RIDDLES.
Reading edition
Riddle me riddle
Guess me this riddle
And perhaps not!
1. My father have a thing in his yard; nobody can ride him but little Johnny.
—Grass-quit riding a grass-stalk.
2. My father have a thing in his yard and never ride him till him back break.
—House-roof; a man sits astride it to mend the thatch.
—Needle is the pony, thread the reins, the crooked finger is the bridge, and the thimble is Johnny.
4. My father has a horse in his yard; it jump an’ jump, an’ de rein get shorter an’ shorter.
—Needle and thread.
—Pipe.
a) My father saddle his horse at his head an ride him at his tail.
6. My father have a horse in his yard; you can’t ride him or he buck into you.
—Steel-yard.
7. Me fader hab a cock in him yard; eb’ry crow him crow fire.
—Gun.
a) My father have a dog in his yard; every time it bark it bark fire.
b) My fader hab a donkey, an’ eb’ry bray him bray fire.
8. My father have a thing in his yard and he run from yard to yard.
—Dog.
—Wife; you can’t tell whether the child will be boy or girl until it is born.
10. My father have a thing in his yard, cry for the crop once a year.
—Coffee-pulper.
11. My father has a thing in his yard; the more him feed, the more him hungry.
—Stove.
12. My father have a thing in his yard, have to blind it to use it.
—Scissors.
—Bunch of Bananas.
14. My father has a cock in his yard, doesn’t crow till the sun is hot.
—Castor-oil bean, which cracks open in the sun.
15. My father have a thing in his yard, run off cover up the whole ground.
—Pumpkin-vine.
16. My father have ten trees in his yard an’ two taller than the rest.
—Fingers.
17. My father got a tank in his yard, don’t care how the rain come never catch water; but soon as little dirt get into it, it full.
—Eye.
18. My father have a tank in his yard; when the rain fall it doesn’t catch and when the dew fall it catch.
—Coco leaf, because it sheds water like quick-silver.
19. My father have a thing in his yard; it button from head to foot.
—Pingwing, because the leaves are stuck with pitch.
—Banana leaf (because when the tree begins to fruit, the leaf slits into ribbons.)
21. My father got a thing in his yard deep as well an’ is not well, an’ the whole sea does not fill it.
—Sieve.
—Grave.
a) My father make a door an’ it was too short; he cut it and it became longer.
b) Me father have a stick an’ cut it an’ it become longer.
23. My father have a thing in his house, cut it every day and kyan’ taste it.
—Cord.
24. We have a t’ing in the yard an’ no man can tell where it end.
—Buggy wheel.
—Egg.
26. My father have a house without window or door.
—Egg.
27. Me fader hab a man an’ he kyan’ stan’ up till him belly full.
—Bag.
—Frying-pan.
29. My father have three daughters and you can’t tell me the oldest one.
—Three tumblers.
30. Me fader hab a lil bwoy sleep wid him every night; and every call him call him, de lil bwoy run.
—Dog-flea.
—Teeth.
—Tongue and teeth.
33. Me fader hab a horse; eb’ry lep em lep em lef’ piece a em gut.
34. My father have a pony; every jump he jump he stop a gap.
—Needle and thread.
35. My father have a horse and a spur; every time he spur, blood will flow.
—Match-box and match.
36. My father have a horse and every walk he walk he drop silver.
—Snail.
37. My father have a horse; carry him down to the river to drink and without he pull out the tongue, can’t drink.
—Bottle and cork.
38. My father have a horse; hol’ him a’ him two ears, him bite a him tail.
—Scissors.
39. My father have a rooster, got no coop can keep him but one.
—Fire; only water can keep fire.
40. My father have a pig; cut him at his head he don’t die, cut him at his tail he die.
—Tree.
41. My father have a pen of sheep an’ don feed nowhere but on the hill-side.
—Lice on the head.
42. My father has a bull, can’t feed but upon three ridges.
—Cooking-pot with three legs.
