Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-09-09
A TRADE IN RIDDLES.

'~''N JCNi'NJ "isA NANtAif Oi NptuNllbll tAldt
he would conduct himself with proprety,
and give the captain eighteen kreutzers
for 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 9TH
er was a 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 talkative and mer-
ry, but the Jew, with his wallet under
his arm for he didn't lay it aside-was
an objecttof much mirth and mockery as,
alas is often the case with those Of his
nation. But the vessel sailed onward,
and passed ThGringen and ST. Welt the
passengers one after another, grew silent,
and gaped and gazed lstlessly 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"
" Now is the time" thought the Jew,
" to shear the sheep"
He then proposed that they should sit
round in a circle, and he, with their per-
mission, would sit with them. Those who
could not answer the question any one
proposed should pa the one propoundng
them twelve kreutzer piece, and those
who answered them pertineutly should
receive twelve-kreutzer piece. This
proposal pleased the company, and hop
ing to divert themselves with the Jews
wit or stupidity, each one asked at ran-
dom whatever chanced to enter their
head. Thus, for example, the FIRST ask
ed:
How many soft boiled eggs could the
giant Goliath eat on an empty atomach?"
All said it would be impossible TO ans
wer the question but the jew said (:
zone for he who bath eaten one egg
cannot eat second on an empty stom-
ach.' And the asker paid him twelve
kreutz9rs.
" Wait, Jew " thought the second, II
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 Corinth-
ans p"
Because he was not in Corinth," said
the jew, " otherwise he would have spok-
en- to them"
So he won another twelve-kreutzer
piece.
When the third saw that the jew was
so well versed IN the Bible, he tried him
in different way.
" Who" said he "prolonged his work
to as great length as possible, and com
pleted it in time ?"
THE ropemaker, if he is INDUSTRIOUS" :"
said the jew.
In the meantime they drew near 20
village, one said to the other, "this is
BamIach." Then the fourth said, "In
what month do the people Of Bamaoh eat
the least ?"
"In February" replied the jew, "it
has only twenty-eight days"
There are two natural brothers," said
the lftb, "and yet only one Of them is
my uncle"
The uncle is you. fathers brother"
said the jew; "and your father is not
your uncle"
A fish now leaped out Of the water, and
the sixth asked: " What fish have their
eyes nearest together ?"
"The smallest" said the jew.
The seventh sked " How can a man
ride from Base to Bern in the shade in
the summer time when the sun shines ?"
- When he comes to a place where
there is no shade, he must dismount aud
go on foot, !" said the jew.
The eighth asked /: When a man
rides in the winter time from Bulse to
Bern, and forgets his gloves, how must
he manage SO that his hands will not
freeze ?"
Z" He must make fists out of them,"
said the jew.
The ninth was the last. This was ask
ed
=" How can five persons divide FIVE eggs
so that each one shall receive one egg,
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-
termned to make a good sweep. Alter
many preliminary compliments, he ask
ed with an air OF mischieyous fllendli-
ness /:
. How can man fry two trout in three
pans So that trout will lay in each pan?"
No one could answer this, and one af-
ter another gave him twelve-kreutzer
piece. And when the ninth desired for
him to solve the riddle, he rocked to and
fro, rolled his eyes and shrugged his
shoulders.
g am poor jew" he said at last.
What has that to do with il ?" said
the rest, +" Give us the answer."
You must not take it amiss," said
the jew, "lor am poor jew"
AT last, after much per,uasion, and
many promises that he would do him no
harm, he thrust his hand into his pocket
took out one Of the twelve kreutzer pieces
he had won, laid it upon the table and
said 81 do not know the answer any
more than Won. Here are my twelve