1)

Of twenty-six brothers I stand at the head,
Six are asleep, and three are in bed;
Eight are confined, four are free,
Leaving five to argue or agree.
Our shapes are various, wondrous are our uses,
Of knowledge the source, the soul of the Muses.

Who am I, and who are my brothers?

2)
A certain thing liveth in a place near at hand,
Whose nature is strange, if it be well scanned:
It sees without eyes, it flies without wings.
It runs without feet, it works wondrous things.
To places far distant it often doth roam,
Yet never departeth, but tarries at home.
If thou do it covet to feel or to see,
Thy labor is lost, for it may not be.

By Humphrey Gifford (ca. 1580)

3)

I daily am old, and I daily am new,
Some say I'm false and some say I'm true;
In the morning no Miss is more courted than I,
In the evening you see me thrown carelessly by.

4)

A father had twelve sons.
Each son had thirty daughters.
Of these, each was half white and half black.

Answers:

1. I am the letter A, and my brothers are the remaining 25 letters of the alphabet.
2. a person's mind
3. newspaper
4. year--months--days and nights