooys and which were girls. King
Solomon sent for water for them 10
wash; the girls washed to their elbows
and the boys to their wrists, so the King
told by that" "Well,' said Mayor, you
have given good description of all the
cards except one" What is that?n
"rhe knave," eaid the Mayor. 81 will
give Your honor a description OF that
too, if you will not be angry" Il will
not" said the mayor, "if you do not term
me to be the l1nave" "Well.r said the
soldier, "the greatest knave | know is
the constable that brought me here"
Il do not know" said the mayor, "if he
is the greatest kuave, but know he is
the greatest fool" "When | count the
spots that are in pack OF cards | find
365. as many days as there are in year
On counting the number of cards in a
pack, find there are fifty-two, the nun.
Der of weeks IN a year, and | find four
suits, the number Of weeks in month
flnd there are twelve picture cards,
representing the twelve months iu a year;
and on counting the tricks, | find thir-
teen, the number of weeks in quarter.
So you see, sir, a pack Of cards serves for
Bible, an almanac and common
prayer book"