THE RELIGIOUS CARD PLAYER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1423, 13 July 1915, Page 4

THE RELIGIOUS CARD PLAYER.

A company of Belgian soldiers were once upon a march, and having reached a town upon a Saturday, duly attended Divine Service on the Sunday. When the Minister took the text, the soldiers, with one exception, took from their pockets their Bibles. But one by the name of Richard Lee, took from his pocket a pack of cards, and spread them upon the floor in front of him. The Sergeant commanding the company at once ordered the man to take up the cards, but Richard took no notice, but continued to look first at one card and then another. Directly after Divine Service the man was taken a prisoner, and the following morning was charged before the Major with : “Playing cards during Divine Service.” The Major demanded, “What have you to say for yourself.” The prisoner replied, “Much, Sir.” Richard then said, “Sir, I have been for six mouths upon the march, and I have neither Bible nor Common Prayer Book ; in fact, I have nothing but a pack of cards, and I hope to satisfy you, sir, of the diety of my intentions.” He then started with the Ace and said, “When I see the Ace it reminds me of One God ; when I see the Deuce it reminds me of the Father and the Son, and when I see the Three it reminds me of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and when I see the Four it reminds me of the four Evangelists that preached—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John ; and when I see the Five it reminds me of the Five Wise Virgins, there were ten, but five were wise and five were foolish. When I see the Six it reminds me that in six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth and all that that therein is ; and the Seven reminds me that the Seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord Thy God, and in it thou shall do no manner of work. While the Eight reminds me of the eight righteous persons who were saved in the Ark—Noah, his wife their three sons, and their wives ; and the Niue reminds me of the nine Lepers that were cleansed by our Lord, There were ten, but nine never returned thanks; and the Ten reminds me of the Pen Commandments that were handed to Moses- The Queen reminds me of the Blessed Virgin Mary, aud the King reminds me of the Great Architect of the Universe.” “Well!” said the Major, “You have described every card in the pack except one,” to which Richard replied, “I will give you, Sir, a description of that as well, if you will not be too angry.” “Well,” said the Major, “I shall not be angry so long as you do not term me to be the Knave,” “The Knave,” said the prisoner, “Is tojme the one black card in the pack, and reminds me of the Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, aud when he is gone that card will remind me of the Devil.” “Then,” said the soldier, “if you count the number of spots on a pack of cards you will find in all 365, representing the 365 days in a year. Then, if you count the number of cards in a pack you will find 52, representing 52 weeks in a year, while if you count the number of suites in the pack you will find four, representing the four seasons of the year; and if you count the number of picture cards in the pack, you will find three of each of the four suites, making twelve, which represents the twelve months of the year ; aud i» you count the number of tricks in the pack, you will find thirteen which represents the thirteen weeks in a quarter. So you see, sir, to me a pack of cards is Bible, Common Prayer Book aud Almanac.” The prisoner was discharged and now is serving at the front.