Читать книгу Cassell's Book of In-door Amusements, Card Games, and Fireside Fun - Various - Страница 21

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In this game no one is allowed to either laugh or smile; consequently, it is generally one of the games chosen when the merriment of the evening has reached its highest pitch. The company seat themselves in a half circle at one end of the room, with the exception of one of their number, who is supposed to have gone on a visit to Buff. He then enters the room with the poker in his hand, and his face looking as grave as possible. When he is asked by his friends in succession:—

"Where do you come from?"

"From Buff."

"Did he say anything to you?"

"Buff said Baff,

And gave me this staff,

Telling me neither to smile nor laugh.

Buff says Baff to all his men,

And I say Baff to you again,

And he neither laughs nor smiles,

In spite of all your cunning wiles,

But carries his face with a very good grace,

And passes his stick to the very next place."

If all this can be repeated without laughing, the player is highly to be commended. He may then deliver up his staff to some one else, and take his seat.