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Few
children think they will ever
tire of playing games; but all
the same, towards the end of
a long evening, spent merrily
in dancing and playing, the
little ones begin to get too
weary to play any longer, and
it is very difficult to keep
them amused.
Then
comes the time for riddles!
The children may sit quietly
around the room, resting after
their romps and laughter, and
yet be kept thoroughly interested,
trying to guess riddles.
It is,
however, very difficult to remember
a number of good and laughable
ones, so we will give a list
of some, which will be quite
sufficient to puzzle a roomful
of little folks for several
hours.
Enjoy
These Halloween Riddles
Why
are weary people like carriage-wheels?--Answer:
Because they are tired.
An old
woman in a red cloak was passing
a field in which a goat was
feeding. What strange transformation
suddenly took place?--Answer:
The goat turned to butter (butt
her), and the woman into a scarlet
runner.
Why
does a duck go into the water?--Answer:
For divers reasons.
Spell
"blind pig" in two
letters? P G; a pig without
an I.
Which
bird can lift the heaviest weights?--The
crane.
Why
is a wise man like a pin?--He
has a head and comes to a point.
Why
may carpenters reasonably believe
there is no such thing as stone?--Because
they never saw it.
What
is that which is put on the
table and cut, but never eaten?--A
pack of cards.
Why
does a sculptor die horribly?--Because
he makes faces and busts.
When
does a farmer double up a sheep
without hurting it?--When he
folds it.
What
lives upon its own substance
and dies when it has devoured
itself?--A candle.
Why
is a dog biting his tail a good
manager?--Because he makes both
ends meet.
What
thing is it that is lower with
a head than without one?--A
pillow.
Which
is the left side of a plum-pudding?--That
which is not eaten.
What
letter of the alphabet is necessary
to make a shoe?--The last.
Why
is it certain that "Uncle
Tom's Cabin" was not written
by the hand of its reputed author?--Because
it was written by Mrs. Beecher's
toe (Stowe).
If all
the seas were dried up, what
would everybody say?--We haven't
a notion (an ocean).
Why
is a fishmonger never generous?--Because
his business makes him sell
fish (selfish).
What
is that which works when it
plays and plays when it works?--A
fountain.
What
is that from which you may take
away the whole and yet there
will be some remaining?--The
word wholesome.
Why
are fowls the most economical
things a farmer can keep?--Because
for every grain they give a
peck.
What
coin doubles its value by taking
away a half of it?--Halfpenny.
Why
is it dangerous to walk in the
meadows in springtime?--Because
the trees are shooting and the
bulrush is out (bull rushes
out).
Why
is a vine like a soldier?--Because
it is listed and has ten drills
(ten-drils) and shoots.
Why
is an opera-singer like a confectioner?--Because
she deals in ice- creams (high
screams).
If a
man who is carrying a dozen
glass lamps drops one, what
does he become?--A lamp lighter.
What
belongs to yourself, but is
used more by your friends than
by yourself?--Your name.
Why
is a spider a good correspondent?--Because
he drops a line at every post.
When
is the clock on the stairs dangerous?--When
it runs down.
Why
is the letter "k"
like a pig's tail?--Because
it comes at the end of pork.
What
is the keynote to good manners?--B
natural.
Why
is a five-pound bank-note much
more profitable than five sovereigns?--Because
when you put it in your pocket
you double it, and when you
take it out you will find it
increases.
Why
is a watch like a river?--Because
it doesn't run long without
winding.
What
is that which flies high, flies
low, has no feet, and yet wears
shoes?--Dust.
When
has a man four hands?--When
he doubles his fists.
What
trees has fire no effect upon?--Ashtrees;
because when they are burned,
they are ashes still.
What
is the difference between a
schoolmaster and an engine-driver?--One
minds the train and the other
trains the mind.
A man
had twenty sick (six) sheep,
and one died; how many were
left?--19.
What
is that which everybody has
seen but will never see again?--Yesterday.
Which
is the best day for making a
pancake?--Friday.
Which
is the smallest bridge in the
world?--The bridge of your nose.
What
four letters would frighten
a thief?--O I C U.
What
is that which goes from London
to York without moving?--The
road.
Which
is easier to spell--fiddle-de-dee
or fiddle-de-dum?--Fiddle-de-dee,
because it is spelt with more
"e's."
When
may a chair be said to dislike
you?--When it can't bear you.
What
animal took most luggage into
the Ark, and which two took
the least?--The elephant, who
took his trunk, while the fox
and the cock had only a brush
and a comb between them.
Which
of the English kings has most
reason to complain of his washer-woman?--King
John, when he lost his baggage
in the Wash.
