This puzzle was written by a lady who lived in California during the year of 1890, in response to an offer from a gentleman residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who claimed he would pay $1,000 to anyone who could write a puzzle he could not solve. He failed to solve it and paid the lady $1,000. The answer is one word, and it appears only four times in the Bible. There are five letters in the word. An eight-year-old boy figured it out.
Adam, God made out of dust,
but thought it best to make me first.
So, I was made before man
to answer God’s most holy plan.
A living being I became,
and Adam gave to me my name.
I from his presence then withdrew,
and more of Adam never knew.
I did my Maker’s law obey,
nor ever went from it astray.
Thousands of miles I go in fear,
but seldom on earth appear.
For purpose wise which God did see,
He put a living soul in me.
A soul from me God did claim
and took from me the soul again.
So when from me the soul had fled,
I was the same as when first made.
And without hands or feet or soul,
I travel on from pole to pole.
I labor hard by day, by night
to follow man; I give great light.
Thousands of people young and old
will by my death great light behold.
No right or wrong can I conceive;
the Scriptures I cannot believe.
Although my name therein is found,
they are to me an empty sound.
No fear of death doth trouble me;
real happiness I’ll never see.
To heaven I will never go,
or to hell below.
Now when these lines you slowly read,
go search your Bible with all speed,
For that my name is there
I do honestly to you declare.
Answer will be given next month.