In Residence

BALLADE OF WHIST You play with a full pack, And deal them one by one ; You lead the Ace with Queen and Jack (As you have rightly done) ; But lo! a spot upon your sun, A worm in your pea-pod— I trump you, when you have begun To reckon on the odd. With what a mighty smack Your King of Trumps is won! Your partner’s face grows very black ; He doesn’t think it fun. A Yankee would have used a gun, A schoolmaster a rod— A ten ace may be led of none Who reckon on the odd. And now, amid the wrack Of your position, Their old established suit comes back, With an unfettered run ;