"Bird."
"Wild or tame?"
"Tame."
"Is it the species you think of, or one individual of it?"
"One particular individual."
"Is it used for the table?"
"The species is--but I doubt that this individual was ever used for food."
"Did this bird live in ancient or modern times--before or after the Christian era?"
"Very ancient; before the Christian era."
"Does this ancient bird belong to the goose, duck, chicken, peac.o.c.k, or turkey tribe?"
"Turkey."
"Was it very thin?"
"Very, indeed--to a proverb."
"Job's turkey?"
"You've guessed it, and with ten questions too. Now you can think, Ellen, and the rest of us will question you, in turn."
"I have a thought," said Ellen.
"Treasure it then," said Charlie Bolton; "thoughts are very rare things with me. Animal, vegetable, mineral, or spiritual?"
"Vegetable."
"In its natural or prepared state?"
"Natural."
"Is it the whole, or only a part of the plant?"
"A part."
"Is it a part of a tree, a shrub, a vine, or is it of the gra.s.s kind?"
"A vine."
"Is it the root, stem, leaf, flower, or fruit?"
"Fruit."
"Is it used for food?"
"The species is--this one was not."
"Is this fruit pulpy like the grape, or mealy like the bean?"
"Mealy like the bean."
"Is it a bean?"
"Yes--that's one guess."
"Was this bean an ancient or modern one?"
"Very ancient."
"I know!" cried Amy; "it was the bean Jack the Giant Killer planted, which grew up to the moon in one night, and fastened itself round one of the horns."
"You are right--eight questions and two guesses; that's pretty well.
Now, Amy, 'tis your turn to think."
"I have a thought."
"Animal, vegetable, or mineral?"
"Animal."
"Quadruped or biped, fish, snake, or insect?"
"None of these; it is the production of a biped."
"In its natural or prepared state?"
"Natural--but a slight alteration was made in its shape at the time to which I refer."
"What time is it--before or after the Christian era?"
"After."
"Before or after the year 1500?"
"Very much about that time."
"Had it any thing to do with Columbus?"
"Yes; at least Columbus had something to do with it."