Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-08-23
NOAH'S ARK.
some Of the Many Great AnnOJances
to which the Patriarch Was
subjected.
A wicked Jester who Was kesponsiD'e ior
Many Of the Ills 10 which we are
Now Subject.
san Francisco Examiner.

After much tribulation Noah and his
sons succeeded In completing the Ark 10
their satisfaction, and, having noated 1t,
thew brought II next the shore, adjusted
the gang-plank and fixed the time Tor all
chosen animals to appear for emoarka-
/ ton. On the morning Of the appointed
day. Noah took his station at the head OF
the gangway with his long list ready for
checking, while his three sons prepared
TO usher the animals to their proper quar-
tiers.
Now, this proposed voyage OF Noah's
had excited much talk among the neigh
bors, and consequently many Idle and cur
ious people came down to see the de-
parture. Among them was worthless,
ribald fellow, Eli by name, frequenter
OF inns and sinful places, who made him
self conspicuous as he sat on stump
and endeavored to chat the diligent
Noah.
"Think it's going to rain, hey, NoahH"
he shouted, glancing around at the low
ering sky.
"Certainlyl" replied the great weather
prophet briskly beginning work. 1.-TWO
lions, tallyl"
"Muchi" querled his interrogation.
"Blggest rains yet. Two bears, tally |!
but warned you all long since. Don't
bother me now at the last mlnnit, Pm
busy. Two guinea pigs, tally Stop
crowding so, you beasts. There's lots OF
time" and the good man motiohed the
pressing animals back with his style.
"Want any helpP" ventured Eli.
"No. Two tigers, tally"
"I'll ship cheap"
"Lemme lone; I'm busy. Two pan
theirs, tallyln
"Taking any passengersF
"No!n Numbered the eXasperated seer;
but, mastering himself, he continued, in
milder tones 1.-TWO antelopes, tallyl"
"Better try and make little that way.
You're going too much on live freight"
"Two sheep, tally! Can't you keep
still?" implored the prophet.
"I'd like to work my passage" per-
sisted the obnoxious man.
81 won't take one fool. Two goats,
tsllyl"
ooh, we'd make pair, so that's no ex-
cuse."
1.-TWO hogs, tally" cried Noah, ignor-
ing the wicked man.
"Um, don't think It's going to rain
much, anyhow" the worthless fellow haz-
arded, glsncing around at the sky.
al hope you'll find it Isl" replied the
checker, vindictively. 1.-TWO eleph-"
"Ah, there! Look out, NOAH" sud
denly yelled the discordant Eli. "Those
elephants are smuggling goods on you"
"Wheref" cried the startled Noah, scru-
tinizing the animals for contrabands.
sin their trunks" replied the triner,
and all the wicked people lining the shore
set up shout at the disconnected weather
prophet.
For a time the embarkation went for.
ward without disturbance. Eli slowly
ate huge slice of watermelon, and ST.
lently contemplated the proceed gs
while the people discussed the S ut
Having finished the melon Eli threw ne
rind to COW, wiped his mouth on he
back of his hand and shouted: "L ok
out Noah, there goes two female doves in
on youl"
"Stop, you doves" cried Noah, hur-
riedly erasing the tally mark. snow,
don't you try that game on me-" and he
shook his style Indignantly.
"But, father, the bird insists he's q
male" cried Japhet, who was versed in
the language OF fowls, and who had rushed
! UP Ou neSiib tuo COHiuOIlOu'
"Don't you believe her." Moderated
Eli. "She's fooling you. Iguess know
a she bird when | see her"
"Uml" faltered Noah, beginning to per
spire in his quandary; "this is serious and
mately be in difficulty"
"Yil" bawled the eXultant Eli, "can't
you tell male from female bird? Shoi
! / llpit haliaua VOL lrnr no. IA ID
ing to rain or not"
groaued the perplexed Noah. "I'm onl,
good on weather probabilities. Help mt
out here, Eli, will you, that's a coed fel
low, and I'll remember and see II [ car
lind place for you when the cargo's al
aboard"
"Well," drawled the molfed Eli, "ir
that case / don't mind telling you the
secret. It's very old method, though
and so simple that Pm surprised such
weather sage as yourself never discovered
or heard of it,
"What is it?" asked the anxious Noah
'We'll have to pay closer attention Il
these birds or there viii surely be trou
blen
''Well, now," cheerily replied Eli, "pul
: Its ears, and II he squeaks it's he, and i
she squeaks It's a she.n And while tn,
: Idle people hoarsely laughed the discom
! tited patriarch angrily shook his fist at tn,
low man.
And while Noah and his sons were de
batting how this difficulty should be set
tied, the attention OF Eli was caught b,
the lamentations of four kittens, niteousl,
meowing TO accompany the opartlni
parents, The mother softly be- lied tn,
ultimatum OF Noah, which pc nptoril,
J declared that only two Of kin should
embark. Eli, who had been ing tn,
line while Noah was trying to escape from
his predicament, now quickly slid dow
from the stump on which he had been sit.
tlng,andapprosching the discons llate fam
lily, made signs that he would slst them
A pair OF opossums were sympathizingly
gazing upon the meowlng GROUP and coins
up TO them. ELI made signs that the kit
tens should be admitted into the pouch ot
the female and be smuggled abroad. The
kittens had hardly been placed in conceal
meni when the long procession OF animal,
, began moving once more. Noah and hi,
sons having concluded that an Question,
relating to the sex Of birds should be re