Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-01-06
THE BOY AT THE DYKE.


1t is said that little boy in Holland
was returning one night from the village
10 which he had been sent by his father
on An GRAND, when he noticed the water
trickling through narrow opening in ths
dyke. He stopped and thought what the
consequences would be if the hole was NOT
closed. He knew, for he had often heard
his father tell, the sad disasters which hap
pened from such small beginnings, how in
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 every thing in its way
Should he run home and alarm the villa
gers,-it would be dark before they could
arrive, and the hole might even then be
so large as to defy all attempts to close it.
Prompted by these thoughts, he seated
himself on the bank of the canal, and stop
ped the opening with his hand, and pa
tiently waited the approach of some villa
ger. Rnt rs ono Gamer Hour after hour
rolled slowly by,~yet there sat the heroic
boy, in cold and darkness, shivering, wet
and tired, but stoutly pressing his hand
against the dangerous breach All night
he stayed at his post. At last the morn
ing broke. A clergyman walking up the
canal Heard a groan, and looked to see
where it came from. "W4y are you here,
my child" he asked, seeing the boy and
surprised at his strange position. 81 am
keeping back the water, sir, and saving
the village from being drowned" answer
cd the child with lips so benumbed with
cold that he could scarcely speak. The
astoniShed minister relieved the boy. The
dyke was closed, and the danger which
threatend hundreds of lives was prevent
ed. "Heroic boy! What a noble spirit
of selfdcvotedness he showed!" every one
will exc,aim. A heroic boy he indeed
was and what was it that sustained him
through that 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 to his seat?-
Was it not the responsibility Of has position
Did he not determine TO brave all fatigue,
the danger, the darkness and the cold, in
thinking what the consequences would be,
If he should forsake it? His mind pic
tured the quiet homes and beautiful farms
of the people, inundated by the flood of
waters, and he determined to stay at his
post or to die. Now there is a sense in
which every person, every boy and girl,
occupies position Of far weighticr respon-
sibility than that of tic little Hollander on
that dark and lonesome night; for by the
good or bad influence which you do and
shall exert, yOR may be the means Of turn
ing u tide Of wretchedness and eternal ruini
on the world. God has given you SoRe1
aciere post of duty to occupy and you
cannot get above or below your obligations
to be faithful in it. You are responsible
for leaving your work undone. You can
hot excuse yourself by saving, am no.
body-I don't exert any Influence" for
there is nobody so mean or obscure that
he has not some influence, and you have
it whether you will or no, and you are re-
sponsible for the consequences of that in
fluence whatever it is. Take your stand
before the world then, with determine
ton to devote your influence to virtue, to
humanity, to God. Let the children be-
gin life and grow up with these solid prin-
ciplcs of action, 10 fear and to honour God,
TO be true to your conscience, and to do
all the good they can. Then will your
path indeed be like that of the Just, which
"shineth more and more unto the perfect
day."