The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-02-10
A Trade In Riddles.

Nine persons sailed from Balse
down the Rhine. A Jew, who wished
to go to Schslsmpi, 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, was a tWelve-krcutz-
er piece, for the other was brass but
ton. Notwithstanding this, he ac-
cepted the offer with gratitude, for he
thought to himself that something
may be earned even upon the water.
There is many a 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 wal
let under his arm, for he did not lay
it aside, was an object of much mirth
and mockery, as, alas is often the
case with those of his nation. But as
the vessel sailed onward, and passed
Thuringen and st. Welt, the passen-
gers, 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 a one during
their Journey in the Wilderness
snow is the timer thought the
Jew, 'to shear my Sheep"
He then proposed that they should
sit round in circle, and he, with
their permission, would sit with them.
Those who could not answer the
questions any one proposed should
pay the one who propounded them a
twelve-kreutzer piece, and those who
answered them pertinently should re-.
ceive s twelve-kreutzet piece. This
propossl pleased the company, and,
hoping to divert themselves with the
Jews wit or stupidity, each one asked
at random whatever ehaUced to en- ter
his head. Thus, for example, the
first asked:
"How many soft-bOiled eggs could
the giant Goliath eat on an empty
stomach ?''
All said it was impossible to answer
that question but the Jew said:
"One for he who has eaten one
egg cannot put q second upon an
empty stomach" ;" and the other paid
him twelve kreutzers.
"Wait jew" thought the second,
'I will try you out of the New Testa-
ment, and think 1 shall win my
piece" Then he asked, "Why did
/ the Apostle Paul write the Second
Epistle to the Corinthians ?D
"Becsuse he was not in Corinth, y
said the Jew, "otherwise he would
have spoken to them" So he wOn
another piece OF money.
When the third saw he was so vel
versed in the Bible, he tried him in 8
different way.
"Who, said he, "prolongs his work
to IS great length as possible, and
completes it in time ?"
"The ropemaker, II he Is indus
trjous,D said the Jew.
In the meantime they drew near Il
a village and one said to the other
EEThat is Bamlacb." Then the fourth
asked, "In what month de the people
of Bamlach eat the least ?n
ain February" said the Jew, "fol
il has only twenty-eight days"
"There are two natural brothers,
said the 6fth," and still only one o
them Is my uncle"
1.-THE uncle is your fathers broth
err said the Jew, "and your father i
not your uncle"
A fish now leaped out OF the water
and the sixth asked, "What fish hav,
their eyes nearest together ?n
"The smallest" said the Jew.
The seventh asked, "How can 1
man ride from Balse to Berne in tn
shade, in the sum mmer time when tn
sun shines ?'
"When he comes to q place wher
there is no shade he must dismoun