“Yes, I see,” said the goose-girl, scratching her head again; “but my answer was nearly as good as yours.”

“Oh, dear me!” said Old Riddler, “that wont do.  It’s of no use at all to give an answer that is nearly good enough.  It must be exactly right, or it’s worthless.  I am afraid, young girl, that you don’t care much for riddles.”

“Yes I do,” said the goose-girl; “I make ’em.”

“Make them?” exclaimed Old Riddler, in great surprise.

“Yes,” replied Lois, “I’m out here all day with these geese, and I haven’t anything else to do, and so I make riddles.  Do you want to hear one of them?”

“Yes, I would like it very much indeed,” said the gnome.

“Well, then, here’s one:  If the roofs of houses were flat instead of slanting, why would the rain be like a chained dog?”

“Give it up,” said Old Riddler.

“Because it couldn’t run off,” answered Lois.

“Very good, very good,” said the gnome.  “Why, that’s nearly as good as some of mine.  And now, my young friend, didn’t you feel pleased to have me give up that riddle and let you tell me the answer, straight and true, just as you knew it ought to be?”

“Oh yes!” said the goose-girl.

“Well, then,” continued Old Riddler, “remember this:  What pleases you will often please other people.  And never guess another riddle.”

Lois, although a rough country girl, was touched by the old man’s earnestness and his gentle tones.

“I never will,” said she.

“That’s a very well-meaning girl,” said Old Riddler to himself as he walked away, “although she hasn’t much polish.  I’ll come sometimes and help her a little with her conundrums.”

Old Riddler had a son named Huckleberry.  He was a smart, bright young fellow, and resembled his father in many respects.  When he went home, the old gnome told his son about Lois, and tried to impress on his mind the same lesson he had taught the young girl.  Huckleberry was a very good little chap, but he was quick-witted and rather forward, and often made his father very angry by guessing his riddles; and so he needed a good deal of parental counsel.

Nearly all that night, Huckleberry thought about what his father had told him.  But not at all as Old Riddler intended he should.

“What a fine thing it must be,” said Huckleberry to himself, “to go out into the world and teach people things.  I’m going to try it myself.”

So, the next day, he started off on his mission.  The first person he saw was a very small girl playing under a big oak-tree.

When the small girl saw the young gnome, she was frightened and drew back, standing up as close against the tree as she could get.

But up stepped Master Huckleberry, with all the airs and graces he could command.

“Can you tell me, my little miss,” said he, “why an elephant with a glass globe of gold-fish tied to his tail is like a monkey with one pink eye and one of a mazarine blue?”