43. My father have a houseful of children; if you touch one, whole of them cry.
—Gungo peas.
a) My sister have a whole house o’ pickney and if you touch one, everyone cry.
b) I have a whole pen of guinea-pig an’ if you touch one dey all holla.
—Woodpeckers.
a) Me fader come out wid a whole ship-load o’ Guinea people; everyone has red.
45. My father has a houseful of children; every time they come out they come out with red head.
—Annata.
46. Me fader hab a houseful o’ chil’ren an’ eb’ryone a dem a black head.
—Ackee.
a) Me ma ha’ one Guinea ship a pickney; eb’ryone a dem head black.
b) A woman has a whole lot of children and all come out with black heads and red dresses.
47. My father has a houseful of children and everyone of their heads turn out of doors.
—Nails in a house.
48. Me fader have a whole shipload of Bungo nager an everyone have a white head.
—Castor-oil bean.
a) My father hab a whole house of children; everyone have a white head.
b) Me mudder hab a whole shipload o’ guinea-pig, all born at one quality head.
49. My father has a shipload of Guinea people, but all their heads is turned down.
—Bottles packed in straw.
50. Me fader hab a Guinea ship o’ nager; eb’ryone o’ dem a t’ree foot.
—Cooking-pots.
—Coffee-pots.
52. My father sent for a ship-load of soldiers and everyone come with one eye.
—Needles.
a) Me fader hab a whole Guinea ship a nager; eb’ryone come wid one eye.
b) I hab a pen o’ sheep, but eb’ryone hab one eye.
—Moon.
a) One piece a afoo (white) yam nyam, serve the whole worl’.
b) One piece of yellow yam serve the whole world.
c) Me fader hab a half side o’ bammie (cake of kasava meal) an’ him share it fe de whole world.
—Stars.
a) I go to bed and leave my pepper-tree full of peppers, and wake in the morning, there isn’t one there.
b) Me fader got a rose-tree in him yard; eb’ry night he blow, an by time de fe clean, eb’ry one gone.
c) Me fader hab a heap a white plate pon a blue table; wash de plate in de evening an’ turn him down, an’ in de morning don’ see one.
55. Me fader hab a pepper-tree an i nebber ripe till night come.
—Stars.
56. Me fader hab a tree full apple an’ not a man can count them.
—Stars.
a) My sheet I cannot fold,
My money I cannot count.
—Cloud and stars.
57. My father has a sheet that covers the whole world.
—Cloud.
58. My father has a lamp that shines over the whole world.
—Moon.
—Umbrella.
60. My father have two ponds; when he lie down at night, he turn up one and turn down one.
—Ears.
61. My father have a well; it have neither top nor bottom, yet it hold water.
—Sugar-cane.
62. My father have something without top or bottom, had it with him wherever he go.
—Ring
a) The king of France sent to the king of Spain to get a tub without a bottom.
63. My father has a house with three doors and can walk only through one.
—Three openings in a cocoanut shell; one drinks through only one.
—Hole.
—Fire.
—Corn-grain.
—Ten fingers to catch one louse.
a) Ten men go to Bullinton fe bring down one prisoner; only two bring him down.
b) One prisoner stan’ pon Marley hill; ten policemen go fe tek him down; two bring him to de station do, an’ de sentence pass pon de finger-nail.
c) My father tek a bwoy to court; de sentence pass pon finger-nail.
68. My fader sen’ me fe go pick out a woman fe me wife; those laugh will be the bes’ fe tek, but those not better left, fe they will kill me.
—Ackee; this refers to the common warning that the fruit is safe to eat only after it has ripened and split in the sun.
69. My father plant a acre a kasava; only one white belly rat a eatey off.
—Grater for preparing kasava meal.
