The Rubáiyát of Bridge   By: Carolyn Wells (1862-1942)

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.