CHAPTER X

CHARADES, STORIES, AND CONTESTS

My first makes company, My second shuns company, My third a.s.sembles company, My whole puzzles company.

Co-nun-drum.

My first is a reflection, my second not so much, and my whole none at all. Thoughtless.

I lived upon my own substance and died when I had devoured myself. A candle.

I have hands, but no fingers; no bed, but a tick. A clock.

You can hang me on the wall, but if you take me down, you cannot hang me up again. Wall paper.

In my first my second sat, my third and fourth I ate. In-sat-i-ate.

May my first never be lost in my second, To prevent me from enjoying my whole.

Friendship.

My first I do, and my second--when I say you are my whole--I do not.

Love-lie (Lovely).

My first is a prop, my second also is a prop, and my whole is a prop as well. Footstool.

Wipe my face, and I'm everybody; scratch my back, and I'm n.o.body. A mirror.

By well employing my second you will never regret my first, and you will the more thoroughly enjoy my whole. Past-time.

When you stole my first, I lost my second, and you are the only person to give me my whole. Hearts-ease.

Why is the emblem of America more lasting than that of France, England, Ireland, or Scotland?

The lily may fade, and its leaves decay, The rose from its stem may sever; Shamrock and thistle may pa.s.s away, But the stars shall shine for ever.

Read see that me but not my got Up shall I love if me love for- And you love you that love for be Down and you if you do you shall Read up and down and you shall see.

Can you tell me why A hypocrite's eye Can better descry Than you or I On how many toes A p.u.s.s.y-cat goes?

A man of deceit Can best count-er-feit; And so, I suppose, Can best count her toes.

My first, though 'tis dirty, 's a thing to a door; My second is made into cakes and a bun; My third is, believe me, by none thought a bore; My whole we have frequently been led to believe by many authors of the United States is very often indeed called one.

Mat-ry(e)-money.

Why is a cross old bachelor like the preceding conundrum? Because he's averse to matrimony.

By equal division, I know I am right; The half of thirteen you'll find to be eight.

VIII XIII, ----, VIII AIII

[Transcriber's note: The letter A is used here to represent the lower half of the letter X, originally shown by an upside down V.]

I came to a field and couldn't get through it; So I went to school and learned how to do it.

Fence.

Legs have I got, but seldom walk, I backbite all, yet never talk.

A flea.

I am a good state, there can be no doubt of it; But those who are in, entirely are out of it.

Sane; insane.

Formed long ago, yet made to-day, I'm most employed while others sleep; What none would like to give away, Yet no one likes to keep.

Bed.

My first of anything is half, My second is complete; And so remains until once more My first and second meet.

Semi-circle.

Pray tell me, ladies, if you can, Who is that highly favored man, Who, though he has married many a wife, May still live single all his life?

A clergyman.

Great numbers do our use despise, But yet, at last they find, Without our help in many things, They might as well be blind.

Spectacles.

My love for you will never know My first, nor yet my second; 'Tis like your wit and beauty, so My whole 'twill aye be reckoned.

End-less.

As I was going through a field of wheat, I found something good to eat; It wasn't fish or flesh or bone; I kept it till it ran alone.

An egg.

There's a word composed of three letters alone Which reads backwards and forwards the same, It expresses the sentiments warm from the heart, And to beauty lays princ.i.p.al claim.

Eye.

We travel much, yet pris'ners are, And close confined to boot; We with the swiftest horse keep pace, Yet always go on foot.

A pair of spurs.

My first doth affliction denote, Which my second is destined to feel; But my whole is the sure antidote That affliction to soothe and to heal.

Wo-man.

Those who take me improve, be their task what it may, Those who have me are sorrowful through the long day; I am hated alike by the foolish and wise, Yet without me none ever to eminence rise.

Pains.

Your initials begin with an A, You've an A at the end of your name, The whole of your name is an A, And it's backwards and forwards the same.

Anna.

Ever running on my race, Never staying at one place, Through the world I make my tour, Everywhere at the same hour.

If you please to spell my name, Reversed or forward it's the same.

Noon.

You name me once, and I am famed For deeds of n.o.ble daring; You name me twice, and I am found In savage customs sharing.