CAROLYN WELLS: (THE) REST OF MY LIFE — [L]ooking up things... is the most ravenous time-snatcher I know. You pull one book from the shelf, which... sends you posthaste to another book.... It is incredible, the number of books you hopefully open and disappointedly close....
| A. | Main export of Uzbekistan | COTTON |
| B. | The Fate who cuts the thread of life | ATROPOS |
| C. | Dangerous current for swimmers | RIPTIDE |
| D. | Wisconsin base of the Naturist Society | OSHKOSH |
| E. | She called for the first national women's rights convention, 1850 (2 wds.) | LUCYSTONE |
| F. | Young hooligan, in British slang | YOBBO |
| G. | Radiant ring around the head of a pictured saint | NIMBUS |
| H. | Conclusion; like some toys | WINDUP |
| I. | Short-bodied dog trained for hunting and herding | ELKHOUND |
| J. | Forsaken | LOVELORN |
| K. | Mindlessly-followed rigid routine | LOCKSTEP |
| L. | Bristol fashion | SHIPSHAPE |
| M. | Butt of a Jeff Foxworthy joke | REDNECK |
| N. | Leading American 19th-century Shakespearean actor (2 wds.) | EDWINBOOTH |
| O. | Sea nymph who's part woman and part bird | SIREN |
| P. | Belief that nature has purpose and design | TELEOLOGY |
| Q. | Without charge (3 wds.) | ONTHEHOUSE |
| R. | Southern latitudes called "roaring" by sailors | FORTIES |
| S. | Common Dutch topping for French fries | MAYONNAISE |
| T. | River flowing to the Bering Sea | YUKON |
| U. | Metal derived from spodumene or amblygonite | LITHIUM |
| V. | Insect with large eyelike spots on its wings (2 wds.) | IOMOTH |
| W. | Site of the Lowell Observatory | FLAGSTAFF |
| X. | Ancient Greek youth commencing training for full Athenian citizenship | EPHEBUS |