Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-03-12
MISCELL A N Y.
THE BoY-HERo AT HAARLEM.

Wha PrseIes, Good HsrOisn. may do; ersn in child
AT an early period in the history of Holland boy was
born in Haarlem remarkable for It's variety OF for
tune in war; but happily still more so for its manufactures
and inventions of peace His father was sIucer-the
one whose employment was to open and shut the suces
or large oaken gates which placed at certain distances
10 close the Of the canals aud secure Holland from
the danger which it exposed, OF finding itself un
der water, rather than above it. When water is wanted
the sucer raises the suices less, as required as
cook the cock Of f0unain and closes them again
carefully at night otherwise the water would flow into
the canals and then overflow lhem and inundate the
whole cOuutryso that the little children III Holland
are fully of the importance oa sluces duties. The
boy was about eight years DID, when day he asked per-
mission to take some cakes blind man. who lived at the
other side Of the DYKE His father gave him leave, but
charged him stay late. The child promised and set
off on his Journey The blind thankfully partook OF
his young friends cakes, and the boy mindful of his ia
theirs order did not wait usual TO hear one of the old
mans stores but as he had him eat muf
fin took his leave of him to return home.
As he went along by the canals, then quite full (or it
was October and the Autumn rains had swelled the
ters the BOY stopped to pick blue flowers which
his mother loved well and in childish galety, hum
med merry song. The rOad gradually became solitary,
and neither the joyous shout Of vlager, returning his
cottage nor the rough voice Of the CARTER grumbng at his
lazy horses any lOager heard The little follow
perceived that the blue Of the flower in his hand was scarce
" distinguished from the green of the surrounding herbage
and he looked up in dismay. The night falling not,
hswever dark, winter night but of those beautiful,
clear moonlight nights in which every object precePble
though distinctly by day. The child thought OF
his father Of his Injunction and preparing to quit the
ravue in which he almost buried to regain the beach,
when suddenly slight noise, like the trckng of water
upon pebbles attracted his attention. He of
the largest suces and he caruy examines it, and
soon DISCOVERIES hole in the wood through which the
ter was flowing. With the instant perception which every
child in Holland would have, The boy saw the water must
soon enlarge the hole through which only drop
ping general ruin would be the consequence
Of the inundaou Of the country which must follow 10
see throw away the flowers climb from stone to stone,
ill he reached the hole, and put his finger into it,
the work Of moment and his delight he fluids that he
has succeeded in stopping the flow of the water.
This is all very well for little while, and the child
thought only of the of his Device But the night
was closing in, and with the night came the cold. The
little boy looked around in vain. No came He shout
ed-he called loudly, one answered. He resolved to
stay there all night but alas the cold was becoming
y biting, and the poor finger fixed in the hole
began feel benumbed, and the numbness extended
the hand and thence throughout the whole The
pain became still greater, still harder to bear, but still the
boy moved not. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he
thought of his father of his mother of his little bed wher
he might be sleeping sOundy but still the little fe
low stirred not for he knew that did he remove the small
slender hnger which he had opposed the escape of The
water, noTH2y would he himself be drowned but his IA
ther, MS hue BROTHER his neghbors-nay the whole viii
age. We Know not what fler ing of purpose what mo-
mentary failure Of courage there might have been durinu
the long and terrible night but certain it is that nj d
break he found in the same painful position bv eler
gyman returning from attendance death.bed who nc
he advanced thought he heard groans and bending the
Gyke discovered child seated stone wli,hiug from
pain and with pale face and fearful eyes.
ain the name of wonder" he exclaimed "wha are you
doing there? 2"
81 am hinderng the water from running out" was the
answer, perfect simplicity Of the child, who during the
whole night had been evncug such heroic forude and
undaunteG courage.
The Muse OF History, often blind to (rue) glory, has
handed to pOstery warrior the destroyer Ofhousands OF
his eow-men. but she has left in ignorance Of the name
of this real little Hero Of IlaaElem.