Part 10

1. My first is in saddle, but not in pony; My second is in spaghetti, but not macaroni; My third is in water, but not in sand; My fourth is in Indian, but not in command; My fifth is in plank, but not in board; My sixth is in saving, but not in hoard; My seventh is in make, but not in lose; My eighth is in gaiters, but not in shoes; My ninth is in candle, but not in light; My tenth is in horses, but not in bite; My eleventh is in inch, but not in measure; My twelfth is in satin, but not in treasure; My thirteenth is in coke, but not in ton. My whole is a useful invention.

2. My first is in silent, but not in loud; My second is in alone, but not in crowd; My third is in example, but not in talk; My fourth is in buying, but not in bought; My fifth is in fancy, but not in reality; My sixth is in brains, but not in vanity; My seventh is in angels, but not in ghosts; My eighth is in goodness, but not in hoax; My ninth is in religion, but not in cant. My whole is the name of a useful plant.

3. My first is in lamb, but not in beef; My second is in mouth, but not in teeth; My third is in Neptune, but not in sea; My fourth is in steward, but not in me; My fifth is in slow, but not in fast; My sixth is in never, but not in last. My whole is a great city.

4. In house not in lawn, In take not in form, In lark not in sky, In toil not in try, In borrow not in lend, In tatters not in mend, In draught not in buy, In loaf not in pie, In page not in book, In novel not in took. My whole is a flower.

NUMERICAL ENIGMAS.

1. I am composed of five letters. My 3, 2, 5, shows hindrance. My 4, 1, a part of speech. My whole is a Spartan title.

2. I am composed of twenty-seven letters. My 20, 16, 17, is a condition of atmosphere. My 14, 13, 26, 18, was a rich woman. My 1, 9, 25, 11, 10, is indicative of knowledge. My 6, 23, 24, 22, relative to curvature. My 8, 3, 4, 12, shows docility. My 19, 15, 7, 21, is a girl’s name. My 2, 27,—5, Insert a letter in the blank space and you’ll have the end. My whole is a proverb.

3. I am composed of nine letters. My 4, 2, 6, 5, is a space. My 3, 8, 1, is a quick inclination. My 7, 9, with one of the letters doubled indicates comfort. My whole is a flower.

4. I am composed of eight letters. My 7, 4, 5, 3, is a kind of skin. My 6, 2, 8, represents a number. My 1 is a part of speech. My whole is an animal.

DECAPITATIONS.

1. Behead a stream of water, and leave a bird like a crow, behead a carpenter’s tool and leave a passage, behead a section of a carriage and leave the hind part of a section of the body, behead an edible fish and leave a multitude.

2. Behead a supplication and leave light, behead a short time and leave a hide, behead a covering and leave relations, behead a relative and leave something different.

3. Behead a wading bird and leave a wooer, behead to charge and leave one that is unsound, behead a dance and leave a fish, behead an officer and leave a verb.

4. Behead a weapon of war and leave a fruit, behead an ensign and leave a unit, behead a low, flat-built vessel, and leave a narrow passage, behead a ruminating animal and leave a plant and its seed.

DROP-LETTER RIDDLES.

1. -h- w-s -u-h -u-e -o -o-z? 2. -h- w-l-e- o- e-r-h, -h- t-l-e- o- e-r-h, -h- r-b-k-d - m-n -o- s-n; -h-’s -o- o- e-r-h, -h-’s -o- i- h-a-e-, -o- l-k-l- t- g-t -n. 3. -h- d-d -d-m -i-e -h- a-p-e -v- g-v- h-m? 4. -h-t -i- a-a- f-r-t -e- i- t-e -a-d-n -f -d-n? 5. -h- a-e -d-m -n- e-e -n -n-m-l- i- g-a-m-r? 6. -o- d-d -o-h -r-s- h-s -a-r -n -h- a-k?

DROP-LETTER PUZZLES.

1. M-K- H-Y -H-L- T-E -U- S-I-E-. 2. -a-l- -o -e- -n- -a-l- -o -i-e, -a-e- -e- -e-l-h-, -e-l-h-, -n- -i-e. 3. -o -o -h- -n- -ho- -luggar-, -onside- -e- -ay- -n- -e -is-. 4. -i-t-e -l-n- i- h-p-i-e-s -e-o-.