70. My father give me one root kasava an’ a quart of fine salt; if I don clever I wouldn’t taste it.
—Egg; the salt cannot penetrate the shell.
a) I put on one coco on the fire to boil and I put in a gallon of salt, and the salt never tasted it.
b) I have a t’ing and don’t care how much salt I put in it, when I go to eat it I have to put salt on it.
—Black ink on white paper.
—Clock.
73. Mother put on a pot of food to boil; the top boil before the bottom.
—Pipe.
74. Going up to town my face turn to town; coming back from town my face turn to town.
—Climbing a tree.
75. I was going up to town one morning, met a man; I tell him ’Mawnin’ and he wouldn’t speak to me, and when I was coming back early in the evening he speak to me.
—Trash, noiseless to the tread when cold, crackles when warmed by the sun.
—Orange.
—Rooster.
a) As I was going through Bramble hall,
An old man gave me a call;
His beard was flesh, his mouth was horn,
And this old man was never born.
b) Got to a gentleman’s yard and his mouth was hard and his beard was flesh.
78. I was going over Dingledown hill and I saw a grey horse.
—Moon.
79. Picking juketa (?) going to town, picking juketa coming from town and can’t get my hands full.
—Dew and sweat.
80. I gwine to town wid a hand o’ ripe plantain; I hungry an’ couldn’t taste it.
—Fingers.
81. I was going to town; I mash a plate and when I was coming back I found it new.
—Ants’ nest.
82. As I was going up to town I hear the bells of heaven ring; man tremble, beast tremble, cause the devil to break his chain.
—Earthquake.
83. Going up a lane I see a drink an’ see a chaw.
—Cocoanut.
a) Dere’s a cup an’ in de cup dere’s a chaw; no man to clear dis chaw.
—Trousers.
85. I heard that my father was dead in Kingston; I went there and took a piece of his bone and made increase.
—Kasava root.
86. I heave up a t’ing white an’ it come down red.
—Egg.
87. In England I am, in Jamaica I stand.
—A man took soil from Jamaica, put it in his boots, went to England.
88. I went to town, I walk in town, I eat in town, and yet I don’t know town.
—A woman was breedin’. She went to town an’ after she come home the baby born, grow a big man, don’ know town.
89. A man going to town and he face town, and when he coming back he face down to Montego Bay.
—Train running between Kingstown and Montego Bay.
—Horse-shoe-nail.
91. Riding in to town, two talking to each other and none understand what the other was saying.
—Two (?) new saddles creaking ru-u-u-u-u.
92. Four men going up to town; all were talking and not one could understand the other.
—Four buggy wheels.
—Four buggy wheels.
94. Some white ladies were walking to Kingston, and all the walk they walk they couldn’t catch each other.
—Mile-posts.
95. Three brothers in one house and never see each others’ face until dead.
—Three beans in one castor-oil pod.
96. Two sister on ribber side; no one could never wash the other.
—Two bottles.
—Clock.
98. Three man start fe go a heaven; one go half way an’ turn back, one go right up, and one no go at all.
—Fire: spark, smoke and ashes.
99. A man walk around four corners of the world and make a house; rain come catch him a door, dew fall on him, sun burn him, and he have no shelter of his own.
—Ladder.
a) A man build a fine up-stairs house, and he have to sleep outside.
100. A man mek him house an’ him sleep outside.
—Axe.
101. A man work for rich and work for poor and yet his head outside.
—Nail-head.
—John Crow: as soon as rain come he begin to cut posts, say he will build him a house. When sun comes out, he come to dry himself; never build house any more.
—Ear of corn.
a) Old man in his room and the beard out in the hall.
104. Vineyard man walk through vineyard grass-piece and neither make track nor road.
—Sun.
105. I know a man talk every second.
—Sea.
a) I know a man; every talk he talk his mouth-corner foam.
—Moon.
107. Baby born an’ vanish.
—Moon.
108. I know a baby born widout belly.
—Skelion (tin can).
109. Tallest man in Kingston don’ have any belly.
—Bamboo.
a) A man stan’ up widout guts.
