He de WIT.-Three gentlemen meeting to sup at a hotel, one of them wished for partridges. A brace was accordingly brought, and set upon the table, which he accordingly began to carve. liberately took one of them upon his own plate, leaving the other one for his two friends. "Hold!" cried one of them; "that is not fair!" Perfectly fair, I think," said the gentleman; "there is one for you two, and here is one for me too." 66 To my Correspondents. ALMOST every person has some trouble, real or imaginary. I have seen a story of a philosopher who travelled over the world in search of a person who was perfectly happy. He visited the halls of the rich and the hovels of the poor, and everywhere found each individual afflicted with some rooted sorrow, care, or vexation. At last, as he was about giving up the search in despair, he fell in with a shepherd who seemed perfectly free from every evil. He had a pleasing wife, lovely children, a competent support, and good health. What could he desire beside ? Nothing-nothing," said the philosopher; but when he asked the shepherd if he was happy-" Alas! alas!" said the man; "I am far from it. There is a black sheep in my flock that is forever running off and leading the rest astray. While I am awake, that black sheep is the torment of my life; and when asleep, it disturbs my dreams!” It is said that Sir Walter Scott was talking on this subject, one day, with some gentlemen-he contending that no one was perfectly happy, and they maintaining the reverse-when a half-witted fellow, whom they knew, came up. It was agreed to settle the question by appealing to him. "Good day to ye, Sawney!" said Sir Walter. "Good day," said Sawney, in reply. "Well now, Sawney," said Sir Walter, "how does the world use you?” "Well-well, your honor." "Have ye plenty to eat?" "Yes." "And to drink?" "Yes." "Good clothes?" "Yes." "Then you have nothing to trouble you?" "No-nothing but the bubly Jock," (a cock-turkey.) "Ah, what of the bubly Jock?" "Oh, he is always running after me; night or day, asleep or awake, I can always see him-gobble, gobble!" "There!" said Sir Walter to the gentlemen; "the decision is in my favor. This poor simpleton, though he is provided with every comfort, is still beset by a tormentor. It matters not that it is invisible—that it exists only in his fancy-it is to him a real bubly Jock, and as truly disturbs his peace as if it were a thing of flesh, and strutted forth in feathers." And now I must tell of my troubles. Perhaps you will laugh—but one thing that frequently makes me very fidgety, is an itching in the great toe of my wooden leg! If you think this nonsense, just ask any old soldier who has lost a limb, and he will tell you, if it is a foot or a hand, that he has all the sensations of heat or cold in the fingers or toes of the absent member, just as distinctly as if it was in its place and as sound as ever. This is no joke-it is a reality that you can easily verify. Well, now, it seems to me that my lost foot is really where it used to be; and the worst of it is this, that, when it itches, I can't scratch it! It does no good to apply my fingers to the wooden stick, you know; this only reminds me of my misfortune, and brings on a fit of the blues. But there is one thing to be considered-there is medicine, if a person will seek it, for almost all diseases, whether real or fanciful; and, thanks to my young friends who write me letters, I find these very letters a pretty certain cure for the fidgets which I spoke of. When I sit down to read them, and find them full of kind and pleasant feelings, I readily forget the cares, the vexations— the dark weather of life, that beset even such a humble career as mine. So much for the introduction—and now to business. FRIEND MERRY: The following letter is very welcome. Can Harriet venture to tell us who the author of this capital riddle really is? Newport, March 28, 1842. In looking over, a few days since, some old papers belonging to my father, I found the following riddle. My father informs me that it was written many years ago, by a school-boy of his, then about fifteen years old, and who now occupies a prominent place in the literary and scientific world. If you think it will serve to amuse your many black-eyed and blue-eyed readers, you will, by giving it a place in the Museum, much oblige a blue-eyed subscriber to, and a constant reader of, your valuable and interesting Magazine. HARRIET. RIDDLE. Take a word that's much used,—'t is a masculine name, That backward or forward doth spell just the same; Then a verb used for dodging—a right it will claim That backward or forward it spells just the same; The form of an adjective, none can exclaim That backward or forward it spells not the same; Then a chief Turkish officer's title or name, That backward or forward doth spell just the same; The name of a liquor, its friends all will claim That backward or forward is still just the same; Then a word used for jest, or doth triumph proclaim, Though