THE   PUZZLED CENSUS TAKER.
John G. Saxe

"Got any girls?" the marshal said to a lady from over the Rhine,
And again the lady shook her head, and civilly answered, "Nein!"

"But some are dead?" the marshal said to a lady from over the Rhine,
And again the lady shook her head and civilly answered, "Nein!"

"Husband, of course?" the marshal said to a lady from over the Rhine,
And again she shook her flaxen head, and civilly answered, "Nein!"

The devil you have!" the marshal said to a lady from over the Rhine.
And again she shook her flaxen head, and civilly answered, "Nein!"

"Now what do you mean by shaking your head, and always answering 'Nein?'"
"Ich kann nicht English!" civilly said the lady from over the Rhine.

"Nein" pronounced nine, is the German for "No."