Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1854-10-26
TME boz AT TIlE pYKE.


II Is said that little boy in Holland "a
returniugone night from the VILLAGE 10 vhici
be had been sent BY his father on an errans
when be noticed the water srickling throarl
narrow epeaing in the dyke He s.oppcs
ne Il the lTole was not closed He knew. foi
ne had often heard his father tell the sal
disasters which happened from such small
beginnings, how in few hours the opening
would become bigger and bigger, and let ii
.ne mighty mass of waters pressing en- the
dyke, until the whole defence being washed
away, the rolling, dashing, angry waters
would sweep on the next village. destroying
NE and property and everything in its way.
Should heIrun home and alarm the villagers.
It would be dark before they could arrive
aud the hole might even then be so large as
to defy all attempts to close it.
Prompted BY these thoughts. be seated
himself on the bank Of the canal. and ssopped
the opening with his hand, and patiently
waited the approach Of some villager. But
no one eauie Hour after hour rolled slow.
~ by, yetfthere sat the heroic boy, in cold
and darkness, .shiyering, wet, and tired but
stoutiy pressing his had against the danger
Gus breach Ali night be stayed at his post.
At last the morning broke. A clergyman
walking up the canal heard croan. and
looked around to see where it came from
why are you here, my child p he asked,
seeing the boy and surprised at his strange
position y am keeping back the water, sir,
and saving the village from being drowned
answered the child, with lips SO benumed
with cold that be could scarcely speak The
astonished minister relieved the boy Toe
dyke was closed, and the danger which threat
ened hundreds ofliyes was prevented.
Heroic hoy What noble spirit Of self
devotednes4 he showed i every one will ex-
claim a heroic boy be indeed was and
what was THAT sustained him through that
lonesome night2 Why, when his teeth chat
tered, his limbs trembled, and his heart was /
wrung with anxiety, did he net fly to his
safe and warm heme2 What thought bound I
him to his seat2 Was it not the response.
Dility Of has positiona Did he not deter
mine to brave all the fatigue, the danger
the darkness and the cold, in thinking what /
the consequences would be, if he should for.
sake 1t His mind pictured the qiues
homes and beautiful farms of the people. in.
undated BY the flood of waters, and he de
s ~ Esfs H H aS Ct bis dh qpt dts
some night, for, BIZ the good or bad inau-
,nce which YOU 40 and shall exert, you may
be the means Of turning tide Of wretched-
ness and eternal ruin, or pure stream Of
and goodness, on the world. God
has given YOU Somewhere post Of duty to
occupy. and you cannot get above or below
your obligations to be faithful IN It. lou
are responsible for leaving your work I'M
done. as well as having it badly done. You
cannot. excuse yourself by saying, i am no
body don't exert any influence ior
there il NOBODY SO mean or obscure that he
has not some influence, and you are respon>
sible for the consequences Of that influence, |
whatever It Is. Take your stand before the
world then with determination to devote |
your influence TO virtue, to humanity, to
God. Let the children begin life and grow
up with these solid principles OF action, to
fear and 70 honor God, to be true to your
conscience. and. to do all the good you carl
Then will YOUR path indeed will be like that
of the just which sshineth more and more un-
to the perfect day. s. j