St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-04-08


must be months since they had en-
tered the ark, fer the great store OF
provisions was nearly half gone. Each
day as they fed the beasts and birds
and creeping things with them in the
ark, and provided for their own sim
pie wants, they saw the food supplies
grow less, and found themselves ask
ing the question: HAS God forgot
ten?" Need we wonder at the doubts
which kept rising in their hearts when
we to-day under less trying expert
ences ask the same question?
But Noah's faith failed not, and on
the last day of the fifth month since
entering the ark in reply to the
anxious queries of the women, he
said:
'The ark will find resting place in
Gods own good time. We need to"
But the sentence was not finished,
for at that moment the three sons
who had been busy below burst into
the room, excitedly exclaiming:
Were grating on the rocks! We're
grating on the rocks!"
Noah fastened below, and as he
reached the hold of the ship the sound
of crunching and grinding was plain
ly audible, as though the great heavy
bulk of the ark was slowly settling
down upon some firm foundation. But
instead of alarm, a look of triumphant
JOY Illuminated his face, and turning
to his sons he said, with a voice shak-
ing with suppressed emotion:
''My sons. you have an answer to
your question: Has God forgotten?
God has brought our ark to rest. The
waters are receding.'
There was great rejoicing in the ark
that night, and for many days after,
but as the weary weeks continued to
drag out and still nothing but water
could be seen on every hand, doubts
and misgivings again filed the hearts
Of all but Noah.
One day something over two months
after the grounding of the ark, Noah
was keeping lookout at the little win
dow AS he swept his eyes over the great
expanse of waters his attention was at
tracted by dark object in the distance
His sharp cutlery as he realized that it
was some mountain top, quickly brought
the other members of the family to his
side, and dispelled their gloom. All, how
good that mountain top looked! Howit
revived their dropping spirits! How it
renewed their faith! All through the aft
ernoon they Toasted their eyes on that
precious speck, and as the evening
shadows crept over the face of the wa
tiers and shut it out from view they re-
luctantly lay down to rest, and eagerly
waited for the coming of the mornings
light
The first gray streaks of dawn found
eight pairs of wistful eyes straining
for the first glimpse of the mountain
top. The sharp vision of Mrs. Shem
was the first to see it, and her ex-
clamation was quickly followed by the
voices of the others as they, too, sight
ed it.
"And there is another" Mrs. Shem
cried as she pointed to a speck 1T
some distance beyond the first object
seen. i,
And another" exclaimed Japheth's
wife. And SO it went all day and the
days which followed. The moments
which were not taken up with the
cares of the ark were spent searching
out new mountain tops, and watching
those already in view grow larger and
larger. Thus the days now quickly
sped. The water was far below them,
while the mountains all around stood
out black and grim. One day Noah
said:
ut is now 40 days since we first
saw the mountain top appear. re-
member that it was 40 days that the
flood was descending upon the earth,
and may it not be that In these 40
days since first the land appeared the
waters may have left the earth. am
minded to send forth a raven and a /
dove to see what report they may
bring u.s."
The plan met the instant approval
of the rest. Soon the birds were wing
Ing their way towards the distant
mountains, and we're soon lost to view.
Anxiously they waited for the return
Of the birds, and as the twilight was
deepening into the evening darkness
the dove came YEARLY fluttering in At
the window. but the raven returned
not.
"This," said Noah, "would indicate
that on the upper reaches Of the noun
tains whittier the people fled to escape
the flood the raven hath found resting
place and food. but the dove seeking
seed and leafy bower hath found
neither and returns for shelter in the |
ark. The waters still cover the fruit
ful valleys"
Another seven days and Noah sent |
out rne dove again. This time she
returned with an olive branch, fndi-
eating that vegetation had sprung into
life. Yet seven days more and the
dove went forth and did not return,
for she had found home for herself and |
mate in the fruitful trees.
Still Noah waited, and over a month |
passed. The rest of the family were |
impatient to leave the ark, but Noah |
insisted that they must wait for the
command of God. But to appease
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