Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-12-04
THE BOY AT THE DYKE.

1t is said that q little boy in Holland
was returning one night from a village TO
which he had been sent by his father on
an errand, when he noticed the watot
irckling through narrow opening in the
dyke. He stopped and thought what the
consequences would be ifrhe hole was not
closed. lie knew, for he had often heard
his father tell, the sad disasters which had
happened from small beginnings; how, in
a few hours the opening would become
bigger and bigger, and let in the mighty
mass OF waters pressing on the dyke, until
/ the whole defence being washed away, the
rolling, dashing, angry waters would sweep
on TO the next village, destroying life, and
property, and everything in its way.
Should he run home and alarm the villa
gers, it would be dark before they could
arrive, and the hole even then might be
so large as to defy all attempts to close it,
Prompted by these thoughts, he seated
himself on the bank of the canal, stopped
the opening with his hand, and patiently
awaited the approach Of villagers. But no
one came. Hour after hour rolled slowly
by, yet there sat the heroic boy, in cold
and darkness, shivering, wet, and tired,
but stoutIy pressing his hands against the
dangerous breach. All night he stayed at
his post. At last the morning broke. A
clergyman, walking up the canal heard
a groan and looked around 10 see where
1t came from, why are you there, my
child 2 he asked, seeing the boy, and sur.
prsed at his strange position. 4 am keep.
ing back the water, sir, and saving the
village from being drowned, answered the
child, with lips so benumbcd with cold
that he could scarcely speak, The aston.
ished minister relieved the boy. The dyke
was closed, and the danger which threat.
ened hundreds Of lives was in this man.
ner prevented.
Heroic boy! What noble spirit oi
self.devotedness he showed every one
will eXcaim. A heroic boy indeed he was
and what was it tina, sustained him through
the lonesome night? Why, when his
teeth chartered, his limbs trembled, and
his heart was wrung with anxiety, did he
not fly TO his safe and warm home What
thought bound him 10 his seat! Was il
not the responsibility Of his position ? Did
he not determine to brave all the fatigue,
the danger, the darkness, and the cold, in
thinking what the consequences would be,
if he should lorsake it! His mind pclu.
red the quiet homes and beautiful farms
. of the people inundated by the food oil
water, and he determined 10 stay at his
post or 10 die.
Now, there is n sense in which every
person, every boy and girl, occupies a
position Of far weighlier responsibility
than that of the little Hollqnjer on thai
dark and lonesome night; for, by the good
or bad influence which you do and shall
exert, you may be the means of turning a
tide Of wrctchedness and ruin, or a pure
stream of goodness and gadnoss on the
world. God has given you somewhere q
post OF duty 10 occupy, and you canno
get above or below your obligations to be
faithful in it. You are responsible for leav.
ing your work undone, as well as having
it badly done. You cannot excuse your
self by saying, 4 am nobody-I don't ex
ert any inhuence;' for there is nobody SC
mean or Obscure that he has not some in
fluence; and you have it whether you vii
or no, and you are responsible for tht
consequences of that influence, whateve
it is.