Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-05-19
A TRADE IN RIDDLES.
How n New Enulnnder Won u Number Of
Quarter Dollars.

down the Connecticut river. Among
them was shrewd New Highlander who
wished to go to Hanover, upon condition
that he would give the captain one dollar
for his passage. Now it is true some.
thing jingled in the New Englander's
pocket when he had struck his hand
against it but the only money there
was a twenty fye-cent 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. Who can deny
that many man has grown rich upon
the Connecticut river ?"
During the first part Of the voyage
the passengers were talkative and merry.
But as the vessel sailed onward the pas
sengers one after another grew silent
and gapcd, and gazed listlessly down
the river, until one cried to the New
Englander:
"Come, now do you know any pas
time that will amuse us?'
Now is the time" thought the New
Englander, "to shear my sheep"
He then proposed that they should sit
around in a circle with him. Those who
could not answer the questions any one
proposed should pay the one who pro.
pounded them 4 twenty-five cent nt-piccc
and those who answered them peril
nently should receive a twenty fivc-ccnt
piece.
This proposal pleased the company,
and hoping to divert themselves with
the New Euglandcr's wit or stupidity,
each one asked at random whatever
chauccd to enter his head. Thus, for
example, the first asked:
Who prolongs his work to as great
length as possible, and completes it in
time?'
All said it was impossible TO answer
that question but the New Englnndcr
said:
"Thc rope-maker, if he is indus
trious.'
And the Others paid him twenty-five
cents.
"Wait," thought the second; 81
will try you at the Bible, and 1 think
shall win my piece"
why did the Apostle Paul write
the second cpistle to the Corinthians?"
Because he was not in Corinth, I"
said the New Englander. Otherwise
ho would have spoken to them"
So he won another piece.
The third tried him in different
way:
There are two brothers, and still
only one of them is my uncle"
"The uncle is your fathers brother, 3"
said the New Englander, land your
father is not your uncle"
\ fish now leaped on; of the water,
and the fourth asked
What fish have their eyes nearest
together"
"Thc smallest" said the New Eng
lander.
The fifth asked
How can a man ride from Hanover
to Battleboro in the shade, in the sum
mer-timc, when the sun shines p
When he comes TO q place whore
there is no shade he must dismount and
go on foot" said the New Englander.
The sixth asked:
"When a man rides in the winter
time from Brattlcboro to Hanover, 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 New Highlander.
The seventh asked:
How can five persons divide five
eggs so that each man will receive one,
and still one remain in the dish ?'
1.-The last man must take the dish
with the egg" said the New Englander,
land he can let it lie as long as you
please"
The eighth, who was the last. asked:
In what month do the people OF
Hanover eat the leastg'
"In February" said the New Eng.
lander, "for it has only twenty.eight
days"
But now it came to his turn, and he
determined TO make good sweep. so he
began:
How can man fry two trouts in
three pans, so that front may lie in
each PAM"
No one could answer this, and one
after another gave him a twenty-five
cent piece; but when the eighth desired
q