110. Holler belly mumma, humpback pupa, pickney wid t’ree foot.
—Cooking-pot.
—Coffee.
112. He laugh plain and talk plain but havn’t any life.
—Talking-machine.
—Banana leaf.
a) Mrs. Queen coat-tail tear an’ never mend.
—Banana shoot.
115. I was tying mat ever since an’ I never lay down on one.
—Pumpkin-vine.
—Coffee-pot.
117. A thousand hungry men kill a thousand bullocks.
—Hunger kill men.
118. And smart as little Tommie be, one man kill the whole world.
—Mr. Debt.
—Hawk.
120. Black man dance on white man table.
—Black ink on white paper.
a) Mr. Blackman sit pon Mr. Whiteman table.
b) Black man sit down on white man chair.
c) Black man dance on white man head.
d) Black man dance on white man sheet.
121. A black man sit upon a white man head.
—Ackee.
122. A white man stand upon a black man head.
—Bammie on griddle.
123. A black man sit upon a red man head.
—Pot on fire.
—Fire under boiling pot.
a) A red man tickle a black man make him belly boil up.
b) John Redman beat John Blackman till him gallop.
125. Mr. Redman box Mr. Blackman make Mr. Whiteman laugh.
—Fire, baking-pan and bammie.
126. The white man take a red cloth tie his head.
—Tooth and gum.
127. Mr. Blackman was going to town; him drop him kerchief an’ couldn’t pick it up.
—Crow drops a feather.
128. Miss Nancy was going to Kingston; she drop her pocket handkerchief never turn round to pick it up.
—Bird drops a feather.
a) Miss Nancy was going up-stairs and she lose her pocket handkerchief and she would not turn round to pick it up.
b) Queen of Sheba riding out;
Her kerchief drop and couldn’t pick it up.
129. Little Miss Nancy sit at the pass; everyone that come give him a kiss.
—Fly.
130. Little Miss Nancy tie up her frock and wheel round three times.
—Turn-stick in the pot.
131. Little Miss Nancy like to dance and dance so rough.
—Pepper.
132. Miss D. June (?) cutting wood for a year, never get a bundle.
—Woodpecker.
133. Little Johnny fell in the water and never drowned.
—Bottle.
—Heaven and earth.
a) Ole man Brenta sit on a stump, cut two packey not one bigger than the other.
—Cloud on the earth (?).
—Boy climbing after a cocoanut; nut falls before boy comes down.
—Ship at Sea.
a) Look through a diamond I see the dead carry the living.
137. A hen have six chickens; and hold the hen, the chickens cry.
—Guitar with six strings.
—Two mill-rollers.
139. One John-crow sit down on three cotton-tree.
—Cooking-pot set on fire-stones.
—Needle and thread.
a) A frisky horse and a frisky mare was going up to mountain hill.
141. John, the mule, in the stable, his tail outside.
—Fire in the kitchen, smoke outside.
—Pipe.
143. Kingston bully-dog bark, Montego bully-dog answer.
—Rooster; when one crows at one end of the island, another answers at the other end.
144. England dog bark, Jamaica dog sound.
—Newspaper.
—Thunder.
146. Jamaica bully-dog bark, Kingston bully-dog keep silent.
—Great gun.
147. Rope run, horse stan’ up.
—Pumpkin-vine and pumpkin.
148. Old England dead an never rotten.
—Bottle (of ale).
149. Water grow.
—Sugar-cane.
150. Water stan’ up.
—Sugar-cane.
151. No ca how time hard, one coco full pot.
—Foot in a boot.
152. One bammie shingle off Mt. Olivet church.
—Moon.
153. One little bit o’ bag hold three.
—Castor-oil bean-pod.
154. A gully with two notch in it.
—Purse.
155. What water wash, sun can’t dry.
—Butter.
156. Up the hill, down the hill; yet never tired.
—Road.
a) Up the hill, down the hill;
Stand up still.
