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. --- Provided by LoyalBooks.com ---