THE PACK OF CARDS.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2114, 13 October 1875, Page 4

THE PACK OF CARDS.

A nobleman in London, wlio kept a great number of servants, reposed considerable confidence an" one of them, which, excited a jealousy in the others, ■who, in order to prejudice their master against 1 hinii accused .• him of. being a notorious gamester. Jack wa%;called up ar.d closely interrogated; but ;he denied it, at the same time declaring he never played a card in his life. To be *more fully convinced* the gentleman ordered him to be searched, when, behold, a pack of cards was found in his pocket. Highly incensed at; F Jack's want .of veracity, the nobleman in "a rage demanded, how he dared to persist .. in. an untruth. "My lord, - replied he, " I certainly do not know the meaning of a card, the bundle in my pocket is my- Almanack !" "Four Almanack indeed; then I desire that you will p vove it. "V^ell, sir ,T will begin. _ There are four suits in the pack, that imitates the four quarters of the "year; as there are thirteen cards in eaph" suit, so there are thirteen weeks in each quarter. There are also the same number of luna 1 ions; the twelve signs of the Zodiac, through which the Sun steers his diurnal course in one year. There are fifty-two cards in a pack, that directly answers to the number of weeks in a year ; examine them more mimitely and you will find three hundred and sixtyfive spots, as many as there are. days in the year; jtbese multiply by twenty-four and sixty, and you have the exact number of hours' and mirutes in the year. Thus, sir, I hope I have convinced you it is my Almanac, and by your lordship's permission I will prove it my Prayerbook also. I look upon the four suits as representing the four prevailing religions—Christianity j Judaism* Mahomedanism, and Paganism. The twelve court cards remind me of the twelve Patriarchs from whom'sprung the twelve Apostles, and the twelve-Articles of the Christian Faith. The! Eing reminds: me of the allegiance due to his JVlajesty, the Queen the same to her Majesty."~Tbe:t"en brings to myrecdilectibn the ten cities in the plains of Sodom and. Gomorrah destroyed by fire and brimstone from Heaven, the ten plagues of >gypt, the commandments,- the ten tribes cut off for their vice. ' The nine reminds me' of the nine muses, the nine noble orders among men. The eight reminds me of the eight beatitudes, the eight persons saved in Noah's Ark. The seven reminds me of the seven administering spirits - that stand before the throne of God, the seven seals wherewith the Book of iife is sealed, the seven liberal ,arts and sciences given by God for the instruction of man, the seven wonders of the world. The six reminds me of the six petitions con- ■ tamed in the Lord's Prayer. The five reminds me of the senses given by God to man—hearing, seeing feeling, tasting and smelling. The four puts me in mind of the four itvanpelists, the four seasons of the year. The three reminds me of the Trinity, the three hours our Saviour was on the cross, the three days in the errave. The two reminds me of the two Testaments, the two contrary principles struggling in man—Virtue and Vice, and Light' and Darkness. The Ace reminds me of {he one only true God to adcire, worship and serve.one truth to practice, and one good master to serve and obey." "So tar it is very well," said the Uoblpman," but you have omitted one card—the Knave." "True, my lord, the Bnave reminds me of your lordship's informer." The nobleman became more pleased with Jack than before, freely forgave him, raised his wages and discharged the informer.