OPENING LINES OF FAMILIAR SONG.

1. Ho odtn’ uyo eeerrmmb twese eclai ebblton, Etswe claei ihwt iahr os rnbwo; Esh pwte tiwh gdtheil hwne uoy aevg ehr a eimls Dan lteredmb hiwt aefr ta uyro wrfno.

2. Hte peehtnla own esog urdon, Eht dnba gsiben ot aypl, Teh ybso aer daunor hte ykmeno gcea, U’oyd treebt ekpe ywaa.

3. I aeddr eht yad u’yllo gftore em grreeiamtu Nda lilst i okwn ti oosn lwli ecmo, Het iteesvf aecdn, eht ihcr teh yga, Os fetfrdnei rmof rou emho umeegairrt.

ANSWERS TO CHARADES, ANAGRAMS, ETC.

_Charades._

1. Eyelash. 2. Independent. 3. Teapot. 4. Level.

_Anagrams._

1. Conversion. 2. Magnanimity. 3. Surgeon. 4. Termination. 5. Pragmatical. 6. Madrigal. 7. Demonstratively. 8. Dangerous. 9. Annoyance. 10. Phantasmagoria.

_Cross-word Enigmas._

1. Sewing-machine. 2. Saxifrage. 3. London. 4. Heliotrope.

_Numerical Enigmas._

1. Helot. 2. A soft answer turneth away wrath. 3. Dandelion. 4. Antelope.

_Decapitations._

1. Brook, rook; 2, plane, lane; 3, wheel, heel, trout, rout. 2. Pray, ray; 2, spell, pell; 3, skin, kin; 4, mother, other. 3. 1, plover, lover; 2, blame, lame; 3, reel, eel; 4, mate, ate. 4. 1. Spear, pear. 2. Mace, ace. 3. Galley, alley. 4. Goats, oats.

_Drop Letter Riddles._

1. Why was Ruth rude to Boaz? Because she trod on his corns, and pulled his ears. 2. She walked on earth, She talked on earth, She rebuked a man for sin; She’s not on earth, She’s not in heaven, Nor likely to get in. Balaam’s Ass.

3. Why did Adam bite the apple Eve gave him? Because he had no knife.

4. What did Adam first set in the Garden of Eden? His foot.

5. Why are Adam and Eve an anomaly in grammar? Because they are two relatives without an antecedent.

6. How did Noah dress his hair in the Ark? With the fox’s brush and the cock’s comb.

_Drop Letter Puzzles._

1. Make hay while the sun shines. 2. Early to bed and early to rise, makes men healthy, wealthy, and wise. 3. Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise. 4. Virtue alone is happiness below.

_The Opening Lines of Familiar Songs._

1. “Oh! don’t you remember sweet Alice, Ben Bolt, Sweet Alice, with hair so brown; She wept with delight when you gave her a smile, And trembled with fear at your frown.”

2. “The elephant now goes round, The band begins to play, The boys are around the monkey cage, You’d better keep away.”

3. “I dread the day you’ll forget me, Marguerite, And still I know it soon will come. The festive dance, the rich, the gay, So different from our home, Marguerite.”

_Forfeits._

The exacting of forfeits for tardiness or failure in the playing of games will usually lead to as much amusement as the games themselves.

Those who subject themselves to forfeiture may give a trivial article just as satisfactorily as an expensive one, or they may simply write their names on a slip of paper, and hand that to the person in charge. Each player is bound to redeem his name.

At the conclusion of the game the host, or any individual he may appoint (provided that person has no forfeits), collects all and puts them out of sight of the audience, and commencing with the one at his right, he takes the players in turn.

That party now sits down and the one in charge holding over his head one of the trinkets or whatever the object may be, says: “What a jolly thing! What a smart, pretty thing! What will the owner do?”

The party in the chair inquires, “Does it belong to a lady, or to a gentleman?” He is at once answered correctly and then responds by advising a difficult or ridiculous performance. The individual who owns the forfeit must now perform what has been advised. As soon as the party has redeemed his pledge, another forfeit is redeemed after the same method, and so on, one by one, until all articles are returned to their owners. Each forfeit is naturally redeemed amid peals of laughter.

The following may prove helpful to those who have to declare penalties.

