A handsome black German shepherd dog came visiting, drawing by a leash an aging man with an abbreviated white beard and dark glasses. The old man wore a dingy white robe and poked about with a white cane. He gave his name as Homer, and said he had come from ancient Greece to warn about riddles. "I died before one," he said.

I led him to an easy chair by the fire, saw him settle with the German shepherd at his feet, and asked, "How so?"

"At vexation at not being able to finish the answer."

"Do you recall the riddle?"

"How could I forget. It was, 'what we could not catch we kept.'"

"Everyone knows the answer to that," I said.

"Impossible!"

"The answer, Homer, is 'fleas."

"Fleas!" he screamed. "And for this I had to die?"

What is wingless and legless, yet flies fast and cannot be imprisoned?

Answer: The voice.

What can up a chimney down, but can't come down a chimney up?

Answer: An umbrella.

Why does a miller wear a white hat?

Answer: To keep his head warm.

What has a head and four legs but can't walk?

Answer: A bed.

Why did the lobster turn red?

Answer: Because it saw the salad dressing.

Here is an English-Scottish ballad.

I gave my love a cherry that has no stone.

I gave my love a chicken that has no bone.

I told my love a story that has no end.

I gave my love a baby with no cry-en.

How can there be a cherry that has no stone?

How can there be a chicken that has no bone?

How can there be a story that has no end?

How can there be a baby with no cry-en?

A cherry when it's a blooming has no stone.

A chicken when it's pipping has no bone.

The story that I love her has no end.

A baby when it's sleeping there's no cry-en.

That is scarcely great poetry; but it is charming. And charm is its own reason for being.

Here are some riddles from abroad

From Russia:

The old woman's starving mutt

Spies above the hut

A toothsome crust of bread

Ah, but

It's way above his head;

He barks unfed

Answer: The crescent moon.

From Japan:

The bald head call up to the moon:

"We two are like two old shoon."

Pressed this likeness to define,

He said, we both are round, and shine.

Answer: The sky.

From Tennessee:

What is it that

Has ears like a cat

And feet like a cat

And a tail like a cat.

But for all that

Is not a cat?

Answer: A kitten.

Dr. A.O. Goldsmith of Kennett is a retired director of the School of Journalism, Louisiana State University.