A Clever Little Clamp

I found a wooden clothespin resting on the cool ceramic tiles near the laundry hamper. Curious about its shiny metal spring coil, I braced my feet and squeezed the two tapered ends together with both hands. The front wooden jaws popped right open with a brisk creak! Seeing an empty cardboard clothing tag lying nearby, I nudged the smooth paper edge straight into the opening and gently eased off the pressure. Clack! The jaws snapped shut, gripping the card firmly. Set down on the floor, it stood completely upright on its own, like a proud miniature billboard.