If a
bear were to go into a linen-draper's
shop, what would he want?--He
would want muzzlin'.
Why
is B like a hot fire?--Because
it makes oil Boil.
If an
egg were found on a music-stool,
what poem would it remind you
of?--"The Lay of the Last
Minstrel."
Why
is a schoolmaster like a shoe-black?--Because
he polishes the understanding
of the people.
Why
was the first day of Adam's
life the longest?--Because it
had no Eve.
Why
is a washerwoman like a navigator?--Because
she spreads her sheets, crosses
the line, and goes from pole
to pole.
Why
is an author the queerest animal
in the world? --Because his
tale comes out of his head.
Why
is it that a tailor won't attend
to business?--Because he is
always cutting out.
When
can a horse be sea-green in
color?--When it's a bay.
Why
were gloves never meant to sell?--Because
they were made to be kept on
hand.
When
are we all artists?--When we
draw a long face.
Why
are watch-dogs bigger by night
than by day?--Because they are
let out at night and taken in
in the morning.
When
is a tradesman always above
his business?--When he lives
over his shop.
Which
is the liveliest city in the
world?--Berlin; because it's
always on the Spree.
Why
is a water-lily like a whale?--Because
they both come to the surface
to blow.
Why
is a shoemaker the most industrious
of men?--Because he works to
the last.
What
is book-keeping?--Forgetting
to return borrowed volumes.
Why
is scooping out a turnip a noisy
process?--Because it makes it
hollow.
Why
are teeth like verbs?--Because
they are regular, irregular,
and defective.
What
ships hardly ever sail out of
sight?--Hardships.
When
is an artist a dangerous person?--When
his designs are bad.
Why
are tortoiseshell-combs like
citadels?--They are for-tresses.
Why
is the Isthmus of Suez like
the first "u" in cucumber?--Because
it is between two "c's"
(seas).
What
motive led to the invention
of railroads?--The locomotive.
Why
are deaf people like Dutch cheeses?--Because
you can't make them here.
When
is the best time to get a fresh
egg at sea?--When the ship lays
to.
Who
was the first whistler?--The
wind.
What
tune did he whistle?--Over the
hills and far away.
Why
need a traveler never starve
in the desert?--Because of the
sand which is (sandwiches) there.
Why
is sympathy like blindman's
buff?--Because it is a fellow
feeling for a fellow creature.
If a
Frenchman were to fall into
a tub of tallow, in what word
would he express his situation?--In-de-fat-i-gabble.
(Indefatigable.)
Why
is a diner on board a steam-boat
like Easter Day? --Because it
is a movable feast.
Why
is a little man like a good
book?--Because he is often looked
over.
Why
is a pig in a parlor like a
house on fire?--Because the
sooner it is put out the better.
What
is the difference between a
soldier and a bombshell?--One
goes to war, the other goes
to pieces.
Why
is it dangerous to sleep in
a train?--Because every train
runs over all the sleepers on
the line.
Spell
"enemy" in three letters?--F
O E.
Which
is the only way that a leopard
can change his spots?--By going
from one spot to another.
Why
did Eve never fear the measles?--Because
she'd Adam.
When
is a tall man a little short?--When
he hasn't got quite enough cash.
What
houses are the easiest to break
into?--The houses of bald people;
because their locks are few.
Why
is a watch the most difficult
thing to steal?--Because it
must be taken off its guard.
Why
is there never anybody at home
in a convent?--Because it is
an (n)uninhabited place.
Why
does a person who is not good-looking
make a better carpenter than
one who is?--Because he is a
deal plainer.
What
plant stands for No. 4?--IV.
What
is the best tree for preserving
order?--The birch.
Why
is shoemaking the easiest of
trades?--Because the boots are
always soled before they are
made.
How
can a gardener become thrifty?--By
making the most of his thyme,
and by always putting some celery
in the bank.
Why
is it probable that beer was
made in the Ark?--Because the
kangaroo went in with hops,
and the bear was always bruin.
"What
was the biggest thing you saw
at the World's Fair?" asked
a wife of her husband.--"My
hotel bill!" said he.
Why
is C like a schoolmistress?--Because
it forms lasses into classes.
What
is that which never asks any
questions and yet requires many
answers?--The street-door.
If a
man bumped his head against
the top of a room, what article
of stationery would he be supplied
with?--Ceiling whacks. (Sealing-wax.)
Which
is the longest word in the English
language?--Smiles; because there
is a mile between the first
and last letters.
Which
is the oldest tree in England?--The
Elder Tree.
What
is that which happens twice
in a moment and not once in
a thousand years?--The letter
M.
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