157. Chaw fine and never tired.
—Saw.
158. This corner, this corner is no corner at all.
—Ring.
159. Chip-cherry, beer, cedar.
—White man (cedar), black-wife (chip-cherry), brown child (beer).
160. Stump to stump; dig out stump out of dogwood heart.
—Jigger.
161. A ’tump in a pond; all the rain can’t cover the ’tump-head.
—Turn-stick in the pot.
162. There’s a rope and every bump a sheet of paper.
—Pumpkin-vine.
163. Sack a back an’ not de front.
—Finger-nail.
—Smoke.
165. Knock an’ stan’ up.
—Mat.
166. Water a-bottom, fire a-top.
—Lamp.
167. Hell a-top an’ hell a-bottom.
—Frying-pan.
168. Hair a-top, hair a-bottom; only a dance in the middle.
—Eye-lashes and eye.
—Stockings.
—Boot.
—Bammie, baking-iron and fire.
—Coffee-blossom and berry.
—Onion.
174. White within, black within, red without.
—Ackee.
175. Hard as rock, not rock; white as milk, not milk.
—Cocoanut.
176. High as the world; red as blood but not blood; blue as indigo; but not indigo; high as granadillo temple.
—Rainbow.
—Rat and corn.
178. Four sit down on four waiting till four come.
—Cat on the table waiting for a rat.
179. Six and four waiting for twenty-four.
—Six holes in four horse-shoes waiting for twenty-four nails.
180. Nine run, one come, two run.
—Nine man run for the doctor, one baby born, two nipples run.
—Ten teats on a cow (?).
182. Six is in, the seventh is out; set the virgin free.
—Hen hatching six chicks.
183. Blackey cover ten.
—Boots cover toes.
—Cow.
—Smoke.
186. Whitey whitey can’t climb whitey whitey.
—Smoke.
187. Half a ’tumpy sit down on ’tumpy; when a go, a don’ see nothing but half a ’tumpy.
—Broken bottle on stump.
188. Climb up Zion hill, pick Zion fruit, come down Zion hill, drink Zion water.
—Climbing a cocoanut tree, picking the nut, coming down, drinking the milk.
a) Go up Mount Zion, drink Zion blood, eat de flesh, dash away de bone.
189. Tetchie in, tetchie out; all hands can play on it.
—Lock and key.
a) Tickle me in, tickle me out; all hands can play on tickle.
190. Hip hop; hip hop; jump wide.
—Flea.
a) Dip dup, a yard wide.
—Broom.
a) Jig a hall, jig a room; go a corner, go stan’ up behin’ de door.
192. Little titchie above ground.
—Ants.
193. Every jump shiney jump, whitey hold it back.
—Needle and thread.
194. Miss Witty wit and wit till she wit out her last wit.
—Needle and thread.
195. Earie, hearie, earie, knock, pom!
—Brushing (the hair).
196. Papa take hairy-hairy put in blackey-blackey.
—Brush and blacking.
197. Unco Joey takin’ long hairy-hairy somet’ing; shubbin’ Aunty Mary hairy-hairy somet’ing.
—Making a broom.
198. Long Aunty Long-long, no one can long as Aunty Long-long.
—Road.
199. Whitey-whitey send whitey-whitey to drive whitey-whitey from eating whitey-whitey.
—White man sends his white boy to drive the white goat out of the cabbage-patch.
—Man sleeping under a tree; snake comes to kill man; cocoanut falls and kills snake; another man comes, eats the cocoanut, leaves the first man.
201. Limb fell lamb; down fell lamb in the cow coram.
—Limb falls, knocks lamb into the cow-dung.
202. If I had my pretty little caney, bigny-pigny could not kill kum-painy.
—If I had my revolver, the wild hog could not kill my dog.
203. I was going out and I saw some pigs, and if I had my hansom-cansom I would carry home some bigny-pigny.
—If I had my gun, I would carry home some pigs.
