Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-09-23
NUMBER 38

railing Already, lnterrupteu CLIu' Ca
amining the two inches Of river that
had over6owed the meadow where
they stood.
By noon the Ark was moving down
stream with the current The RED
bridge was straining at the chains.
and wagons were going around by the
new cement bridge at the upper falls
Noah made fast to bending willow
and cooked his dinner. Just as he had
concluded the meal there came grind
ing crash from upstream, mingled with
the roar of coming waters A little is-
land protected the Ark from the main
current and Noah watched keenly
from his safe harbor for anything that
might come with the food
First came the red bridge end on Ike
some queer. crazy raft teetering up and
down In the strong current Behind II
bobbed one Of the willows pulled from
the bank by the wrecked bridge. When
bridge and tree had disappeared Noah
got into his skiff and rowed around
the island to wait for further floating
objects. Here and there along the riv-
er banks were lighthouses or OCCASION
al springhouses where the farmers
obtained their drinking water. In any
one of these riverside houses, which
must come down with the food, might
be human being caught unawares.
At last there was sound OF voices,
and there came riding down the cur
rent q small boathouse with Its gabled
roof pointing downstream. and sitting
around the open doorway with feet
swinging inside the little building Were
four people.
Noah did not attempt to catalogue
them by name or identity. He simply
reached out his handy boathook ana
pulled gently at first and then with all
his strength until the house swirled
heavily around and crashed to mo
mentary anchorage on the shore OF the
almost inundated island.
"Tn take you off In my boat Hold
on there for q moment| cried Moan
and in fve exciting minutes he had
transferred the four voyagers to the
safe deck Of the Ark. where they all
gazed breathlessly at each other be
fore bursting into exclamations OF sur
prise and JOY Mt their rescue.
Noah looked curiously at them
There was Simon Bead. sunburned and
dripping wet; there was undoubtedly
Lem Peters, whose cranial contour ID.
dicated that fractions and he wouiu
never come to definite understand.
ing: there was Susie Anderson. fat and
Haxen haired and good naturedly STU
pid looking. and last because she was
not the least was q blue gowned girl
with raven hair and starry blue eyes
and cheeks quite pink with excitement
"Well. Simon suppose you introduce
me to your teacher and your school
mates" be said ut last.
Miss Decker looked encouragingly al
Simon. who twisted his fingers In MS
hair and shot an agonized glance at MS
rescuer.
"That's her." he stammered, pointing
n finger ut his teacher That's MISS
Molly, mean: and that's Susie, ahu
she never bawled once. mister. when
the river foated us while we was say
ing grammar: and that's Lem; he hoi
lered some, and so did |: and say. mis-
ter. we had that ice cream last mghtG
he ended, with shining eyes.
"Pm very glad" said Noah kindly
as he shook hands with Molly Decker
and her two bashful charges. Now
that you're safely on the Ark-yes, this
is really Noah's Ark, my name Is Moan
Parker-suppose we find something to
eat. Perhaps Miss Decker Will take
you below and rummage In the kitchen
while 60 out and watch for more
castaways."
While Noah waited around at the
end of the island, Molly and the chill
dren found materials and prepared an
appetizing meal for the weary Moan
when he should return to the Ark
AS they gathered around the table
- the pretty dining room. Molly Deck
er p~~.-d the tea with charming
grace Perhaps shat was what roused
Susie Anderson to eL.hus!aem.
"Oh. Mr.. Noah" she crie' Texcitedly.
Lets play this is the real Ark. nd
you are Mr.. Noah and Miss Molly shall
be Mrs. Noah, and l will be the dove!
The boys can be animals If they want
to-" she added generously.
1--WE won't play 1t today, dears,' said
Miss Molly gently, but for some unac.
countable reason her cheeks flushed
deeper.
1.-THE Ark will return some other
day." added Noah gayly, "and take all
of you for a sail down the river-the
whole school,"
"And Miss Molly. tool" asked Simon
jealously.
"And Miss Molly If she will come"
assented Noah softly, and In bis heart
he added that he would try to per.
suade her to remain forever. for at last
the only girl had come to him, and he
told himself that every Ark needed
Mrs. Noah.