"I found a nice leather curtain in the box," said the gentleman, "which will shield me entirely."
"What a pity you did not find it this morning!" said Willie.
When they were seated in the carriage, they rode for nearly a mile before there was much said by the children. The new curtain proved a good screen from the rain, so that Mr. Gray was able to enjoy the ride as well as the rest of the party.
Frankie had been watching the drops as they fell from the lower edge of the curtain upon the leather boot; at last he said, "It seems as if we were in the ark."
"Why?" asked his mother, with a smile.
"Because—because it seems as if we were out in the rain, with waters all around us; but we are safe in here, and nothing can harm us."
"What shall we do now?" asked Willie. "Play school again? I call it real good fun."
"Let us sing," said Nelly.
"So we will; so we will!" and they began the sweet hymn commencing,—
"Jesus, thou heavenly stranger,
Who dwelt in mortal clay!
Thy cradle was a manger,
Thy softest bed was hay."