Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-28
CHIPS ROM
NOAH S LOG.

/ Feb. 1T-Much to my surprise, this
morning dawned warm and fair, with a
Light breeze from the southwest. Noe
! appeared and asked sarcasticaIly II /
thought the big storm would ruin crops
and did intend to float the Household
to-day. I refused to retort, and waited.
Along toward IL o'clock in the forenoon
a little cloud appeared on the western
| horizon. At first it was mere black
patch, seemingly no bigger than a mans
hand Ga charmingly original smile. to
| which I shall direct the attention of Mrs.
Noah). It spread out with astonishing
rapidity, however, and by noon there
had begun a most extraordinary down
| pour Of rain. which Still continues. The
| drops have been almost the size of soup
plates, and by o'clock even the Oldest
inhabitant was constrained to admit that
it was showering some. The newspapers
tonight all run double-column heads on
The Wettest Feb. II In the History of
the Weather Bureau
AS soon as saw the storm approac hinS
I lost no time in gathering our family
into the Houseboat. It did not take me
long to discover that the way of the
manager of a personally conducted family
houseboat party does not run smooth.
Our cook absolutely refused to embark
without her policeman, and as the lat
| favor of a sea voyage his Iucra tive en-
ployment on the constabulary. it was
with difficulty that we persuaded him
to come aboard. In fact, it was only by
a plan of spiritual suasion, wherein
expended almost a whole quart of my
precious rye, that was able to convince
the sturdy guardian of the laws that
life on the ocean wave was the best thing
for him.
No sooner was this matter settled than
Mrs. Japhet appeared, again in a great
furry about the sartorial scarcity. Here
she was, suddenly booked to go on sea
voyage, and tshe assured me) not
stitch to wear. It was positively shock
ing to think of it, she declared. I tacit-
ly agreed with her that such contin-
gency was indeed shocking, to the point
! Of decency. She said that II 1t were true
that we were to have a spell OF damp
weather, she must get several rainy-day
skirts made Immediately, and she would
only consent to go aboard on condition
that she be allowed to take her dress
maker along.
Goodness knows where we shall land"
she said cit might be at some ultra
fashionable watering place, or in town at
the height of the season, and must ap-
pear in a decent frock to sustain my po-
stion as your daughter in-law."
Gently but firmly I insisted that we
had no room for any extra passengers
and told her that by the time we made
Il landing all the watering places would
be watered into oblivion and the cities
drowned out. Mrs. J. refused to listen
to reason. however, and produced the
dressmaker, who, to my surprise. proved
to be a cherubic little blonde. When my
daughter-in-law introduced me- the young
woman chirped with a gesture of aston
ishment:
"oui! I thought ct was Madames
brothair!"
After all, I thought, I might as well
humor my daughter-in-law and allow the
young woman to come with US. Shortly
after this episode Mrs. Noah ciambered
aboard, followed by messenger, who
bore fifteen hats which she 4lad pur-
chased at the last moment. Mrs. Shem
brought with her two mousetraps.
There was a little mix-up among the
animals at bedtime tonight, and through
some inadvertence a lion bunked with one
of the lambs. Unfortunately, the latter
had the inner berth, and as result I
fear we shall find ourselves minus some
mutton in the morning.
Feb. 1S.-The downpour continues. It
is a gray world to-day. and the hills re-
semble huge sponges- Early in the after
noon the water had risen SO high that
we began to float Slowly we drifted
down Main street. IN the dwellings we
passed the householders appeared sud
denly to have discovered that the upper
stories were the most comfortable por-