This is a story about a soldier boy and a deck of cards. During the North African campaign, a bunch of 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. A 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 a prayer book took them out, but this one boy only had a deck of cards and so he spreads them out. The sergeant saw the cards and said, "Soldier, put away those cards."

After the service was over, the soldier was taken prisoner and brought before the Provost Marshall. The Marshall said to the sergeant, "Why have you brought this man here?"

"For playing cards in the church, sir."

"And what do you have to say for yourself, son?"

"Not 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 a march for about six days and I had neither bible nor prayer book. But I hope to satisfy you sir, with the purity of my intentions."

With that, the boy started his story. "You see sir, when I look at the ACE, it reminds me that there is ONE GOD.

And the 2 reminds me that the Bible is divided into two parts - the Old and the New Testaments.

And when I see the 3, I think of the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT.

When I see the 4, I think of the four evangelists who preached the Gospel. There was MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE and JOHN.

And when I see the 5, 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 6, it reminds me that in six days God made this great heaven and earth. When I see the 7, it reminds me that on the seventh day, God rested from his great work.

When I see the 8, I think of the eight righteous persons God saved when he destroyed this earth. There was Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives.

And when I see the 9, I think of the lepers our Saviour cleansed and nine of the ten didn't even thank Him.

And when I see the 10, I think of the 10 commandments God handed down to Moses on a table of stone.

When I see the king, it reminds me that there is but one King of Heaven - GOD ALMIGHTY.

And when I see the queen, I think of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the jack is the Devil.

When I count the number of spots on a deck of cards, I find 365, the number of days in a year. 52 cards, the number of weeks in a year. 4 suits, the number of weeks in a month. 12 picture cards, the number of months in a year. 13 tricks, the number of weeks in a quarter.

So you see sir, my pack of cards serve me as a BIBLE, ALMANAC and PRAYER BOOK."