Innocent English

The Wise Son

An old man wanted to leave all of his money to one of his three sons, but he didn’t know which one he should give it to. He gave each of them a few coins and told them to buy something that would be able to fill their living room. The first man bought straw, but there was not enough to fill the room. The second bought some sticks, but they still did not fill the room. The third man bought two things that filled the room, so he obtained his father’s fortune. What were the two things that the man bought?

The wise son bought a candle and a box of matches. After lighting the candle, the light filled the entire room.

Lights Off

Joe and Sally where sitting in their family room one night. While Joe was watching T.V, his wife Sally was reading. All of a sudden the power went out and Joe decided to go to bed, but Sally kept on reading. With no use of artificial light, Sally kept on reading. How?

Sally was blind, she was reading a book by Braille.

Wooden Case

I am taken from a mine, and shut up in a wooden case, from which I am never released, and yet I am used by almost everybody.

Pencil lead.

Incognito!

Who spends the day at the window, goes to the table for meals and hides at night?

A fly.

Forever Together

What fastens two people yet touches only one?

A wedding ring.

Red and Black

What goes into the water red and comes out black?

A red-hot poker.

Black and Red

What goes into the water black and comes out red?

A lobster.

A Riddle

When one does not know what it is, then it is something; but when one knows what it is, then it is nothing.

A riddle.

Opposite Sides

Who are the two brothers who live on opposite sides of the road yet never see each other?

Eyes.

Happiness!

I am the beginning of sorrow, and the end of sickness. You cannot express happiness without me, yet I am in the midst of crosses. I am always in risk, yet never in danger. You may find me in the sun, but I am never out of darkness.

The letter S.

White Dove

A white dove flew down by the castle. Along came a king and picked it up handless, ate it up toothless, and carried it away wingless.

Snow melted by the sun.

Carriages!

What is that which goes with a carriage, comes with a carriage, is of no use to a carriage, and yet the carriage cannot go without it?

Noise.

Greedy Lust

Poke your fingers in my eyes and I will open wide my jaws. Linen cloth, quills, or paper, my greedy lust devours them all.

Shears, or scissors.

Natural Family

A cloud was my mother, the wind is my father, my son is the cool stream, and my daughter is the fruit of the land. A rainbow is my bed, the earth my final resting place, and I’m the torment of man.

Rain.

Lonely House

I have a little house in which I live all alone. It has no doors or windows, and if I want to go out I must break through the wall.

A chick in an egg.

Too Much Water!

What is round as a dishpan, deep as a tub, and still the oceans couldn’t fill it up?

A sieve.

Rainy Church Day

There were five men going to church and it started to rain. The four that ran got wet and the one that stood still stayed dry.

A body in a coffin with the bearers.

Old and Young

It’s been around for millions of years, but it’s no more than a month old. What is it?

The moon.

Heart in Head

It stands on one leg with its heart in its head.

A cabbage.

Four Siblings

There are four brothers in this world that were all born together. The first runs and never wearies. The second eats and is never full. The third drinks and is always thirsty. The fourth sings a song that is never good.

Water, Fire, Earth, and Wind.