in and see him."

Rolf assented; and they found Uncle Titus sitting there with his chair
tipped back against the wall, looking very much pleased to see them. Rolf
returned his greeting very cordially, and inquired quite casually whether
he had guessed the riddle.

"I think it must be 'Caesar,' is it not, my son?" said Uncle Titus tapping
the lad kindly on the shoulder.

"Yes, that's right; and did you hear the others I was saying, and did you
guess them?"

"Possibly, possibly, my son," replied the good man. "I am much mistaken if
the first is not 'Milky-way,' and the second, 'Plato.'"

"Both right!" cried Rolf, highly delighted. "It is the greatest fun to
make riddles and have them guessed so quickly. I have another, and
another, and one more. May I give you another, Mr. Ehrenreich?"

"Certainly, my dear boy, why not? out with them, all three, and we will
try to guess them all."

Rolf was enchanted, and set about recalling them. "I will take the
shortest first," he said:

"My first implies strength and grace;
In all things my second finds place;
My whole was the scourge of the race."

"Have you guessed that?"

"Very likely, very likely, my son; now the next:"

"Take all that the senses attest
Add the sign of the beast for the rest,
And my glorious whole stands confessed."

"And now another," said Uncle Titus, nodding.

"And now I have a very long one, and rather harder," said the lad:

"A thrill through all the nations ran,
When he, my whole, the grand old man,
Spoke words that e'en my second turn
My first, with hopes that glow and burn.
But now are hearts to anger spurred;
Nations are sick with hope deferred,
Alas! small chance for Ireland we know!
My first my second at my whole we throw."

Rolf stopped, quite excited with the declamation of his favorite charade.

"Now we will begin to guess, my son," said Uncle Titus, with a pleased
expression: "First, Bonaparte. Second, Matterhorn. Third, Gladstone."

"Every one right!" cried Rolf, exultantly. "This is splendid! I have
always wanted to do this with my riddles; that is, find some one who could
guess them all. Before this, I've always had a heap of unguessed riddles.
Now they are all guessed, and I can begin again with a new set!" Rolf was
full of satisfaction.

"I will make you a proposal, my son," said Uncle Titus, as he rose from
his seat, and prepared to return t