The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-12-31
A Profitable Trade in Riddles Translated
from an old German PAPER.

Nine persons sailed from Balse down to
Rhine. A Jew who wished to 60 to Scha-
lampi, was allowed to come on board and
journey with them, upon condition that he
would conduct himself with propriety and
give the captain eighteen kreutzers for his
passage.
Now, it is true something jingled in the
Jews pocket when he had struck his hand
against it; but the only money there was
twelve kreutZer piece, for the other was
a brass button. Notwithstanding this, he
accepted the offer with gratitude. For he
thought of himself-"s something may be
earned even upon the water" There is
many man who has grown rich upon
the Rhine.
During the first part ofthe voyage the
passengers were very laxative and merry,
and the Jew with his wallet under his arm,
for he did not lay it aside, was an object
of much mirth and mockery as alas, is of
ten the case with those of his nation. But
as the vessel sailed onward, and passed
Thurengen and st. Welt, the passengers one
after another grew silent, and gaped. and
gazed listlessly down. the river until one
cried
"Come, Jew. Do you know any pas
time that will amuse us Your fathers
must have contrived many one during
their long journey in the wilderness"
"Now is the time" thought the Jew, ''to
shear my Sheep And he proposed that
they should sit round in circle, and pro-
pound various curious questions to each
other, and he with their permission
would sit with them. Those who could
not answer the questions should pay the
one who propounded them twelve kreut-
yer piece, and those who answered them
pertinently should receive twelve kreut-
ger piece.
This proposal pleased the company, and
hoping to divert themselves with the Jews
wit or stupidity, each one asked at random,
whatever CHANGED to enter his head.
Thus, for example, the first asked :-"How
many soft boiled eggs could the giant Go
liah eat on an empty stomach
All said that it was impossible to answer
that question, and each paid his twelve
kreutZers.
But the Jew said-"One; for he who
has eaten one egg, cannot put second
upon an empty stomach" and the others
paid him twelve kreutzers
The second thought-"Wai Jew, | will
try you out of the New Testament and l
think shall will win my piece! Why
did the Apostle Paul write the second
epistle to the Corinthians 2"
The Jew said-"Because he was not in
Corinthe-ot otherwise he would have spoken
to them" So he won another twelve krcut-
ger piece.
When the third saw that the jew was so
well versed in the Bible, he tried him in a
different way. "Who prolongs his work
to as great a length as possible, and COM
pletes it in tine3"
"The ropemaker, if he is industrious,
said the Jew.
In the meantime while they drew near
to village, and one said to the other
that is Bamlach." Then the fourth asked
"In what month do the people of Bamlach
The Jew said, I'm February, forit has
only % days"
The fifth said, "There are two natural
brothers, and still only one of them is my
uncle"
The Jew said, "Thc uncle is your fathers
brother, and your father is not your I'M
cle"
A fish now leaped out of the water, and
the sixth asked, "What fish have their
eyes nearest together ?"
The Jew, "The smallest"
The seventh asked, "How can aman ride
from Basic to Bern in the shade, in the
summer time, when the sun shines2"
The Jew said, "When he comes to
place where there is no shade, he must dis
mount and go on foot
The eighth asked "When man rides in
the winter time from Bern to Basic, and
has forgotten his gloves, how must he
manage so that his hands shall not freeze 2"
The Jew said, "He must make fists out
of them"
The ninth was the last This one asked
"How can five persons divide five eggs, so
that each man shall receive one, and still
one remain in the dish r.
The Jew said-"Thc last man must take