Please see the [Transcriber’s Notes] at the end of this text.

THE
SANTA CLAUS’
BOOK OF
GAMES AND PUZZLES:

A

COLLECTION OF RIDDLES, CHARADES, ENIGMAS,
REBUSES, ANAGRAMS, LABYRINTHS,
ACROSTICS, Etc.

WITH A HIEROGLYPHIC PREFACE.

OVER ONE HUNDRED ILLUSTRATIONS.

NEW YORK:
JOHN H. TINGLEY, 152¹⁄₂ FULTON STREET.
1864.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by
JOHN H. TINGLEY,
In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York.

CONTENTS.

PREFACE.

The Enigma is of such ancient and

able origin, t

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the Scriptures, and

olden times of10 contained a

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The Enigma is of such ancient and

able origin, t

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2 the public. Enigmatical ?? R frequent

the Scriptures, and

olden times of10 contained a

deal of FvOaRlMuAaTbIlOeN.

I

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truly,
SANTA CLAUS.

PUZZLES, RIDDLES, ENIGMAS, &c.

PUZZLES.

[1]

Two thousand one hundred divided by two,
Will show what all monkeys will readily do.

[2]

M a pain negative quaker vessel with indefinite article N V you and me superior animal.

[3]

BB H1Y WINUUTER.

[4]

Exist merchandise of diminutive X instruments for writing es, a minute breach testament drain a large vessel.

[5]

IIAR BB U R 2 X & UR IDAA R 2 MT 2 MUU NE 1 U R 2 EPQREN 2 XSII UR NRGG O XQQS O X10U88 UR XSS 4 U O 2 B YYR.

[6]

OPM & BR FMNAC & TRR R UUULE NMEE 2 NRG & O 2 B SPCLE ODS 2 U DR LN.

[7]

O MLE B9 & FMN8 B4 U X10U8 NE XS C A YY DET.

[8]

Our to avow head ornament article of food is to a greater degree over and above vag insect than the article of dress a grain of 4 air.

[9]

A certain number call to mind,
And very curious ’tis, you’ll find;
For if of three it is bereft,
The self-same number will be left!

[10]

Young girls’ nickname eros O provisions rated out are nickname of Susan, fabled angel, small conjunction, one and one any O provision allotted, of other work oars O those who rate, things laid by a hen sneering speech.

[11]

If by nought you divide one hundred and ten,
You will have a fine animal, treasured of men.

[12]

Though but three letters I am named,
My first two make a word of four;
My third, split from a nation famed,
Will leave a dweller on its shore.

I’ve often wept o’er human guilt,
And yet I never shed a tear;
And though another’s blood I’ve spilt,
The law has never made me fear.

Though on the Arctic shores I dwell,
And far in China always stay,
’Tis true I toll the Moscow bell,
And yet you see me every day.

My brother is of Moorish birth,
And gladdens oft Sahara’s waste;
I rightly estimate his worth,
And find him pleasant to the taste.

We, both united, form, you see,
A mighty instrument of power;
We are a despot’s firm decree,
And cause republicans to cower.

[13]

A WORD OF FIVE LETTERS.

If you my first by two divide,
My fifth it will produce;
Which, if you will by ten divide,
My third you may peruse.
Again my third by five divide,
My second will appear;
My second then by one divide,
You’ll see my fourth quite clear;
My whole at once you’ll plainly see,
Which I advise you all to be.

[14]

We two, when together, incite division,
Yet either one of us preserves unity, and is ever present with every man.
Bound together, we are leaders of harmony,
Then, joining our heads, we lead armies.
When crossed, we assist in every exaltation.
Tied by the heels, we crown victory.

[15]

Ni reevy andl dan micle I yam eb dofun
Ni rai ni wreat sola redun dogrun,
Fo saurivo tross I ma, dan saviour shue,
Fo rivasou dinks fo wronb, dan sivorau slube,
M’i stimoseme clabk, ro yrag, dan mesetimos erd,
Lou’ly syrule dnif em otu morf thaw vi’e aids,
Noe throe thin ot dia ouy ni oury suges,
Wotthiu em tubs ’aye elfs weer laveluses.

