The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-09-08

Shearing the Sheep.


Nine persons sailed from Balse down the
Rhine. A Jew, who wished to go to
Schlampi, was allowed to come on board
and journey with them, on condition that
he would conduct himself with propriety,
and give the captain eighteen kreutzers tor
his passage.
Now, it is true, something jingled in
the Jews pocket when he struck his hand
against it, but the only money there was
twelve. kreutzer piece for the other was
brass button. Notwithstanding this, he
accepted the offer with gratitude, for he
thought to himself:
Something may be earned even upon
the water. There is many man who has
grown rich on the Rhine"
During the first part of the voyage the
passengers were very laxative and merry,
but the Jew, with his wallet under his arm
Afor he did not lay it aside-was an OBJ
ject of much mirth and mockery, as, alas
is often the case with those of his nation.
But the vessel sailed onward, and passed
Thuringen 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 pastime
that will amuse us? Your fathers must
have contrived many one during their
journey in the wilderness"
Nov is the time" thought the Jew,
to shear the sheep"
He then proposed that they should sit
round in circle, and he, with their per-
mission, would sit with them. Those who
could not answer the questions any one
gl hn Nyhn
pounded them n twelve kreutzer piece, and
those who answered them pertinently
should receive a twelve-kreutzer piece
This proposal pleased the company, and
hoping to divert themselves with the Jews
wit or stupidity, each one ask ed at random
whatever CHANGED to enter his head. Thus,
for example, the first asked:
How many soft-boiled eggs could the
giant Goliath eat on an empty stomach I"
All said it would be impossible to an
swer that question; but the Jew said:
zone; for he who has eaten one egg
cannot eat a second OH an empty stom-
ach;" and the asker paid him twelve
kreutzers.
"Wait, jew" thought the second, Il
will try you out of the New Testament,
and think shall win my piece" Then
he said, "Why did the Apostle Paul write
the second Epistle to the Corinthians p
Because he was not in Corinth," said
the Jew, otherwise he would have spoken
to them"
So he won another twelve-kreutzer
piece.
When the third saw the jew was 50 well
versed in the Bible, he tried him in diff
trrent way.
Who" said he, "prolongs his work to
"a great length as possible, and completes
il in time 2
1.-THE ropemakes, if he is industrious"
said the jew.
In the meantime they drew near to n
village, and one said to the other, This is
Bamlach." Then the fourth said, "In
what month do the people of Bamlach eat
the least 2"
I'm february" replied the jew, "for it
has only twenty eight days"
There are two natural brothers." said
the fifth, "and yet only one of them is my
uncle"
1.-THE uncle is your fathers BROTHER"
said the Jew land your father is not
your uncle"
A fish now leapcd out of the water and
the sixth asked, "What fish have their
eyes nearest togetherF"
"The smallest" said the jew.
The seventh asked, GLOW can man
ride from Balse to Bern in the shade in the
summer time, when the sun shines z"
"When lie comes to place where there
is no shade, he must dismount and go on
foot" said the Jew.
The eighth asked, "When a man rides
in the winter time from Balse to Bern,
and has forgotten his gloves, how must he
manage SO that his hands shall not
freezer"
HE must make fists out of them, said
the Jew.
The ninth was the last This was ask
cd.
"How can live persons divide five eggs
50 that each one shall receive one, and still
one remain in the dish? ?"
"The last man must take the dish with
the egg, and he can let it lie there as long
as you please" said the Jew.
But now it came to his turn, and he de-
tcrmined to make good sweep. After
many preliminary compliments, he asked,
with an air of mischievous tricndliness;
GLOW can man fry two trout in three
pans SO that trout may lay in each pan y
No one could answer this, and one after
another gave him IL twelvc-kreutzer piece.
And when the ninth desired that he should
solve the riddle, he rocked to and fro,
rolled his eyes and shrugged his should
crs.
Il am poor jew" he said at last
what has that to do with it q said the
rest. "Give us the answer"
you must not take it amiss," said the
jew, for am a poor jew"
AT last, after much persuasion, and many
promises that he would do him no harm,
he thrust his hand into his pocket, took
out one of the twelyc-kreutBer pieces he
had won, laid it upon the table and said :
Il do not know the answer Pny more
than you. Here arc my tw@lvc-krcutzers. v
When the Others heard this they opened
their c,c rs, and said that this was scarcely
according to agreement. But las they could
not control their laughter, and were good
naturcd and wealthy men, and AS the jew
had helped them to while away the time
from Saint Welt To Schlampi they let it
pass.
KEEN ENCOUNTER OF WITs.-CheS.cr-