Sunday the Seventh day, Illustrated.
By R. F. C.
THE best illustration I have ever heard of that silly evasion, which makes the first day of the week the seventh by beginning at the second to number them, calling it the first, is the following: A father, dying, wills his estate to his seven sons, to be divided equally among them, with the exception of one thousand dollars which is to be given to his seventh son. After the death of the father, the oldest son thinks it would be quite convenient for him to have that thousand dollars, so he says to his brothers, “Father meant me when he willed that odd thousand dollars to his seventh son, and I must have it.” “That cannot be,” they all at once exclaim, “for you are not the seventh son.” “Yes I am,” says he, “and I will prove it to you. Stand up and form in a circle.” He places the second son at his right hand, the third next, and so on till the circle is completed. He then begins with his brother at his right hand, and numbers, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and sure enough he is the seventh! Any judge or jury would give the thousand dollars to the seventh-born son, and will the Judge of all the earth be robbed of his holy day, by any such dextrous management? R. F. C.