THE STORY OF NOAH’S ARK

TOLD AND PICTURED BY E. BOYD SMITH HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY BOSTON AND NEW YORK

[ii]

COPYRIGHT, 1905, by E. BOYD SMITH ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 1905

LIST OF COLORED PLATES

[1]

1. THE WARNING

In the early days of the world lived the patriarch Noah, a good and venerable man whose years already numbered six hundred.

Now Noah was warned that a great flood was to come, which would pour down from the clouds and drown the whole earth. He straightway told his neighbors what was to happen, but they refused to believe, and scoffed at him, and said: “Let it rain.[2]”

2. BUILDING THE ARK

Then Noah went his way, and set to work to build him a great ship, to be ready for the day of deluge.

And he laid the keel in the pasture fields, among the daisies; while the idlers came to look on and laugh at such folly—a ship for a rainy day![3]

3. LABOR TROUBLES

But Noah knew that he was right, and kept on.

And the ship rose, but troubles arose too: for frequent and grievous strikes delayed him, and his workmen clamored for more pay and stoned those who would work.

And Noah bargained with them, and started afresh; for he feared that the rain might come before he was ready.[4]

4. PAINTING THE ARK

At last, after many days, the ship was finished.

Then Noah tarred the inside and the outside, to keep it tight. And he named it the Ark, and painted it with colors; for Noah was proud of his work.[5]

5-6. ASSEMBLING THE ANIMALS

Then Noah went abroad and called together all the animals, by twos, and told them that they must come into the Ark to be saved from the deluge.

But they too doubted, and were slow to decide; for they feared to enter the dark ship.

And they grumbled, and said, “It may be but a shower.[6]”

5-6. ASSEMBLING THE ANIMALS (continued)

And though Noah argued with them, and explained all the terrible possibilities of the case, still they hesitated, and in their different tongues and ways talked it over, and would not be hurried.

Then Noah called them Stumbling Blocks. But even this did not move them.[7]

7. GOING ON BOARD

And Noah was vexed, and left them, and began to drive his domestic animals on board, hoping to set the others an example.

And his sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—helped him, while he kept count.[8]

8. CONFUSION

Then new troubles began. For now the other beasts and birds, fearing to be left behind, all tried to get in at once, and could not be controlled.

But they did not leave behind their dislikes and ancient feuds. For how could the cats and the mice live together in peace, or how could the fox and the geese agree? And the hounds and the hares?

And quarrels and dissensions came into the Ark. And confusion reigned.

And Noah lost count, and lost patience as well.[9]