262 AMERICAN GRAPE GROWING 



4. He made a solemn household call 

 And summoned wife and child and all, 

 And planted vines where'er they'd grow. 

 Forsooth old Noah was not slow. 



He pressed the grape, and built a cave, 

 And put it into casks to save. 



5. Old Noah, grateful for the boon, 

 Cask upon cask did open soon ; 

 And with sincerest piety, 



Did empty them most willingly ; 



And drank yet, since the flood was o'er, 



Three hundred years, and fifty more. 



6. This to each prudent man does show, 

 From drinking wine no harm can flow, 

 And Christian folks it warns, moreo'er, 

 No water in their wine to pour, 



The whilst there have been drowned therein 

 All beasts and mankind in their sin. 

 (from the German of Kopish, translated by J. A. Schmidt.) 



NOAH'S LEGACY. 



1. When Noah felt approach his end 

 He said, " I'll make my testament." 

 He counted over all his stocks, 



His cattle, donkeys, goats and bucks, 

 The sheep, camels, and all the rest 

 With which so richly he was blest. 



2. This done, he said, " I wish to see, 

 At once, my friend the notary." 



To him he spoke, " You shall divide 

 My property. Now do it right ; 

 Let all my children have their share, 

 And take, yourself, what's just and fair." 



3. Thus they divided all. But still, 

 Before the lawyer signed the will 

 (He was, as clerks in average, 

 Fond of a pleasant beverage), 

 He said : " But now, beloved sir, 

 Who of your wine shall be the heir?" 



4. Said Noah : "In daylight and here 

 We can't decide that question, dear! 

 Let to the cellar us descend 



And see, how there, the case may stand. 



