Every once in a while I get writer’s block and it happened when I began writing this column. Then I remembered I promised someone I’d find the words to the “Deck of Cards” song from years gone by. So, I finally followed through and found it so interesting that I thought I would share it with you readers in case you haven’t heard it before.

Besides, I thought it was fitting since it is so close to Veterans Day. It goes like this:

“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 chaplain had read the prayer, the text was taken up next. Those of the boys who had a prayer books took them out, but, this one boy had only a deck of cards, and 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 taken prisoner, and brought before the Provost Marshall.

The marshall said, ” Sergeant, why have you brought this man here?”

“For playing cards in church sir.”

“And what have you 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 his story.

“You see sir, when I look at the ace, it reminds me that there is but one God, and the deuce, reminds me that the Bible is divided into two parts, the old and the new testament. When I see the trey, I think of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. And when I see the four, I think of the four evangelists who preached the Gospel There was Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

“And when I see the five, it reminds me of the five wise virgins who trimmed their lamps, there were 10 of them; five were wise and were saved, five were foolish, and were shut out. When I see the six, it reminds me that in six days, God made this great Heaven and Earth. 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 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 nine, I think of the lepers our Saviour cleansed, and, nine out of the 10, didn’t even thank him.

“When I see the 10, I think of the ten 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, who is Queen of Heaven, and the Jack of Knaves is the devil.

“When I count the number of spots in 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 four 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, an almanac, and a prayer book. And friends, the story is true, I know, I was that soldier.”

The late Tex Ritter sang that song in 1948, probably around the time I was hatched.

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Don’t forget:

• The Treaty City Senior Dances will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays at the VFW Post on North Ohio Street in Greenville. Cost for admittance is $3 for singles and $5 for couples. Music will be provided by Tom Everhart.

• Upcoming events at Ansonia American Legion are: the steak fry from 5 to 7 p.m. today at $13; Jennifer’s Burritos from 5 to 8 p.m. for $7 on Nov. 18; and the OSU vs. Michigan football game Nov. 26 (bring a covered dish and bar opens at 11 a.m.).

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Happy birthday to:

• Nov. 16 to Caron Stoltz, Rowena Stump and Chelsea Thwaits.

• Nov. 17 to Steve Mills, Goethe Rodeheffer, Patty Rodeheffer, Steve Huntwork, Jerry Neal (70), Shirley Marker, John Boehner, Shawna Meadows, Jacob and Caleb Custer, Denny Barga, Grace Widener and Don Moyers.

• Nov. 18 to Kara Harter, Debra Pohl, Mendi Burns, Greg Whittington and Mona Stachler.

• Nov. 19 to Tom Brumbaugh, Joseph John Siefring, Susie Brown, Evan Mann and Pam Idle.

• Nov. 20 to Nina Bensman Barga, Dave Shellhaas, Jake DeMange, Dave Westfall, Kenny Edwards (35), Steve Mehaffie and Sondra Armstrong.

• Nov. 21 to Jacob Erwin, Tracy Leeper Wendel, Dalton Burk, Phyllis Bennett and Ed Huffman.

• Nov. 22 to Wanda Brewer, John Guttadore, Paul Mueller, Sherri Gibbons Feitshans and Brandon Liette.

Happy belated birthday to: Jack Wright (90) on Nov. 4; and Drew Meadsows (55) on Nov. 8.

Happy anniversary to Kenneth “Pete and Jeanette Beanblossom on Nov. 18; and Robin and Jim Hesson, Dane and Linda Leeper and Jack and Jodi Smith, all on Nov. 20.

Happy belated anniversary to Chuck and Sandy Miller on Oct. 31.

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Don’t forget to pray for: Tom Brumbaugh Jr., Pastor Don Brode, Scott Clark, Steve Schafer, Tom Hawkins, Roxanne Reichard-Grant, Chris Young, Greg Moody, Robin Grice, Connie Apple, Jodie Glick, Ron Kreitzer, Kohen Thwaits, Jerrod Pratt, Keith Starks, Scott and Judy Stahl, Dawn Oldiges, Judy York, Lowell Elsass, Linda Johnston, Stacy Dorko, Tracy Bailey, Shannon Peters Hall, Jack Riegle, Bruce Knick, Aiden Turner, Brody Wilson, Terri Martin, Marie Rieman, Carol Bollheimer, Roger McEowen, Lara Brunner, Al Bliss, Tim King, Gary Poor, Clinton Linebaugh, Layna Best, Jean Eastridge, Justin Ungericht, Alishia Clark Funk, Glenna Curry, Mike Bale, Phyllis Gibbons, Rosemary Wetzel, Angie Young Noggler, Kenny Borger, Mary Marshall, Jenson Fullerton, Gary Reier, Carmen Sanders, Michael Allen Clark, Elmer Long, Anthony Joyner, Shirley Mead, Harry Moody, Jim Moody, Linda Subler, Shelly Hoffman, Betty Grimes, Kathy Magoto, Dean Brewer, Lisa Hall, Tammy Shapiro, Ken Martin, David Magoto, Phil Clark, Sonny Hunt, Don and Nina McDaniel, D’Arleen Waymire, Pappy Harshman, Delores Duncan, John Klipstine, Elsie Svajda, Dave Sherman, Sue Chitty.

Also, Phil Chilcoat, Christine Pipenger, Paul Barton, Terry Ungericht, Gracyn Blackburn, Robert Codling, Dave Starline, Bob Hiestand Jr., Kathy and Tom Hamilton, Joanne Sharp, Ivan Miller, Cindy Elson, Cary Van De Grift, Dina Dancer Morris, Teresa Mayo Amspaugh, Tina Kiser Deaton, Tonia Thompson, Fred Monnin, Stephen “Brownie” Brown, Nate Epperson, Brad Pipenger, Faye Schlecty, Sheila Reed, Bill Beasley, Steve Cunningham, Kody Ketring, Bob and Sandy Finkbine, Kevin Dickey, Joe Martin, Brenda Grimes, Margaret “Peg” Bundy, Kevin Hemmerich, Penny Starns, Tim Heck, Vanna (Hannam) Abbott, Addie Henderson, Barb Morrow Zimmerman, Samantha Smith, Todd Walls, Ron Kramer, Dana Holzapfel, Kara Didier, Carla Welch and Bill Schuette.

And, pray for all those others who suffer from the many debilitating diseases, and may God bless all of our military people serving and protecting this nation, as well as rescue, fire and law enforcement personnel who put their lives on the line to protect us.

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Jamie and I sincerely extend our condolences to the families of: Gertie Leis, Dr. Norman Cutright, Virginia Keller, Judy Harshman and Dustin Barton.

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Think about it: “Remember a closed mouth gathers no foot.” — Unknown