Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-09-10
.Noah's Ark
1t Needed a Mrs. Noah
By CLARISSA MACklE

blunt nosed. bargelike craft. its upper
deck gay with red striped awnings
and boxes of scarlet geraniums, A hat
less young man CARRIED In white with
his shirt sleeves rolled above brown
arms was peeling potatoes in the door
way of the galley
Every now and then the man lifted
pair Of fine brown eyes and scanned
the red bridge that crossed the river a
hundred yards above the houseboat
Occasionally farm wagon creaked
across or touring motorcar flashed by.
The river was uneasy these days
Successive spring rains had swelled 1t
until 1t was now rising beyond its
highest water mark. Almost imper-
cepubly the brown waters crept to the
level of the banks, and the old bridge
was alarmingly close to the surface of
the stream.
But the country folk were slow going
and not given to borrowing trouble.
The Willow never had overlooked its
banks, and It never would Often II
had reached the floor Of the bridge,
only to subside when its tributary
springs and streams had spilled out
their surplus share of the spring rains.
1t had rained for weeks during this
June, and when the houseboat crept
up the stream and cast anchor under
the willows the weatherwise predicted
a wet vacation for the luckIess voy-
ager. They had watched the young
man spread his easel on the shady
deck and paint the slanting rain on the
wheatfields or the sun peeping through
the dripping willows or the Doggy COOL
ness Of the farther shore.
Noah Parker was enjoying this va
cation as he had never enjoyed one
before. But there was a feeling of I'M
easiness In the gradual rising of the
river, together with the newspaper ac<
counts OF the devastating foods In the
adjacent states.
Hey. therer' called a voice from the
bank. And Noah set down his pota-
toes and went to the rail-.
Hello. Simonr he called to the tow
headed farm lad. who held forth bas-
ket of eggs Come aboard
Simon timorously set one bare foot
on the narrow landing plank. placed
the other before It and finally reached
the deck. where Noah promptly yank-
ed him aboard. skillfuliy relieving him
of the basket at the same instant
1.-TWO dozen for 30 cents. simon 1
feel like a robber," said Noah. diving
into his pocket and bringing up a fifty
cent piece. Take this and keep the
change II there is any way Of spending
20 cents in this benighted hamlet"
Simon caught the coin. grinned de-
hghtedly and took the empty basket
I'm going to treat Miss Molly to Ice
cream" he confided blushingly.
"Ah, hal Who is Miss Molly?-
'Schoolteacher. She's going to stay
all summer and teach again In Septem-
Der. She amt got any folks to go
home to. and she's boarding at our
house. wanted to treat her TO some
thing all winter. but. gosh hang 1t all.
/ couldn't seem to save enough. When
ice cream sody was cents q glass
got 10 cents all to once, and on my
way home TO ask her | saw sign in
the store saying It had gone up to 10
cents So jest gave It up. But by
cricky, If you wait long enough you
can get hold OF anythingw
You like your teacher. chr" asked
Noah.
Simon's eyes shone You betcher
life. Why. what do you think she's
doing. mister?"
"Give it up"
why, Jest because me and Lem Pc
tiers and Susie Anderson couldn't sense
fractions and didn't pass our zamina-
tons last week. she's fixed up the old
boathouse yonder for a schoolroom.
and she helps US every afternoon with
them fractions She wants TO help us
on grammar. but tell her don't need
It Grammar don't bother me none,
do you think so. misterY'
Noah suppressed smile.
TT doesn't seem to. sonny"
"I'll tell her that, by gum. There
she is now! I'm going to ask her right
off | wonder what kind she'll take,
what say?" Simon paused on the
plank and looked anxiously through
the torn brim or his nat at Noah
Probably she'll choose strawberry"
responded Noah gravely. as man to
man. and Simon nodded solemnly and
eapered away toward the bridge where
slender. blue gowned figure was
crossing toward the town.
Noah saw her stop and wait for the
lad, and he noted even from that dis
lance that her hair was dark beneath
her white hat and that her face was
softly oval She put one hand on 81
mons shoulder and swung her parasol
to the other side. Together they went
away. Once they paused, and Simon
pointed back at the houseboat but
Noah ducked into the kitchen. where
be proceeded TO put the neglected po-
tatoes TO boil.
''She must be nice GIRL" he said to