1. Fold a piece of note-paper in the shape of a fish.

2. Say, Quizzical Quiz, sister Smith, five times running without drawing a breath.

3. Count twenty backwards without smiling.

4. Mention five synonyms for the word, Jabber.

(Chatter, gabble, mumble, prate, prattle.)

5. Repeat three times without a mistake:—

David Daldron dreamed he drove a dragon, Did David Daldron dream he drove a dragon? If David Daldron dreamed he drove a dragon, Where’s the dragon David Daldron dreamed he drove?

6. Repeat the following lines twice,

Oliver Ogilvie ogled an olive and oyster, Did Oliver Ogilvie ogle an olive and oyster? If Oliver Ogilvie ogled an olive and oyster Where is the olive and oyster Oliver Ogilvie ogled?

7. Touch the features while you solemnly recite,

Here sits the Lord Mayor, forehead. Here sit his two men, eyes. Here sits the cock, right cheek. Here sits the hen, left cheek. Here sits the little chickens, tip of nose. Here they run in, the mouth. Chinchopper, chinchopper, chinchopper, chin! Chuck the chin.

8. Repeat the alphabet similar to example.

A was an archer, and shot at a frog, B was a butcher, and had a great dog. C was a captain, all covered with lace, D was a dunce with a very sad face. E was an esquire, with pride on his brow, F was a farmer and followed the plow. G was a gamester who had but ill luck, H was a hunter and hunted a buck. I was an innkeeper, who lov’d to house, J was a joiner, and built up a house. K was a king, so mighty and grand, L was a lady who had a white hand. M was a miser who hoarded up gold, N was a nobleman, gallant and bold. O was an oysterman, and went about town, P was a parson, and wore a black gown. Q was a quack with a wonderful pill, R was a robber, who wanted to kill. S was a sailor, and spent all he got, T was a tinker, and mended a pot. U was a usurer, a miserable elf, V was a vintner, who drank all himself. W was a watchman and guarded the door, X was expensive, and so became poor. Y was a youth, that did not love school, Z was a Zan, a poor, harmless fool.

9. Sing to the tune of “Oats, Pease, Beans and Barley grows.”

Tom he was a piper’s son, He learned to play when he was young; But all the tune that he could play, Was “Over the hills and far away.” Now Tom with his pipe made such a noise, That he pleased both the girls and the boys, And they all stopped to hear him play Over the hills and far away. Tom with his pipe did play with such skill, That those who heard him could never stand still; Whenever they heard him they began to dance, Even pigs on their hind legs would after him prance. He met old Dame Trot with a basket of eggs, He used his pipe and she used her legs; She danced about till the eggs were all broke, She began to fret, but he laughed at the joke. He saw a cross fellow was beating an ass, Heavy laden with pots, pans, dishes and glass; He took out his pipe and played them a tune, And the jackass’s load was lightened full soon.

10. Blow out a candle.

The candle is rapidly flashed before the person to blow it out. If passed to and fro quick enough, it will afford much laughter before it is blown out.

11. Stand on a chair and do just as you are bidden without laughing.

12. Put a cord on the floor where you cannot step over it.

(Put it against the wall.)

13. Put two chairs back to back and take off your shoes and jump over them.

This is only a trick, you take off your shoes and jump over _them_, not over the chairs.

14. Act the part of a dumb servant. If it is a lady who is redeeming the forfeit, she must apply to a gentleman for a place, and if a gentleman, he applies to a lady. Whoever is engaging the servant asks seven questions, all of which are answered by dumb motions. Example: How do you dust? How do you sew? How do you open the hall door? How do you blacken boots? etc.

15. Ask a question that cannot be answered in the negative.

(The question is “What does Y E S spell?”)

16. Give a conundrum unfamiliar to all.

17. Dot and carry one.

(Hold your ankle while you walk across the room.)

18. Imitate a banjo player.

19. Dance a blind lanciers.

(Try this when a number of forfeits have to be redeemed. Eight people are blindfolded and led to position. Another of the company plays the lanciers. As those who are blindfolded will surely make ridiculous errors, everybody will heartily laugh. This forfeit creates much merriment.)

20. Make a three-minute address, in which every word commences with the same letter.

21. Tell who wrote the Star Spangled Banner.

(Francis Scott Key.)