—To bring my three dogs to drive three pigs out of the garden.
—The lady’s name was Anne.
—His name is Andrew.
a) As I was going up to St. Andrew’s church, I met St. Andrew’s scholar. St. Andrew’s scholar drew off his hat an’ drew off his gloves: tell me the name of the scholar.
b) I was going up on Oxford street, I met an Oxford boy. He took out his pen an’ drew his name; what was his name?
c) Once as I was crossing the Montego Bay bridge, I met a Montegonian fellow. He took off his hat an’ drew off his glove; guess me his name; I’ve mentioned it in this riddle.
—The dog’s name is Ben.
a) “Good morning, Mr. Ben; ben meke a meet. I come to borrow yo’ dog go hunting. I don’ know his name.” “Take him an’ call him; his name is twice mention as this riddle begun.”
208. Megs, Pegs an’ Margaret is my true lover; but it’s neither Megs, Pegs nor Margaret.
—Anne is my lover.
209. Trick, track and trawndy,
Which was Trawndy Grawnby?
—Witch.
210. There are 4000 people to draw in one carriage; how can they do that?
—Mr. & Mrs. Thousand and their two children.
211. Mr. Lets was walking and Mr. Lets was riding and Mr. Lets was walking again. Can you tell me who the gentlemen were?
—Horse, master and dog, all named ’Lets’.
212. My father has a long bench in his house, an’ to guess me how many people sit on that bench.
—One man named ‘More’. (The trick is, at each guess to say More.)
213. Bees bite honey, honey run.
—A horse named Honey.
214. Twelve pear hanging high,
Twelve men passing by;
Each pick a pear,
—Eleven; the man’s name is Each.
215. A man without eyes
Went out to view the skies;
He saw a tree with apples on,
—A one-eyed man; two apples on the tree.
—Only one—I.
217. A duck before a duck, a duck after a duck, a duck in the midst of two ducks. How many ducks was going along?
—Three.
—None; the rest fly away.
—Each takes one; the parson’s daughter is the doctor’s wife.
220. Run, Ricky, run; run up the Ahe river, run; run with a long trail, run up the Ahe river, run; run, Ricky, run? How many r’s in that?
—No r’s in ‘that’.
—Thirty-six.
222. I hire laborers for a shilling a day; I get twelve laborers. I give a man two pence, a woman ha’ penny, a pickney one farthing. How many of each do I hire?
—Five men, one woman, six pickney.
223. My father gave me a horse to go sell for ten pounds and to eat my breakfast out of the money and bring home the same ten pounds. How could I do that?
—Take the shoes off the horse and sell them separately.
224. In a rainy season the Cabrietta overflows a path where a poor coolie-man and his family had to cross. He then made a dray for conveying them to and from their work. Dray cannot carry more than 150 lbs. at a time. Coolie-man weighs 150 lbs., wife 150 lbs. and two sons together 150 lbs. How must they get over.
a) The same story with a fox, goose and bag of corn.
225. My fader got six sheep. He send his son to de pen. ‘My son, go an’ count me six sheep, but you musn’ count me “one, two, t’ree, four, five, six”. You musn’t count “four an’ two, six”. You musn’t count “t’ree an’ t’ree, six”. You musn’ count “five an’ one, six”, but count me my six sheep!
—Dis, dat, de other, De ewe, de ram, de wether.
—You must come riding a cow, between day and night; and when you come, stand on the threshold, neither in nor out.
227. Under the earth I stand,
Silver and gold was my tread.
I rode a t’ing that never was born,
a) On green grass I stand
On gravel I stand,
I ride a colt that was never in foal,
And I beat up the mother old dum-skin in me hand.
b) Under de eart’ I go,
Plant trash I stan’;
I ride a t’ing that never was born
Wid an ole be damn in me han’.
228. Little Miss Netticoat with her white petticoat,
She has neither feet nor hands;
—Candle.
a) Miss Nancy sits around de door;
The longer him stan’ deh, de shorter him grow.
