RIDDLES FOR VERY LITTLE FOLK.
Reading edition
Ever so many days ago, away back in June before any of the hot days came, St. Nicholas gave the Very Little Folk some riddles to guess. And now here are some more. These riddles, like the others, have little pictures, and if you look well at the pictures, you can guess the riddles. But nobody more than seven years old must try to guess them.
First of all is a riddle about Little Tommy Tinderpeg. You must have seen him often. He makes a bright light when he burns his shoe.
Little Tommy Tinderpeg Burnt his shoe and blacked his leg.
And now here is a riddle about another queer fellow, “Black-a-middle Dick.” He is longer and stronger than Tommy Tinderpeg. And he leaves a black track behind him when he travels. You can guess who he is. Many little boys and girls know him very well, and have helped him to travel.
Black-a-middle Dick though he never can stand, He’ll travel all day if you give him a hand.
Next comes a good riddle about a dozen bold riders. Have you never seen the funny little fellows all riding one nag? When the wind blows, it is not easy for them to keep their places, and if it blows very hard, some of the little riders may fall off. But most of them ride well and hold on tight.
A dozen bold riders, Astride of one nag; No clothes on their bodies, Not even a rag. They ride without bridles Or stirrups or spurs, And stick to their saddles Like so many burrs.
Here, last of all, is another Tommy. He is not at all like Tommy Tinderpeg. He has a round, pretty face, and he talks fast and keeps saying the same thing over and over, all the time. You like to look at him, and to hold him up to your ear to hear what he says. You can guess who Tommy Locket is, just by his name. So this is the easiest riddle of all.
About Tommy Locket I’ll give you a rhyme He rode in my pocket and always kept time.