22. Tell who wrote Home Sweet Home.

(John Howard Payne.)

23. Tell who wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

(Julia Ward Howe.)

24. Walk out of the room with two legs but walk back with six.

(When you return, bring a chair with you.)

25. Give numerical poetry.

Any verse that is familiar counting as example:

Shuffle-Shoon (one) and (two) Amber-Locks (three) Sit (four) together (five) building (six) blocks (seven) Shuffle-Shoon (eight) is (nine) old (ten) and (eleven) gray (twelve) Amber-Locks (thirteen) a (fourteen) little (fifteen) child (sixteen) But (seventeen) together (eighteen) at (nineteen) their (twenty) play (twenty-one) Age (twenty-two) and (twenty-three) youth (twenty-four) are (twenty-five) reconciled (twenty-six) And (twenty-seven) with (twenty-eight) sympathetic (twenty-nine) glee (thirty) Build (thirty-one) their (thirty-two) castles (thirty-three) fair (thirty-four) to (thirty-five) see (thirty-six).

26. Spread out a newspaper and stand two persons on it, so that they cannot possibly touch each other.

(To accomplish this put the newspaper on the floor, half on one side of the door, and half on the other. A person stands on each piece, and the door is shut between them.)

27. Sing one of the topical songs.

28. Sing the scale backwards.

29. Draw a picture of a bicycle race.

30. Build a house with cards.

31. Sew a hem.

32. Repeat rapidly either of the following tongue twisters.

Susan shineth shoes and socks; socks and shoes shines Susan. She ceaseth shining shoes and socks, for shoes and socks shock Susan.

Strict, strong Stephen Stringer snared six sickly silky snakes.

Swan swam over the sea; swim, swan, swim; swan swam back again; well swum swan.

Six thick thistle sticks.

Flesh of freshly fried flying fish.

Give Grimes Jim’s great gilt gig whip.

IN THE ADIRONDACKS.

It was the last week of July, and the guests of a certain hotel, located amidst the pine and balsam of the famed Adirondack wilderness, were thrown into a flutter of excitement.

It had been steadily raining for three days and nights, and now that the fourth day was nearing its close a golden light appeared in the west. The mirror-like surface of the lake before the hotel rapidly revealed the many shades of crimson red and deep gold, while fleecy clouds of pink and white merged into deeper tints.

Every one was on the piazza, called there by an enthusiast to witness the beauty of it all. Every face smiled because the long storm was over at last, and there seemed a promise of radiant sunshine for to-morrow.

Suddenly a voice from the north piazza called to a young gentleman who had been walking about with a rather dissatisfied air, “I hear wheels. Now for the excitement of an arrival.”

It was only the waiting of a few moments, and two bay horses, much bespattered with mud and mire, drew the heavily built two-seated surrey to the hotel steps.

Guests stood about by twos and threes, most of them with half-averted faces, not willing to openly show the inquisitive feeling that each possessed. However, many furtive glances were cast. Perhaps among the most searching, were those given by the dissatisfied young man.

“Permit me, madam.” It was the proprietor’s voice, as he aided a tall, fair-skinned, stern and aristocratic-looking matron to alight, assisting her meanwhile to unfasten her travelling cloak, which had caught on a nail in the end of a seat. The lady slowly remarked, as her feet touched the horse block. “That nail has been rather too much in evidence.”

By the matron’s side a young lady had sat. This fact had been observed by all the guests, before they had turned their heads away, and now that she too had left the carriage, her golden hair and soft hazel eyes were mentally remarked, as also her graceful carriage and elegant tailor-made gown.

The proprietor, lifting one of the hand-satchels, leaving the umbrellas and other small luggage for the porter, led the way to the office.

Then they hastily entered, and a few minutes later walked through the dimly-lighted corridor, for it was not yet dark enough to illuminate.

“I reckon that girl has never been in the woods before,” said the dissatisfied man to his friend. For now, side by side, he and a young fellow about thirty strode slowly up and down, exchanging confidences and chatting in a desultory fashion.

“She does not seem to the manner born, that’s a fact,” said the other, “but she’s an interesting type, and probably an addition to our house party.” He turned an interested face towards his friend and said: “There’s far more the flavor of Narragansett Pier or Bar Harbor about her than of the woods, or she may have come from Saratoga. We’ll not have to wait long to see, or I’m not a correct judge, but her mother may prove a formidable chaperon.”

