Enigmas & Riddles

These enigmas are taken from 'The Girls Own Book' by Mrs Child, 1864

The enigma must be said aloud, and the listener must guess the word.

'Tis true I have both face and hands,
And move before your eye;
But when I move, I always stand,
And when I stand I lie.

Answer: A clock

'Tis in the church, but not in the steeple;
'Tis in the parson, but not in the people;
'Tis in the oyster, but not in the shell;
'Tis in the clapper, but not in the bell.

Answer: The letter R

There is a thing that nothing is,
And yet it has a name;
'Tis sometimes tall, and sometimes short,
It joins our walks, it joins our sport,
And plays at every game.

Answer: A shadow

What yesterday was,
And tomorrow will be.

Answer: Today

What is that which lives only in winter; would die in summer; and grows with its root upwards?

Answer: An icicle

I have but one eye, and that without sight,
Yet it helps me, whatever I do;
I am sharp without wits, without senses I'm bright,
The fortune of some, and of some the delight,
And I doubt not I'm useful to you.

Answer: A needle

Although a human shape I wear,
A mother ne'er I had;
And though nor sense nor life I share,
In finest silks I'm clad.
By little girls I'm valued much,
Beloved and highly prized;
Yet still my cruel fate is such,
By boys I am despised.

Answer: A doll

What is that which goes round the house, and round the house, and leaves a white sheet in every window?

Answer: Snow

I'm a singular creature, pray tell me my name -
I partake of my countrymen's glory and fame,
I daily am old, and I daily am new,
I am praised, I am blamed, I am false, I am true -
I'm the talk of the nation while I'm in my prime,
But forgotten when once I've outlasted my time.
In the morning no lady more courted than I,
In the evening you see me thrown carelessly by.
Take warning, ye Fair - I, like you, have my day,
But alas! you like me, must grow old and decay.

Answer: A newspaper