[16]

What two words, of eight letters each, one an adjective, the other a verb, will exactly resolve themselves into each other?

[17]

Take five from five, and in its place put twice five hundred and fifty. What musical instrument will it name?

[18]

H I knees.

[19]

THE SILVER PUZZLE.

Lay a ten-cent piece upon the table-cloth, between two half-dollars, and place a tumbler upon the larger coins, The puzzle is to remove the ten-cent piece without displacing either of the half-dollars, or the glass. You are not allowed to touch the ten-cent piece, either with your hands or anything else, nor must you blow it away!

[20]

A RIDDLE WITHIN A RIDDLE.

Moce ye unigieson nose, hist dilerd suesg,
Ti si ton cufidlift, ouy liwl socfens;
Thaw si hatt burmen—hiwhc fi ouy ivdedi,
Ouy hent liwl hington veale no theire dies?

[21]

W fowl one testament negative,
twice one tin vessel negative quarrel.

[22]

TWO DISJOINTED PROVERBS.

[23]

THE DOG PUZZLE.

Add four lines to these apparently dead dogs, which shall give them the appearance of running away.

[24]

Find a word containing six letters, or less, and out of it produce all the parts of speech.

[25]

Find a word which contains the five vowels, each vowel being used but once.

[26]

I am a word of five letters. My first minus my fifth will leave my second; my fifth divided by my first will produce my fourth; and five times my first added to five times my fifth will make my third; my whole is funny.

[27]

I contain just five hundred and fifty,
And also one hundred and nought,
If the numbers are rightly disposed,
You’ll obtain just the number you sought;
You will find I’m a portion of earth,
Though perhaps on the map I’m not named,
Yet the deep-sounding sea gave me birth,
At my feet there’s a river far-famed.

[28]

[29]

One thousand five hundred divided by one,
Will express what a lamp is, compared with the sun.

[30]

First make a full circle, then turn to the right,
And a monarch of old will appear in sight.

[31]

Ey recvel wingkon nose, dare em gathir,
Dan grinb ym bustle namegin tino thilg,
Wi’llt eden mose catineep, seepcraveren, catt,
Ot est ym coldisatosin: sha’tt a caft.

[32]

Out of what two words (comprising ten letters in all) can you get the eight personal pronouns?

[33]

SHAKSPERIAN PUZZLE.

You will observe that the D is not quite perfect. There is a little notch in it. The answer is found in Hamlet.

[34]

OLD ENGLISH EPITAPH.

S To pread E. R. he reand D. E. ignt,
O LOO KONO
new it H. out anam E. Ne’e rent
ER Din theam plebo
O K
Off or tune or off AME.

[35]

N always place not on money-drawer a future day w an article of dress tin cup insect d ¹⁄₂ of 2 present time.

[36]

Get a piece of writing-paper, and cut the pattern of a miniature horse-shoe: divide the figure into six pieces, by only two straight cuts with a pair of scissors. The paper must not be bent or creased.

[37]

Find the original word of eight letters in which each separate word of the following sentence may be found.

“A rare chase! See, he reaches her. Ah! she has her cares, her ear aches.”

[38]

A MARST PEERTEAR.

Rices viaSly ot a neverred Dnea,
Thaw nosear anc eb vigen,
Scein rageimar si a hoyl gnhit;
Hatt rheet si onen in nehave?
Heert ear on nowme, eh deplier,
Hes cuqik turners het stej
Menow heert ear, tub m’ I drafia
Hyet noctan dnif a stripe!

[39]

	654	is that	421	does.
	321		2
	333		842

[40]

Des two things matching one another, blunts definite article, edge of tavern powdered earth a grain.

