The “nearest duty must first be done;” and Artie takes up the dreaded task to find his Papa has kindly chosen
“How do the waters come down at Ladore?”
and very soon troubles, vexations, and the pattering drops without, are all forgotten in the bright meaning and jolly rhythm of the
“Poet laureate to you and the Queen.”
In the nursery fair weather prevailed, for Nan has made her beds and dusted her rooms in the twinkling of an eye, for her heart is in the “nussry,” and there she sits on the floor, introducing to the delighted children, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, with their wives, in their stiff red and yellow waterproof clothes, for you know, children, the wardrobe of Noah’s family must have been a very scanty one.
Nan had her own stories to tell, as the “two by twos” joined the procession, stories so well and confidently told, that the little folk feel as if they were standing on Mount Ararat itself, watching the procession go by.
Presently Jack’s bright eyes discover a pale, wistful face pressed against the window-pane of the next house, and immediately, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and the “two by twos” are deserted for the new acquaintance.
The little boy disappears for a few moments, and then returns with a paper, on which is printed, in large inky letters,