Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-02-10
.THE RELIGIOUS cARp p1AYER.
Old Scotch Story of the Soldier and a
Deck of Cards.

ls
A private soldier by name of Rich
ard Lee was taken before the magis-
trate of Glasgow, Scotland, for play
ing cards during divine services. The
account of it was thus given in the
English Journals.
A sergeant commanded the SOL
diers at the church; when the parson
had said the prayers he took the text.
Those who had Bibles took them out;
hut this soldier had neither Bible nor
common prayer book, and pulling
out pack of cards, he spread them
before him. He first looked at one
| card and then at another The SER
geanf 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 were over the
constable took Richard prisoner
and brought him before the Mayor.
Well" said the Mayor, what
have you brought this soldier here
for?"
For palying cards in church."
We'll, soldier, what have you to
say for yourself?'
Much, sir, ! hope"
very goOu, III not l VIII punish
you severely"
81 have -been," said the soldier,
"about six weeks on the march.
prayer book. | have nothing but n
pack Of cards, and | hope to satisfy
your honor of the purity of my in
tention."
Then spreading the cards before
the Mayor, he began with the ace.
THE ACE reminds me that there
is but one God. The DUCE reminds
me OF the Father and Son. The
TRAY reminds me of the Father.
Son and Holy Ghost.
The FOUR reminds me of the
four Evangelists that preached, Mat
thew, Mark, Luke and John. The
FIVE reminds me of the five wise
virgins who trimmed their lamps.
There were ten, five were wise and
five were foolish and were shut out.
The SIX reminds me that in six days
the Lord made heaven and earth.
The SEVEN reminds me that on the
seventh day God rested from his
great work and hallowed it. The
EIGHT reminds me of the eight
righteous persons who were saved
when God destroyed the earth, viz:
Noah and his wife, his three sons and
their wives. The NINE reminds me
OF the nine lepers that were cleansed
by our Saviour. There were nine out
OF the ten that never returned thanks
to God. The TEN reminds me of the
Ten Commandments which God
handed down to Moses OH the table
of stone. The KING reminds me of
the Great King of Heaven, which is
God Almighty. The QUEEN re-
minds me of the Queen of Sheba who
visited Solomon, for she was wise
woman as he was man. She brought
with her fifty boys and fifty girls. All
were dressed in boys apparel, for
King Solomon TO tell which were
boys and which were girls. The King
sent for water for them to wash.
The girls washed to the elbows and
the boys to the wrist, so King Solo
mon told by that"
'Well," said the Mayor, "you have
decribed every card in the pack eX-
cept one"
What is that?"
'"The KNAVE," said the Mayor"
81 will give your honor a descrip-
ton OF that, too, if you will not be
angry"
Il will not" said the Mayor, "if
you do not term me to be knavc."
The greatest Knave | know of is
the constable who brought me here"
Il do not know" said the Mayor,
"if he Is the greatest Knave, but he
is the greatest fool"
when | count how many spots
there are on a pack of cards, / find
three hundred and sixty-fve AS
many as there are days in year
When | cOunt how many cordc tboro
are In pack, / find fifty-two, the
number Of weeks in a year. | find
that there are twelve picture cards
In pack, representing the number
of months in year. ! find in count
ing the tricks, thirteen, the number
of weeks in quarter. So you see a
pack of cards serves for a Bible, an
almanac and common Prayer
Book"
1t is understood the soldier was
discharged.