[41]

Purchase for obtain repleteness of tavern men impaneled to weigh evidence, we exhibit sixty minutes selves one more exalted twice one them.

[42]

There are more than twenty-nine different articles in my garden, each of which is a family surname. Who will name them?

[43]

I am a verb, a small word of six letters; something that every one should strive to do. But I am a very comprehensive little word, for in me may be found—

• 1. An entreaty.
• 2. A vendue.
• 3. A vegetable.
• 4. A vital principle.
• 5. A spring.
• 6. A “restorer.”
• 7. A stamp.
• 8. A contract.
• 9. A nautical term.
• 10. A body of water.
• 11. To perceive.
• 12. Rest.

[44]

A boy having some marbles, wished to divide them with his companions: he gave half of them to one boy, who returned him 8; half of them to another boy, who returned him 4; three quarters of them to another boy, who returned him 4; he had 8 left: how many had he at first?

[45]

What two letters of the alphabet will express the name of a river in one of the Southern States?

[46]

What letter of the alphabet expresses the joining together of two States?

[47]

What word is that of five letters, which, if the two first letters are taken away, leaves only one?

LABYRINTH NO. 1.

This Labyrinth may be entered by any of the openings in the margin: the puzzle is, to trace a way to the center without crossing any of the lines.

CHARADES.

[1]

My first is the name of a fowl,
An emblem of modesty known;
My second has coloring power,
And grows ’neath a tropical sun.

My third is a mourning array,
That’s worn in an Orient clime,
And reminds of those regions of day
Beyond the confines of time.

My fourth in the spring-time is gay,
And comes with the note of the bird;
In autumn, leaves forest and spray,
And goes when no music is heard.

My fifth takes the place of my fourth,
When leaves are in autumn time sere;
But when winter comes on, with its dearth,
This too will in turn disappear.

My sixth is a fruit of one zone,
And name of a prince who sped
In triumph to England’s proud throne,
In place of a king who had fled.

My seventh’s in the meteor’s blaze
That lights up the star-spangled sky,
And glows in the twilight’s maze,
And the clouds in their golden dye.

My whole in beauty far outvies
The richest robe a prince e’er wore,
A signet gleaming in the skies,
A covenant for evermore.

[2]

My first oft preys upon my second;
My whole a bitter shrub is reckoned.

[3]

My first and last are just the same,
And would you know my second,
’Mong children’s first abbreviates
You’ll oftenest find it reckoned.
My first and last are always seen,
A common preposition,
And here methinks they love to meet
For tasteful coalition.
My second, infants spell the word,
Ere they can lisp another;
’Tis name of one still dearer far
Than sister or than brother.

My whole, a luscious, pulpy fruit,
In garden oft found growing,
Is either with a yellow dress,
Or richest red robe glowing.
’Tis in its prime, when wheat and rye
Are ripening for the sickle,
And ready then for present use,
Or yet to dry and pickle.
Few fruits in our cold northern clime,
Than this is more inviting;
You surely know its name, even while
Its praises I’m reciting.

[4]

My first is the chief of delights
That boys from their cradles desire;
Its shrill crack more musical far
To them than Apollo’s sweet lyre,
Except when applied with masterly art,
To root out the evil that lurks in the heart.

My second the Bible commends
To the rich, the wise, and the great,
With eloquence pleadeth their cause,
And blesseth their lowly estate;
They are ever with us, without search are found,
The more we give to them, the more we abound.

When the rich man lies down in the grave,
He takes not his riches away,
And anxious expectants cluster around,
To hear what my third has to say:
Its mandate is law, and if it sore pinches
The fawning false friend, then vainly he flinches.

My whole is a sombre brown bird,
That sadly each night trills his lay;
And each passer-by stops to hear
What this bird of eve has to say.
As ever he sings the same plaintive song,
Who that has e’er heard him will guess on this long?

[5]

My first, although not giving grace
To ev’ry living creature,
Is yet upon the human face,
A most important feature.

