great interest.

Mother Goose was also in high spirits. Turning to Captain Noah, she
said:

"My dear Captain, if it weren't for you, I hardly know what in the world
I should have done. To fly on gander-back through the rain for forty
days and nights would be impossible, so I have you to thank for my
deliverance."

"Don't mention it, my dear Mother Goose," replied Captain Noah. "I did
only what was my duty. You know, I have always been the Weatherman of
Arkville, and, if I do say it, I have hit the mark every time. I knew,
in fact, I felt, that we were to have forty days and forty nights of
rain. For the last two weeks I have published this in the Arkville News.
To have the Ark finished in time was my greatest ambition, and now to
reach Mount Ararat will be the crowning joy of my career.

"We didn't know where we were at,
One wide river,
Until we bumped on Ararat,
One wide river to cross."

"I've so often heard that song at the Minstrels," said Mother Goose,
"that I believe it's really coming true."

FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS

THE Ark was an exceedingly good sea craft. It rode the waves and
breasted the gale without a mishap. Some of the animals became sea sick.
But this, of course, was to be expected. Even Captain Noah himself felt
rather queer at times, and as for little Tom Thumb, he kept to his bed
for almost a week. Puss, Junior, proved to be a very fine sailor. Not
once did he feel the least bit ill, and was able to help Mrs. Noah
attend to the sick passengers.

Of all the animals, however, the elephant was the most sea sick.

"Of course, it had to be the biggest animal!" said Captain Noah at
breakfast one morning. "Too bad, my dear," turning to Mrs. Noah, "that
you have such an unwieldy patient on your hands." Mrs. Noah only smiled.

"He does very little complaining," replied Mrs. Noah, "that is one thing
to be thankful for. Now, take the little black ant. She does nothing
but complain all the time. I'd rather attend to the elephant ten times
over."

"Well, mother, you always had something to be thankful for at the Ark
Hotel. I'm glad that on board the Ark you still keep your cheerful
disposition!" answered Captain Noah.

[Illustration]

But, oh, dear me! Pretty soon Puss, Junior, and Tom Thumb wondered if
the forty days and forty nights would ever end and if the rain would
ever stop. At last, one day, it seemed as if the sun were trying t