The mother and daughter, for their relationship was at once identified, some one having accommodatingly referred to the register, and reported information to the others, were not long in reappearing, and the young men, still walking back and forth, were not surprised to discover that their prediction was correct.

“Maud, dear, how shall you exist here?” were the half-petulant words overheard as the mother languidly seated herself.

“It will not be Saratoga, I confess. But isn’t that lake enchanting?” The girl’s face was very fair and bewitchingly amiable.

“Yes, it is pretty. But shall you ever forget our trip to this hotel? Such roads!”

Maud met her mother’s questioning eyes, then noting a middle-aged woman approaching them, with face full of kindly greeting, waited.

“You are strangers,” were this lady’s first words, adding as she reached forth her hand: “I fear you will feel lonely and tired, after the long drive.”

The mother at once extended her hand. Then the lady asked the girl, “Have you ever been in the woods before?”

“Never, and my mother fears I shall not like it. It did seem lonely, the last drive through the pines,” and the sensitive mouth quivered ever so slightly, as she explained. “The drive up was so long, the roads so thickly wooded, and here,” with a half-frightened glance about, as though she feared a fox or a bear would cross the walk before her, “you have only the lake.”

Without a word the lady laughed merrily, but hastily checked herself. “I promise you that if you will only join in our sports you will find that there is much here besides the lake. Though,” coyly scanning her, “the lake has its amusements, fishing, boating. Oh, the gentlemen here will be delighted to introduce you to it.”

Maud’s mother looked both surprised and confused. The lady continued, as though she noted her not. “You will find the camps about the lake quite as entertaining as Saratoga’s Floral Fête, or indeed any fashionable watering-place amusement.”

“Camps? I don’t quite understand,” Maud’s mother remarked, with a touch of bitterness in her tone, for the darkening wood about, now that night was coming fast, made her slow to relent. It was strange she had chosen to come to such a spot.

“I think one has to visit these camps to understand,” the lady explained. “But you will always find them hospitable, furnishing afternoon tea every day you care to call. And some days there are special _fêtes_, full of pleasant surprises, when amusements such as the thimble game and proverbs are played, at which prizes are sometimes offered as an added incentive. Last season the hostess of one of the camps gave a children’s party. There happened to be a few here that year, for children are a rarity in the Adirondacks. Of course their parents, uncles, aunts and cousins came, too. That entertainment has been talked about ever since. The party opened with the wild flower hunt. Small bouquets had been hidden among the balsam boughs, low enough for the little ones to reach; others were behind bushes or rocks. These bouquets were made up of clover, daisies and wild roses. Whichever child found the most wild roses received a prize.

“This amusement was followed by the hunt for Cinderella’s Slipper. The successful one at this game also received a prize. After this, the hostess invited all the children into the balsam-covered lean-to, and told them a story about the old man of Humbug Mountain. Humbug Mountain towers just behind, you notice the tallest mountain over there, don’t you?” and the lady motioned to the left, as they faced the lake.

“Yes, but what has reddened the trees so? Why, mother, did you ever see anything as beautiful?” and while pronouncing the word “beautiful,” Maud’s countenance was full of delight.

“That is the afterglow,” the lady replied, but not waiting for further remark, she continued: “I was telling you about the old man of Humbug Mountain. The hostess explained to the children that sometimes he visited her camp, and when he did so he whistled, and that if he should whistle that afternoon, she would take the children back of the lean-to to see him. At that very moment a whistle clear and shrill was heard, and the children, already enamoured with the story, could scarcely be sufficiently restrained to allow the hostess to proceed. When the laughing, curious children ran behind the lean-to, sure enough, as had been promised, there was an old man. He was standing on a table. It was a dwarf skilfully arranged by two people.”

“Oh that was it?” Maud interrupted, for she had listened intently, and was apparently as eager to discover the identity of the old man of Humbug Mountain, as had been the children of the party, and then she added: “I happen to know about that, for I was part of a dwarf once,” and with a wise little shake of her head explained, “It is arranged by two people.”

“Yes, and is it not capital?”

“Fine, when it is well done,” and Maud who was already feeling at home with her companion, added: “And of course the dwarf from the mountain would be well done.”