True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-08-08
From the German
Living by Ones Wits.

Shalampi, was allowed to come on board
and journey with them, on condition that
he would conduct himself with propriety,
and give the captain eighteen kreuzers for
his passage.
Now it is true something gingled in the
jews pocket when he struck his hand
against it; but the only meney there was
therein, was a twelve kreutEer piece, for
the other was brass button, Notwith-
standing this, he accepted the offer with
gratitude. For he thought to himself,
something may be earned, even upon the
water. There is many a man who has
grown rich upon the Rhine.
During the first part of the voyage the
passengers were very talkative and merry,
and the Jew, with his wallet under his
arm, for he did not lay it aside, was the
object of much mirth and mockery, as,
alas is often the case with those of his
nation. But as the vessel sailed onward,
aud passed Thnringen and St. Veoit, the
passengers, Que after the other, grew ST.
lent, aud gazcd down the river until one
cried;
Come, Jew, do you know any past time
that will amuse us? Your fathers must
have .contrived many one, during their
long stay in the Wilderness
Now is the time thought the Jew, TO
shear my sheep And he proposed that
they should sit round III a circle, and pro-
pound very curious questions to each 9TH
er, and he, with their permission, would
sit with them. Those who could not an
swer the questions, should pay the one
who prOpounded them a twelve kreutzer
piece, and those who answered them per-
tincntly, should receive twelve kreutzcr
piece.
The proposal pleased the company and
hoping to divert themselves with the Jews
wit Or stupidity, each one asked, at random
whatever entered his head.
Thus, for example, the first one asked
"IIow many soft boiled eggs could the 81
ant Goliah eat upon an empty stomach :"
All said it WIS impossible to answer
that question, and each paid bis twelve
kreutzers.
But the Jew said, "One; for he who
has eaten one egg cannot eat second up
on an empty stomach, and the others paid
him twelve kreutzers.
The second thought, "Wait, Jew, | will
try you out of the New Testament, and l
think l shall win my piece. Why did the
Apostle Paul write the Second Epistle to
the Corinthians Z"
The Jew said-"Because he was not i'll
Corlnth otherwise he would have spoken
to them" So lie won another twelve
kreutzers.
| When the third saw that the Jew was SC
well yersed i'll the Bible, he tried him in a
different way.
"Who prolongs bis work TO as great 9
length as possible, and still completes it
in time y
"The rope-maker, if he is industrious, .
said the Jew.
In the meanwhile they drew near to :
village, and one said to the other, "Thi.
is Bamlach."
Then the fourth asked-"In what montl
do the people Of Bamlach eat the least p
The Jew said, "In February, for that
month has only twenty-cight days"
The fifth said-"lhere are two natura
brothers, and still one of them is my un
cle."
The Jew said,-"The uncle is YOU
fathers brother, and your father is no
your uncle"
A fish now jumped out Of the water, aut
the sixth asked-"Whal fish have thcil
eyes nearest togcther?"
The Jew said, "The smallest"
The seventh asked, GLOW can a maj
ride from Basle to Berne in the shade, il
the summer time, when the sun shines ?
The Jew said, d,-"When he comes to
place where there is no shade, he mus
dismount and 60 on foot"
The eighth asked, "When man ride
in the winter time from Berne to Baslc
and has forgotten his gloves, how must h
manage so that his hands will not freeze ?
The Jew said, Gle must make fists ou
of them"
The ninth was the last. This one ask
ed-"How can five persons divide fv
eggs, SO that each one shall receive one
and still one remain in the dish ?"
The Jew said, "The last must take til
dish with the egg, and he can let it Ii
there as long as he pleases."
But now it come to his turn, and he dc
+ termined to make a good sweep. Aftc
many preliminary compliments. he asked