After good old father Noah had completed the building of the ark, the
animals were gathered together near it by the angels appointed over
them. They came in pairs, and Noah stood at the door of the ark to see
that each one entered with its mate. As soon as the waters of the flood
rose upon the surface of the earth, the children of men hid themselves
in their homes for safety. All traffic and business ceased, for the
angel of death was abroad. This state of affairs caused Falsehood to
realize that henceforth there was no chance of her plying her trade.
Was it not quite evident that the ever-increasing waters of the flood
would soon sweep away the wicked folk who had rebelled against their
Heavenly Creator? Where should Falsehood betake herself for safety?
Forthwith she hastened to the ark, but its door was shut. What was to
be done?
Falsehood knocked at the door with trembling hand. Noah opened the
window of the ark, and put out his head to see who was knocking. It was
a strange creature before his door. Noah had never seen her before,
because he was a righteous man who never told lies.
“What dost thou want?” he cried.
“Let me come in, please,” she replied.
“Gladly,” cried Noah, “would I admit thee if thy mate were with thee,
for only pairs are admitted here.”
In grief and disappointment Falsehood went away. She had not gone a few
yards before she met her old friend Wickedness, who was now out of
employment.
“Whence cometh thou, dear friend Falsehood?” asked Wickedness.
“I come,” said Falsehood, “from old father Noah. Just listen. I asked
him to let me come into the ark, but he refused unless I complied with
his rules.”
“What does he require?” asked Wickedness.
“The good old man stipulated that I must have a mate, because all the
creatures admitted into the ark are in pairs,” Falsehood replied.
“Now, dear friend, is this the truth?” queried Wickedness with a merry
twinkle in his evil eye.
“Of course it is the truth, on my word of honour,” rejoined Falsehood.
“Come now,” she added, “wilt thou be my mate? Are we not just fit to be
joined together, two honest and poor creatures?”
“If I agree,” said Wickedness, “what wilt thou give me in return?”
Falsehood thought awhile and with a cunning look at her friend she
exclaimed,—
“I faithfully promise to give to thee all that I earn in the ark. Have
no fear, I shall do excellent business even there, because I feel very
fit and energetic.”
Wickedness agreed to the terms immediately, and there and then a proper
agreement was drawn up, and duly signed and sealed. Without further
delay they both hastened to Noah, who readily admitted the happy pair.
Falsehood soon began to be very busy and earned good money. She often
thought of her agreement with Wickedness with regret, as she realized
that she alone did all the business. She even said to him one day,—
“Look here, how easily can I carry on my trade single-handed?”
He merely reminded her of the agreement, and day by day he wrote down
in his ledger the sum total of the day’s takings.
At the end of the year, for the flood lasted twelve months, they came
out of the ark. Falsehood brought home much treasure, but Wickedness
came with her and claimed the whole of the hard-earned fortune.
Thereupon Falsehood said to herself, “I will ask my mate to give me
some of my earnings.”