"It used to be a favorite game in distinguished circles in England; Canning, the celebrated minister, was very fond of it; and it really requires some knowledge and skill in the lawyer-like craft of cross-examination, to play it well--so have your wits about you, young people, for the more ready you are, the better you'll like it. One person thinks of a thing, and by a skillful questioning on the part of one, two, or the whole party, as you prefer it, your thought can always be found out. Twenty questions and three guesses are allowed. If Cornelia will think of something, I'll discover what it is, to show you how it is played." "I have a thought," said Cornelia, "but you never can find it out." "We'll see: does it belong to the animal, vegetable, mineral, or spiritual kingdoms?" "The animal." "Is it biped or quadruped, fish, flesh, fowl, or insect?" "Biped." "Man, monkey, or bird?" "Bird." "Wild or tame?" "Tame." "Is it the species you think of, or one individual of it?" "One particular individual." "Is it used for the table?" "The species is--but I doubt that this individual was ever used for food." "Did this bird live in ancient or modern times--before or after the Christian era?" "Very ancient; before the Christian era." "Does this ancient bird belong to the goose, duck, chicken, peacock, or turkey tribe?" "Turkey." "Was it very thin?" "Very, indeed--to a proverb." "Job's turkey?" "You've guessed it, and with ten questions too. Now you can think, Ellen, and the rest of us will question you, in turn." "I have a thought," said Ellen. "Treasure it then," said Charlie Bolton; "thoughts are very rare things with me. Animal, vegetable, mineral, or spiritual?" "Vegetable." "In its natural or prepared state?" "Natural." "Is it the whole, or only a part of the plant?" "A part." "Is it a part of a tree, a shrub, a vine, or is it of the grass kind?" "A vine." "Is it the root, stem, leaf, flower, or fruit?" "Fruit." "Is it used for food?" "The species is--this one was not." "Is this fruit pulpy like the grape, or mealy like the bean?" "Mealy like the bean." "Is it a bean?" "Yes--that's one guess." "Was this bean an ancient or modern one?" "Very ancient." "I know!" cried Amy; "it was the bean Jack the Giant Killer planted, which grew up to the moon in one night, and fastened itself round one of the horns." "You are right--eight questions and two guesses; that's pretty well. Now, Amy, 'tis your turn to think." "I have a thought." "Animal, vegetable, or mineral?" "Animal." "Quadruped or biped, fish, snake, or insect?" "None of these; it is the production of a biped." "In its natural or prepared state?" "Natural--but a slight alteration was made in its shape at the time to which I refer." "What time is it--before or after the Christian era?" "After." "Before or after the year 1500?" "Very much about that time." "Had it any thing to do with Columbus?"