“A long time ago there lived in one of our large cities a—Mr. Riddle. He was a banker. But no matter about him. I am now going to describe another member of the Riddle family, and if you will sharpen your wits and be wide-awake some of you good guessers can guess who or what he is, and I will promise you he will take you into copartnership and let you share his riches.”
At this point every eye began to open at the thought of suddenly growing rich.
“He was born before Methusaleh,” continued Uncle John, “and”—the eyes opened still wider—“he lives now;” at which not only were the eyes open to their utmost, but many mouths, and questions came thick and fast: “Born before Methusaleh?” “Lives now?” “Do you really mean it just so?” “How can it be?” “Who ever heard of such a thing?” “Is not it a conundrum, or a puzzle, or a riddle, or”—
“Yes,” from Uncle John; “and if you will listen closely and do some of the best thinking of your life you will surely guess my riddle.”
“And share the riches you spoke of?” asked one.
“And share the riches, just as I said.” And here Uncle John looked around, silent and amused at the perplexed faces of the young folks.
Then he continued: “This Mr. Riddle will probably live hundreds of years more. He was and he is a banker, richer than all other bankers, the Rothschilds thrown in to boot. There isn’t a place in all the world where he has not a bank. Some are hundreds of feet in the earth; some as high in the air; some, built of iron; some, of silver, tin, glass, paper, dirt, ice, clouds, coal and much more of which I may tell you more by and by. This is enough now. Don’t ask me any more questions to-night. We will sing a verse of a hymn, and have a short prayer, and then you must all go promptly home and to bed and be up early to-morrow morning and do all the sharp thinking you can get time for, and come again in the evening at seven o’clock, and I will tell you more about this puzzling banker, Mr. Riddle.”
Then Uncle John’s rich voice led, and, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” filled the room and swelled hearts with new and strange thoughts.
Then they all joined in “Our Father,” etc., and the meeting was out.
