Noah's Legacy — Mississippi Valley Grape Growers' Association. 



103 



GcTiuan Text by Grunur. Translated by J. A. Schmidt. 



NOAH'S LEGACY 



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 blessed. 



This done he said, '' I wish to see 

 At once my Iriend the Notary. ' ' 

 To him, he spoke, " You shall divide 

 My property. Now do it right; 

 Let all my children have their share. 

 And take youi'.self what 's Just and fair 



Thus they divided all. But still. 

 Before the lawyer signed the will, 

 (He was, as lawyers in average, 

 Fond of a pleasant beverage.) 

 He said: " But now, beloved sir, 

 "Who of your Wine shall be the heir? ' ' 



Said Noah. '' In dayliglitand here 

 "We can't decide that question, dear I 

 Let to the cellar us descend, 



And see, how there the case may stand. 

 Don 't fear pains ! " " What my duty is, ' ' 

 The lawyer said, " I never miss. ' " 



A generous man old Noah was, 



And freely lilled the lawyer's glass. 



They drew a sample every where; 



They tasted here, they tasted there. 



And when they had the .stock gone through. 



Took an inventory anew. 



Back came to Noah youth and life. 



He thought no more of child and wife. 



' 'Dear friend," said he, " now put that down, 



And head it with a golden crown; 



Of all the wine which here you see. 



The Human Race the heir shall l)e.'' 



"No death bell ! Let the goblets ring! 

 And jolly boys my requeim sing. 

 Each cask lilled with the golden wine, 

 Shall be a monument of mine. 

 "Write this and make, dear notary, 

 Eternal thus my memory. 



ANNUAL MEETING OE THE MISSISSIPPI A^ALLEY GEAPE 

 GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 



St. Louis, March l-2th, 1870. 



The third annual meeting of this 

 Association will be held at the office 

 of the St. Louis Fair Grounds, south- 

 west corner of Fourth street and Wash- 

 ington avenue, St. Louis, commencing 

 on Wednesda}', April 6th, at 10 

 o'clock, A. M., and continuing two 

 days. 



Members, and all grape growers, 

 are urgently solicited to send in 

 statistics for 1869. 1st The number 

 of acres, or number of vines planted 

 in the year, and distance apart. 2d. 

 The number in bearing. 3d. The to- 

 tal number. 4th. The amount of 

 grades sold, and average price. 5th. 



The number of gallons of wine made. 

 6th. .Extent of injury sustained b}' 

 unfavorable weather, insect8,birds etc. 



It is desirable that these statistics 

 be made up at once, and forwarded to 

 the Secretary, who will furnish blanks 

 to any one desiring it. 



According to a resolution adopted 

 last year, one session during the meet- 

 ing will be devoted to the discussion 

 of the mode of treatment of the "must," 

 having particular regard to its condi- 

 tion as affected by the seasons, as well 

 as to its normal condition generally. 



A much larger quanity of wine 

 than usual was made last year, some 

 of it by new processes, and much of 



