The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1886-10-28
NOAH'S ARK.

Aster much l%ribulation, Noah and
His SONS succeeded in completing the
sRrk to their satisfaction, and, having
saoadsd it, they brought it next the
shore. adjusted the gang-plank and
faxed the a7a,e for all the chosen ami
nnais to appear for embarkation. On
the morning of the appointed day Noah
cook his station at the head of the gang
way with his long list ready for check
Eng. while his three sons prepared to
sssier tho animals to their proper quar-
Gers
Nov. this proposed voyage of
Noah's had excited much talk among
the neighbors, and consequently many
idle and curious people came down to
. the departure. Among them a. a
worthless, ribald fellow, Eli by name,
q frequenter of inns and sinful places,
swho made himself conspicuous as no
INT on a stump and endeavored to chaff
Ahe diligent Noah.
Think It's going to rain, hey, Noah?"
Be shouted, glancing around at the
towering sky.
'Cantainly!' replied the great wealth
szrardit, briskly beginning work. 1.-TWO
Lions, tallyl"
~:Auchg' queried his interrogation.
Biggest rains yet. Two bears, tally!
fsue 4 warned you long since. Don't
Bother mo now at the last minnit, I'm
ssusy. Two Guinea pigs, tally! Stop
.Crowding so, you beasts. There's lots
OF time" and the good man mo-
'aEioned the pressing animals back with
sbxs snyEe.
Want amy help?" ventured Eli.
"-No-pea' Two tigers, tally!'
~-Iu ship cheap
~Aemn,e lone; I'm busy. Two pan
Hcrs. tallyr'
Taking any passengersp"
MOI ehundered the exasperated
aeeg. Sat. mastering himself, continued
En- milder tones: Two antelopes,
ssallyg'
~Better try and make a little that
way. You're going too much on live
freight"
stiIlf'' implored the prophet.
I'D like to work my passage" per-
.SsisrfG the obnoxious man.
.isxon't take one fool. Two goats,
s1saAR!"
60 we'd make a pair" 80 that no
~.aaxcnse-''
1.-Two hogs, tnliy!' cried Noah, ig-
fszoring thew 'cked man.
'-Um. l don't think it's going to
Eain much anyhow the worthless fel-
law hazarded, CHANGING around at the
asky-
Il hope you'll find it u.s." replied the
checker vindictively. 1.-TWO eleph-w
"Ah, there! Look out, Noah?' sud-
~dcnlr yelled the discordant Eli. ''Those
elephants are smuggling goods on
you."
"Where?'' cried the startled Noah,
acrutinizing the animals for contra
bands.
LIN their trunks" replied the tri1er.
and ali the wicked people lining the
> n;iIore set up a shout at the discomfort
-&d weather prophet.
For a time the embarkation went for
ward without disturbance. Eli slowly
asate a huge slice of watermelon, and
SasxeEEly contemplated the proceedings
vxtiaEs the people discussed the sight.
Having finished the melon, Eli throw
ashe rind to a COW, wiped his mouth on
sAe back of his hand, and shouted:
~a-Lonk out, Noah, there 60 two female
Gloves IN On your
''Stop! you doves" cried Noah, hur-
afistZg erasing the tally mark. ..Now
aslOzs'E you try that game on ME, and he
sssiiopk shis style indig nantly.
But, Gather, the bird insists he's a
.znale, cried Japhet who was versed in
the language OF fowls, and who had
snisheaf up ~onAseeing the commotion.
..Don1t iyou believe her." Moderated
:Eli- She's fooling you. I guess I
sibnow a she BIRD when I see her."
~<Emr' faltared Noah, beginning to
t1Perspire in his ~Auandary, this is scri-
GINS and mustibe ssettled at once, or we
shall ultimately be in difficulty"
<Tis' hailed the sexultant Eli; ''can't
You tell 4 male from a female birdP
Ets6! I don't believe you know whether
E'asgoing to rain or not"
, <1Aow ann / to know anything?'
groaned the perplexed Noah. 'I'm
only good on weather probabilities.
HeIp me out there, Eli, will you, that's
q good fellow, and will remember and
seed Icaa't find q place for you when
sGale eargo's all aboard"
Well" drawled the Modified Eli,
Sin ,tRat case / don't mind telling you
che secret It's q very old method,
,fhouEh, and so simple that I'm sur
pr;ssd that such 8 weather sage as
yourself never discovered or heard
Of Aene.n
A~Nhat is itp''' asked the anxious
aoah- We'll have to pay closer at
x4Musnn 80 these birdS or there will
u.rGkg sbefrouble-o
~gteal. NOW" cheerfully replied Eli,
A1D1 ~ cars, and II he squeaks it's =
-, aaA II ale sqzeAks it's q she" And
ISIS - idle people hoarsely laughed