things seem strange to children, and they can't help askin' about 'em.

But 4,000 wus the estimate Josiah and me calculated on our pillows that
night wus the number of questions the boy asked on our way home, about the
creation, how the world wus made, and the ark--oh, how he harressed my
poor companion about the animals! "Did they drive 2 of all the animals in
the world in that house, uncle Josiah?"

[Illustration: GOING TO MEETING.]

"Yes," says Josiah.

"2 elfants, and rinosterhorses, and snakes, and snakes, and bears, and
tigers, and cows, and camels, and hens?"

"Yes, yes."

"And flies, uncle Josiah?--did they drive in two flies? and mud-turkles?
and bumble-bees? and muskeeters? Say, uncle Josiah, did they drive in
muskeeters?"

"I s'pose so."

"_How_ could they drive in two muskeeters?"

"Oh! less stop talkin' for a spell--shet up your little mouth," says
Josiah in a winnin' tone, pattin' him on his head.

"I can shut up my mouth, uncle Josiah, but I can't shut up my thinker."