THE TEN TRAVELLERS

THE TEN TRAVELLERS.

Ten weary, footsore travelers,

All in a woeful plight,

Sought shelter at a wayside inn

One dark and stormy night.

"Nine rooms, no more," the landlord said,

"Have I to offer yea;

To each of eight a single bed,

But the ninth must serve for two.

A din arose. The troubled host

Could only scratch his head,

For of those tired men no two

Would occupy one bed.

The puzzled host was soon at ease—

He was a clever man—

And so to please his guests devised

This most Ingenious plan:

[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I]

In room marked A two men were placed,

The third was lodged in B,

The fourth to C was then assigned,

The fifth retired to D.

In E the sixth be tucked away,

In F the seventh man,

The eighth and ninth in E and H,

And then to A he ran.

Wherein the host, as I have said,

Had laid two travelers by;

Then taking one—the tenth and last—

He lodged him safe in I.

Nine single rooms—a room for each—

Were made to serve for ten;

And this it is that puzzles me

And many wiser men.

—Pittsburg Bulletin.

Published in the Cortland Democrat, May 3, 1889.