The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1886-09-09
the discounted patriach angrily shook

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,
pIteously meowing to accompany the
departing parents. The mother softly
bewailed the altindtWm of Noah, which
peremptorily declared that only two of
a kind should embark. Eli. who had
been cycling the line while Noah was
trying 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
gazing upon the meowing group, and
going up to them Eli made signs that
the kittens should be admitted into the
pouch of the female and be struggled
aboard. The kittens had hardly been
placed in concealment when the long
procession of animals began m wing
once more. Noah and his sons having
concluded that all questions relating to
the sex of birds should be referred to
the eagle, and that arbitrator having
perched upon the gunwale, the en-
barkation proceeded.
''Twig the CANNES, Noah" yelled
Eli. ''Those dogs are full of fieas; bet
ter pitch them overheard than save
such a lot of vermin."
Great Scott! and | was only to take
two of a kind! Why didn't somebody
tell me about those internal fleas before
it was too late. Now the whole human
race will be pestered by fieas and l will
have to bear the blame. 1 wish 1 was
dead" Then. choking with choler, he
returned to his labor. ''Two monkeys,
tally!"
Hill" howled Eli, that amt fair;
you're making a family of it."
Noah, in a paroXysm, threw his style
at the head of his tormentor and shout
ed:
"Ham! Ham! Come here, quick.
You are the biggest of your brothers,
Go over there and thrash that knave,
Eli. Do anything to him; only get rid
of him."
Father" replied Ham, 81 dare do
anything reasonable, but remember Eli
is the bad man of his tribe. He'd only
enjoy sousing me in the river. But if
you desire it I'll argue with him from
the deck"
"Argue nothing, Ham," moaned
Noah. 81 can do the arguing for the
family. Take your brothers there and
drive him away. Pummel him soundly.
Go, Ham"
May" answered the son; ''the
wicked triumph ever in a fight which
the righteous know little about. He
would drown us all before the flood
and u work would come to naught.
Reason with him, my SIRE"
treason be bowed" groaned Noah;
''this is not a time to reason"
In desperation, Noah called his other
sons, and Il consultation was held. The
wicked people lining the shore, firing
of the embarkation. now began to
seek amusement by throwing stones
among the animals and creating CON
fusion by teasing and starting fights
among the larger and fiercer beasts.
A wanton man standing near a pair CT
buffalo, who were quietly moving for
ward, proceeding a pair of hippo
potami, suddenly jabbed a stick into
the haunch of the nearest buffalo, and,
turning quickly, gazed un%concernedly
down the river. The buffalo wheeled
briskly on receiving the thrust, but no
one appeared to be the offender but the
t~usk-bearipg hippopotamus in the rear.
Hardly had the buffalo faced to the
front when the jab was repeated. This
time the animal bounced about in a
rage and glared at the stolid hippopota-
mus, who TRANQUILITY gazed back. The
buffalo, swallowing his ire once more,
faced to the front. only to be s%everly
jabbed again. This was too much; the
incensed animal let both heels drive
straight into the face of the tranquil
hippopotamus. That animal emitted
one terrific below and drove right in
to the enemy. The charge of the huge
beast bowled over the whole line of
animals. Pell nell they all went, |
hustled, crammed and damned against
the ark, up the gang-plank and over
the deck of the vessel. The terrified |
animals, e~ndeavoring to escape the aw-
full crush, carried Ham and Japhet
headlong over the opposite side of the
ark. Noah and Shem were lost amid
the confused mass of struggling beasts.
The battered form of each was finally
seen endeavoring to climb upon the
gunwale. Having straddled this posi-
sion, Noah called to Japhet, had crawl
ed up the bank, to reform the broken
line. Ham seized the dangling leg of
his ancestor, and, pulling himself into
the ark, he began eXpostulating:
Father, it is useless to go on in this
fashion. That last move of the wick |
ed has driven almost all the animals
abroad. Why cannot we cut adrift
and sail? We have a goodly number
abroad safe and sound, whereas if we
proceed we may lose what We have, and
our labors will have been for naught.
Again, if"
E'Oh, Noah, you haven't any mules.
What'H you do your ploughing with?'
shouted Eli.
That's a fact" said Noah, and he
pumped down on the deck in despair.
s.Why didn't that double-skulled Shem
think of it! Say, Eli, won't you hunt
up a pair and bring them down here
right away-that's good fellow"
..Ha, ha /" and Eli laughed till he
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