The following was sent to me by a dear friend, Bill McCleave. He felt that I would like it. He was correct and I wanted to share it with all of you. 

The following is taken from a recording by Phil Harris about a soldier that he knew during the 2nd world war. This is a true story. 

During the North African campaign the soldier boys had been on a long hike and they arrived in a little town called Casino. The next morning being Sunday several of the boys went to church. The Sergeant commanded the boys in church and after the Chaplin had read the prayer the text was taken up next.. Those of the boys who had prayer books took them out, but this one boy had only a deck of cards so he spread them out . The Sergeant saw the cards and said," soldier put away those cards". 

After the services were over the soldier was brought before the Provost Marshall. The Marshall said," why have you brought this man here?" "For playing cards in church Sir". "And what do you have to say for yourself son?" " Much Sir", replied the soldier. The Marshall said," I hope so, for if not I shall punish you more than any man was ever punished". The soldier said, " Sir, I have been on the march for about six days, I have neither bible nor prayer book. But I hope to satisfy you Sir with the purity of my intentions". 

And with that the boy started this story:

"You see sir, when I look at the Ace it reminds me that there is one God". 

"The deuce reminds me that the bible is divided into two parts, the old and the new testiment". 

"And when I look at the three, I think of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost". 

"And when I see the four, I think of the four evangelists who preach the Gospel, there was Mathew, Mark, Luke and John".

"And when I see the five, it reminds me of the five wise virgins who trimmed their lamps, there were ten of them, five were wise and were saved, five were foolish and were shut out". 

"And when I see the six, it reminds me that in six days God made this great heaven and earth". 

"And when I see the seven, it reminds me that on the seventh day God rested from his great work". 

"And when I see the eight, I think of the eight rightous persons God saved when he destroyed this earth. There was Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives". 

"And when I see the nine, I think of the lepers our savior cleansed. And nine out of the ten didn't even thank him". 

"And when I see the ten, I think of the ten commandments God handed down to Moses on a tablet of stone".

"When I see the King, it reminds me that there is one King of Heaven, God Almighty".

"And when I see the Queen, I think of the blessed Virgin Mary who is Queen of Heaven". 

"And the Jack or knave is the devil". 

"When I count the spots on a deck of cards, I find 365, the number of days in a year". 

"There are 52 cards, the number of weeks in a year. There are 4 suits, the number of weeks in a month. 

There are 12 picture cards the number of months in a year. 

There are 13 tricks the number of weeks in a quarter. 

So you see Sir, my pack of cards serves me as a bible, almanac and prayer book".