229. Hoddie Doddie with a round black body
—Cooking-pot.
230. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;
And all the king’s horses and all the king’s men
—Egg.
231. Round as a marble, deep as a cup;
—Sink-hole.
232. Handsome protector dressed in green,
—Parrot.
233. Under gravel, top o’ gravel;
Tell the devil I’ll travel.
—Water.
234. Tires a horse, worries a man;
—Saddle.
235. Hitchity, hitchity on the king’s kitchen door;
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
—Sunshine.
236. Flour from England, fruits from Spain,
All met together in a shower of rain;
Had on a napkin tied with a string,—
If you tell me this riddle, I’ll give you a ring.
—Duckanoo (pudding boiled in a cloth).
237. I was going through a field of wheat,
I picked up something nice to eat;
It was neither feather, flesh nor bone,
—Egg.
238. In a garden was laden a beautiful maiden
As ever was seen in the morn.
She was made a wife the first day of her life,
—Eve.
239. There was a man of Adam’s race,
He had a certain dwelling-place;
He wasn’t in earth, heaven or hell,—
—Jonah in the whale’s belly.
240. Formed long ago, yet made to-day,
Employed while others sleep;
What few would like to give away,
—Bed.
241. Legs have I but seldom walk,
I backbite all, but never speak.
—Flea.
242. There was a man of Adam’s race
Who had no legs, no body but waist.
—Ring.
243. When first I appear I seem mysterious,
But when I am explained I am nothing serious.
—Riddle.
244. A curtain drawn as fine as silk,
A marble stone as white as milk;
A thief appear and break them all,
—Egg.
245. I came from beyond the ocean,
I drink water out of the sea,
I lighten a many a nation,
And give myself to thee.
—Sun.
246. My first is a circle, my second a cross;
—O-X.
—T-O-B-A-C-C-O.
248. Five letters in an invitation spell my name,
Backward and forward it answer the same;
Take away the first letter and the first of humanity race,
Take away the second and the thing that make the water-wheel turn.
Take away the third, and the first of the alphabetical verb.
—Madam, Adam, dam, am.
—Seven, even, Eve.
—Plague, ague.
251. A word of one syllable which, when two is taken off, ten remain.
—Often, ten.
252. Give me ‘black water’ in three letters.
—I-n-k.
253. Spell me a broken wall in three letters.
—G-a-p.
—Letter M.
—Our equal.
—A bald head.
—Moon.
258. What is that which Christ had not, Napoleon had, Kaiser has and no woman ever has?
—A wife.
259. What is it that is too much for one, enough for two, and nothing at all for three?
—A secret.
260. The river is bank to bank; how will you get over?
—By bridge.
261. Suppose all the tree was one tree and all the man was one man and all the axes one ax; and suppose the one ax fell the one tree and the one tree kill the one man, who would leave to tell the tale?
—Women.
—Nothing.
263. There was a woman born, live an’ die; never go to corruption, never see God face.
—Lot’s wife.
—Baptism.
265. What is the cleanest thing in a dirty woman’s house?
—Egg.
266. What is the bes’ furniture for a man’s house?
—The daughter.
267. Why do a tailor and a plantain resemble?
—One cuts to fit, the other is fit to cut.
268. Why do a well-dressed lady and a chair resemble?
—Because they both use pins.
269. Why does a judge and a mile-post resemble?
—One justifies the mile and the other the law.
270. What makes the devil and a shoemaker resemble?
—The devil seek after a sinner’s soul and the shoemaker after a boot sole.
271. Mr. Bigger has a baby; out of Mr. Bigger and his baby which is the bigger?
—Baby is a little Bigger.
272. If an elephant’s four feet cover four acres of land, what will his tail cover?
—The skin.
273. What money in the world is the hardest money to change?
—Matrimony.
274. A reason why a moth-eaten coat is like a bible?
—Both of them is holy (holey).