On some it has a classic mien,
Fair Grecian or bold Roman;
On some ’tis flat, on some I ween
’Twould answer for a gnomon!

The water fowl which swims the pond,
Or bathes in ocean briny,
The dove that coos her ditty fond,
My first doth have, yet tiny.

My second is a vowel plain;
My third an exclamation,
Upon the music scale again
It holdeth goodly station.

My whole, ah, look in yonder sky,
And you will see it gleaming,
Less clear, perchance, because more shy,
Than stars so brilliant beaming.

The telescope will make how bright
Its timid, shrinking beauties!
And bring to mortal ken, the light
Of its revolving duties.

[6]

Awake, idle sleeper. Up! up! and arise,
Already my first hath made vocal the skies.
Arouse thee! arouse thee! mount horse, and away;
For long is the journey before thee to-day.

Forget not my second, when weary thy steed,
By that shalt thou urge on his lingering speed
For many a forest and ford must be passed,
Before thou shalt reach thine own cottage, at last.

And ere though thine own cottage garden thou’lt tread,
The dews of the night on my whole shall be shed,
On my beautiful whole, yet less blue and less bright,
Than the eyes which will meet thee with glistening delight.

[7]

My first in kingdoms you will find
Where sovereigns great have reign;
My second on the Atlantic see,
When brave hearts cross the main.

My whole, an ally strong and bold
Of a United State,
If on the map you think to find,
Some time you’ll have to wait.

[8]

When night-winds whistle o’er the plain,
And howls the storm in many a burst,
How cheering to the way-worn swain
To seek the shelter of my first!

With cunning shining in his face,
From eyes so watchful, keen, and dark,
The scion of a remnant race—
My artful second you may mark.

My third in bearded front arrayed,
With Autumn’s golden stores is found;
Yet torn, and bruised, and lowly laid,
Its head must rest upon the ground.

My whole you always must forgive,
As you expect to be forgiven;
Nor must it in your memory live,
Though multiplied to seven times seven.

[9]

I stand on my first, on my second I sit,
On my whole I do either just as I think fit.

[10]

First.

Mantling the ruined wall
With my green, yielding pall;
You know me well.
Covering the river’s brink,
’Neath your soft tread I sink.
My name pray tell.

Second.

Fairest of earthly flowers,
Queen of your garden bowers,
Flora’s delight,
Twined o’er the cottage door,
My showers of incense pour
On the still nights.

Whole.

See, when the blushing bride
Casts her rich vail aside,
I’m nestled there,
Near some soft, waving tress,
Or on her bridal dress,
Shining so fair.

Oft on the mourner’s tomb
Drooping and sad I bloom,
Token of love
Left by the orphaned child,
Calling in accents wild
For those above.

[11]

My first is a short sleep. My second is a relation. My whole is an article in daily use.

[12]

My first belongs, in pairs, to man and beast,
And of the gifts of harvest not the least;
The treasures of my next no boy of feeling
Will e’er disgrace his heart or name by stealing;
My first and third the time, my whole the way,
To undertake the duties of each day.

[13]

My first is a body of water.
My second is a fish.
My third is a preposition.
My fourth is a name for the head.
My whole was a bone of contention.

[14]

Did’st ever go to singing-school,
And hear the master try
To sound the notes upon the scale,
From lowest to most high?
Then have you heard my first, the best,
Fall sweetly on your ear,
’Tis strange that with such company
My second should appear.

My second ne’er in gentle mood,
Is full of ire and hate,
Oh, let none who shall glance this o’er,
Be found in such a state.
’Tis only for the lunatic,
Bereft of reason’s light,
Thus to profane his nature by
So sorrowful a sight.

My whole is an illusion vain,
Yet perfect as untrue;
It doth the real object seem,
But double on the view.
By its strange spell the water seems
As if ’twere hung in air,
The desert traveler knows full well
Its vision false as fair.

[15]