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The Rubáiyát of Bridge

by

CAROLYN WELLS


WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY
MAY WILSON PRESTON


[Illustration: ALL'S LOST SAVE HONOURS]

HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS

NEW YORK AND LONDON :: MCMIX

Copyright, 1909, by HARPER & BROTHERS.

       *       *       *       *       *

_All rights reserved._

Published April, 1909.

_Printed in the United States of America._




The Rubáiyát of BRIDGE

[Illustration: ALL'S LOST SAVE HONORS]




Now the new Rubber rousing new Desires,
The Thoughtful Soul to Doubling Hearts aspires.
=When the Red Hand of Dummy is laid down,
And even Hope of the Odd Trick expires!

[Illustration]

Ah, make the Most of what We yet may Take,
Before we lose the Lead, and let Them make
=Trick after Trick!  While we throw down High Cards,
Sans Lead, sans Score, sans Honor, and sans Stake!

[Illustration]

A Book of Bridge Rules underneath the Bough,
A Score Card, Two new Packs of Cards, and Thou
=With Two Good Players sitting opposite,
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!

[Illustration]

The Card no Question makes of ayes or noes,
But High or Low, as suits the Player shows;
=But he who Stands Beside you, Looking On,--
He knows about it all! He Knows!! **He Knows!!!**

[Illustration]

I sometimes think there's never such Tirade
As where some Bridge Game has been badly Played.
=When Some One thinks you should have made no Trump,
And you have thriftily declared a Spade!

[Illustration]

Myself, when Young, did eagerly Frequent
Bridge Tournaments, and heard Great Argument
=About this Point and That. Yet, after all,
Came out no Better Player than I went.

[Illustration]

For I remember stopping by the Way
To watch Four Celebrated Champions play.
=They Differed on the Discard, Make, and Lead.
Whatever One Said,--Said The Others, "Nay!"

[Illustration]

Why, if a Soul can fling the Rules aside,
And let his Card=Sense be his Only Guide,
=Were't not a Shame, were't not a Shame for him
By Street and Elwell tamely to abide?

[Illustration]

And if the Card you hopefully Finesse
Capture the Trick,--your Partner Smiles! Oh yes!
=And you smile Broadly! But, if it be Caught
By the Fourth Hand,--your Smiles are somewhat Less!

[Illustration]

But if in Vain down on the Stubborn Score
You gaze; and make it No Trumps, just once more,--
=With Strength in Every Suit, but with No Ace,--
How then,--when Dummy calmly Lays down Four!

[Illustration]

To Them the Heart Convention did I show,
And with Mine Own Hand tried to make it go.
=But this is all the Wisdom that I reaped,--
"With more than Three Hearts, always lead the Low!"

[Illustration]

For, Trump or No=Trump, though with all the Rules,
Of different Masters and of different Schools,
=I've played with Players of all Sorts,--but I
Have never beaten anything,--but Fools!

[Illustration]

Indeed, indeed--to Quit It oft Before
I swore,--but did I mean it when I swore?
=And then,--and then came Three, and, Cards in Hand,
I Joined them, and they made me keep the Score!

[Illustration]

Alas, how Subtle Bridge alluring Woos!
And robs me of my Nightly Beauty=Snooze.
=I often Wonder what Bridge Players gain
One=half so Precious as the Sleep they Lose.

[Illustration]

Oh, Threats of Loss, and Hopes of Golden Store,
One thing in Bridge is Certain,--'tis not Lore!
=One thing is Certain, and the Rest is Chance:
The Hand that holds the Cards will win the Score!

[Illustration]

Some for the Gain of Penny Points, and Some
Sigh for the Lovely Prizes yet to come.
=Oh, take the Prize and let the Pennies go,
Nor heed the winning of a Paltry Sum.

[Illustration]

When You and I our Last Bridge Game have played,
The Games will go right on by Those who've Stayed,
=Who of Our Coming and Departure heed
As the Heart Ace should heed a little Spade.

[Illustration]

We are no other than a Moving Row
Of Magic Dummy Hands that Come and Go.
=Played to the Last Trump by the Hand of Fate,
By whom our Hearts are Shuffled To and Fro.

[Illustration]




The End.