perhaps not so young as the generality of your admiring readers, I am confident that there can be none who are more delighted than myself with your works, and particu larly your Museum, which is now being published. Of course, I was the more pleased when I noticed the addition of a "puzzle column," of which I am decidedly fond. I have solved with correctness all the puzzles that have appeared in your Museum, with the exception of Puzzle No. 5 in the April number, which so far passes my comprehension, that, after repeated endeavors after its solution, I have flattered myself that it is a hoax; but if it is not, I must confess it is the hardest puzzle I have seen for some time. Are not the following correct answers to the April puzzles? No. 1, "Mother." No. 2, "Charles Dickens." No. 3, "Boston and Worcester Railroad." No. 4, "Prince de Joinville;" and Master Bare-Head's, "Massachusetts." I forward you an original puzzle, for which I do not profess any very extraordinary difficulty. I am a name of 23 letters. My 5th, 21st, 7th, 10th, 22d, is a Russian noble. My 17th, 18th, 20th, 20th, 12th, 2d, is a valuable metal. My 1st, 10th, 15th, 16th, is a legal writing. My 4th, 14th, 13th, 17th, 12th, is a pleasant amusement. My 11th, 3d, 8th, is seen whenever it is not invisible. My 2d, 12th, 21st, 4th, 12th, 2d, is what if all men were, the world would be happier. My 19th, 12th, 7th, 7th, 23d, 9th, 19th, 6th, 9th, 12th, 6th, 19th, is the title of a justly celebrated periodical. My 22d, 3d, 9th, 9th, 14th, 6th, is a street where my whole is found. If you think the above worthy a place, you can publish it. You may hear from me again soon. My sheet is full, so I have but to subscribe myself, Very respectfully, DEAR SIR: W. F. W. Saturday, April 8, 1842. I have taken the liberty to send you this puzzle, which I suppose almost any of your readers can unravel. I am a sentence of 11 letters. My 6th, 4th, 7th, and 8th, is a fruit. My 9th, 4th, 7th, and 1st, is a long stride. ther. My 3d, 7th, 6th, 10th, and 8th, is a small light. My 4th, 7th, 5th, and 9th, is a person of rank. My whole has written many interesting books. DEAR SIR: My little daughter has handed me the following puzzle to send to you for your next number, which please insert, and oblige A SUBSCRIBER. My 8th, 2d, 9th, 19th, 24th, 4th, was a celebrated English poet. My 3d, 26th, 14th, 16th, 27th, is one of the el ements. My 21st, 11th, 6th, 7th, 26th, 8th, exists only in imagination. My 14th, 9th, 10th, 5th, 19th, is a gaudy flower. My 4th, 11th, 20th, 13th, 17th, 16th, 26th, 9th, was a Swiss philosopher. My 19th, 1st, 5th, 22d, is various in form and expression. My 9th, 15th, 28th, 26th, 14th, is an article of extensive commerce. My 12th, 13th, 9th, 4th, 19th, 24th, 27th, was strikingly exemplified in My 4th, 7th, 8th, 1st, 26th, 4th, 6th, 14th, 1st, 16th, 14th, 15th, 5th, 4th, 6th. My 19th, 26th, 19th, 26th, 3d, is a foreign production. My 14th, 16th, 23d, 10th, was a famous archer. My 13th, 14th, 26th, 14th, 9th, 16th, is pale and motionless. My 24th, 26th, 25th, 18th, 23d, is much used in one of the polite arts. My 6th, 2d, 13th, 14th, 14th, 1st, 2d, 9th, 26th, 8th, 8th, 2d, 22d, 6th, asks your opinion of my whole. I am composed of 9 letters. My 4th, 8th, 6th, is the retreat of a wild beast. My 9th, 2d, 4th, is the name of the Creator. My 4th, 2d, 5th, is a female deer. My 6th, 8th, 4th, is a nickname for a boy. My 3d, 2d, 8th, is what cloth is made from. My 1st, 3d, 5th, is a scripture denunciation. My 7th, 5th, 9th, is a part of the human frame. My 9th, 2d, 9th, is a record kept by seamen. My 2d, 4th, 8th, is a piece of poetry. My 4th, 3d, 6th, is a Spanish title. My 4th, 2d, 9th, is a sagacious animal. My 9th, 8th, 7th, 6th, is a romantic spot. My 6th, 3d, 4th, is where Adam's first son went and dwelt. My 7th, 8th, 6th, 4th, is an act of friendship. My 4th, 3d, 1st, 6th, is an article of com merce. I am a name of 11 letters. My 10th, 11th, 8th, is a useful grain. My 3d, 4th, 8th, is an industrious insect. My 1st, 2d, 7th, 4th, is an ancient city. My 6th, 2d, 5th, 11th, is a name often given to a royalist in the Revolution. My 9th, 2d, 3d, 3d, 4th, 5th, is a bad man. My whole, Mr. Merry, you know better than I do. I offer my best thanks for the letters from the following friends: "One of your blue-eyed readers in New York;" A little subscriber in Canandaigua," whom I shall always be happy to hear from; E. D. H- -s, of Saugus; C. W., of Sandwich; L. Wof Millbury; C. A. S. and L. B. S., -e, and W. B. W- -e; and "A Subscriber." S. L.'s letter about the postage, dated Utica, April 22, was duly received. H. E. M. thinks that Puzzle No. 5, in the solution is NANTUCKET. We think it the April number, is either a hoax, or that is a little of both: that is, that our friend who sent it to us intended it for Nantucket; but about that time it was “all fools day," and the unlucky types of the printer seem to have made a very good puzzle, as sent to us, into "an April fool." |