Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-09-23
NOAH'S ARK.


fixed the time for all the chosen ami
mails to appear for embarkation. On
the morning of the appointed day Noah
took his station at the head of the gang.
way with his long list ready for check
ing, 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 ncighbors, and consequently many
idle and curious people came down to
see the departure. Among them was a
worthless, ribald fellow, Eli 10y name,
a frequenter of inns and sinful places,
who made himself conspicuous as he
sat on II stump and endeavored 20 chat
the diligent Noah.
Think it's going to rain, hey, NoahP"
he shouted, CHANGING around at the
lowering sky. H
"Certainly!'' replied the great wealth
erprofit, .briskly beginning work. 1.-TWO
Ions, tallym
"Much?" queried his interrogation.
Biggest rains yet. Two bears, tally!
but l. warned you long since. Don't
bother me now at the last minnit, I'm
busy. Two Guinea pigs, tally! Stop
crowding so, you beasts. There's lots
of time" and the good man mo-
toned the pressing animals back with
h style.
Want any help?" ventured Eli
"No-pe3' Two tigers, tally!'
I'll ship cheap"
"Lemme lone; I'm busy. Two pam
theirs. tallyr'
Taking any passengers"
MOI" Numbered the exasperated
seer, but mastering himself, continued
in milder tones; Two antelopes,
tally
Better try and make little that
way. You're going too much on live
frei ght."
Two sheep, tally! Can't you keep
still?' implored the prophet.
I'D like to work my passage" per-
sisted the obnoxious man.
Il won't take one fool. Two goats,
tally"
20, we'd make pair so that 5 no
excuse IL -. So
Two hogs, tally!' cried Noah, ig-
noring the wicked man. SIS
I'm. / don't think It's going TO
rain much anyhow the worthless fell
low hazarded, CHANGING around at the
sky.
II hope you'll find it is, I" replied the
checker vindictively. 1.-Two eleph-"
''Ah, there! Look out, NOAH sud-
L. q l,a 10
elephants are smuggling goods on
You. q Rr
''Whcre?p cried the startled Noah,
scrutnizing the animals for contra
bands. ~ 1-
In their trunks. replied the trflor.
and all the wicked people lining the
shore set mp Il shout ut the disconcert-
eel weather prophet.
For Il time the embarkation went for.
ward without disturbance. Eli slowly
ate "a huge slice of watermelon and
silently oremplated the proceedings
while the people discussed the sight.
Having finished the melon, Eli threw
the r.nd to a COW, wiped his mouth on
the back of his hand, and shoutcd:
Look out, Noah, there go two female
doves in on your
''Stop! you doves" cried Noah, hur.
riedly erasing the tally mark. Now
don't YOU try that game on me. and he
shook his style Indignantly,
But. father. the bird insists he's a
male. cried Japhet, who was verscd in
the language of fowls, and who had
rushed up on seeing the commotion.
Don't you believe her, vocifcrated
Eli. She's fooling you, ] guess |
know she bird when / see her"
Uni" faltered Noah. beginning to
perspire in his quandary. this Is scri-
Gus and must be settled at once. or we
shall ultimately be in difficulty"
"Yi!' balled the exultant Eli; cant
YOU tell a male from female birdp
Sho! don't believe you know whether
its going to rain or not" eta4.-<
How am / to know anythingp"
groaned the perplexed Noah. I'm
only good on weather probabilities.
Help me out there. Eli, will you, that's
good fellow. and will remember and
see If can Z lind a place for you when
the cargo : all aboard -
,'Weil," Ndrawled the notified Ell,
Tin that case don't mind telling you
the secret. It's very old method,
tuOuSu, anu 81 ofhiptC thht III NSuT-
pr scd that such weather sage as
Yourself never discovered or heard
of one"
What il itp" asked the anxious
Noah. We'll have to pay closer at
tention to these birds. or there will
surely be trouble"
We'll now" cheerfully replied Eli,
pull its ears. and II he squeaks it's a
he. and if she squeaks it's She" And
while the idle people hoarsely laughed
the discounted patriach angrily shook
his fist at the low man. ili4bl1tN
And while Noah and his sons were
debating how this difficulty should be
settled. the attention of Eli was caught
by the lamentations of four kittens,
plteously meowing to accompany the
depart ng parents. The mother softly
bewailed the altindtlDa of Noah, which
peremptorily declared that only two Of
"a kind should embark. Eli. who had
been cycling the line while Noah was
tr. ing to escape from his predicament,
now quickly slid down from the stump
ON which he had been sitting and APP
preaching the disconsolate family made
signs that he would assist them. A
pair of opossums were sympathizingly