50 PilDDLES. 



Mr John Corrie, member of this Society, has collected a num- 

 ber of Folk Riddles, from the parish of Glencairn (vide Transactions, 

 1891-92). It struck me that I might supplement that paper with 

 examples of a few more current in Tynron, but 1 fear destined 

 soon to become unknown. I shall also g'ive examples of other 

 rhymes, but take the Folk Riddles first. 



What is it that you have, and I have not, and I use it more 

 than you do ? Ans., Your name. 



What goes through the wood and through the wood and 

 never touches the bushes ? Ans., A sound. 



What goes through the wood and leaves a bat on every bush ? 



Ans., Snow. 



As white as snaw, but snaw it's not ; 

 As red as blood, but blood it's not ; 

 As black as ink, but ink it's not ; 



Ans., A bramble, whose blossoms are white, and its fruit first red 

 and then black. It equally well suits the gean. or wild cherry. 



Through the wood and through the wood. 



And through the wood it ran, 

 And though it is a wee thing 



It could kill a big man. 



Ans., A bullet, which runs through the wooden tube of the gun. 



I have a little sister, they call her Peep Peep, 

 Over the waters deep, deep, deep, 

 Over the mountains high, liigh, high, 

 And the poor little creature has just one eye. 

 Ans., A star. 



What is it that God never saw, kings seldom see, and you and 

 I see it every day ? Ans., Your equal. 



What goes up the water and up the water and never comes 

 to the head of it ? Ans., A mill-wheel. 



There was a man who saw a pear tree, and pears on the tree. 

 He stretched out his hand and plucked, but he neither took pear.s 

 nor left pears on the tree. This is a verbal quibble. The explani- 

 tion is that he took one pear and left one. 



Here is a riddle we have upon a beetle, or, as the children 

 call it. a " clock." The description is quaint and graphic. 



