The Portland daily press., 1867-04-06
Selected Story.
THE DUTCH DYKES.
The Story Of a Little Hero.

The kingdom of the Netherlands OF, as ~
is more commonly known iiohanu, oweS ''s
existence as much to the skill anu energy Vi
~ 4 Io,ae mart of the country is several feet
below the l,yel of the sea; and, but Tor the
inaenuitv and unceasing vigilance OF the gov
er9ment and people, the ocean would soon be
sweeping over that thriving country, and it
wouId be blotted from the face OF the earth.
But by the aid of science and constant labor,
dykes, or huge embankments, have been
erected along the low, fiat coast, by means OF
which the waves are kept at bay, and the
country saved from ruin. These dykes are
often sixty feet in hight, especially along the
shores OF the German Ocean Oh the west, and
those of the Zuyder Zee on the east. The
Dutch, taught by experience, are ever on the
watch to take advantage OF every clrcum-
stance to resist the Entertainments of the sea.
Holland was originally series OF banks OF
sand or mud exposed to inundatiOn from the
Rhine, and other rivers, as well as from the
sea and thus exhibited succession OF SHINY
and barren sands, But patient industry, by
raising dykes against the sea and rivers, has
converted the waste into smiling garden.
These dams or dykes form the Characters
tic and most remarkable feature OF the Dutch
landscape They are sometimes planted with
rows of trees, between which run the canals
and roads OF the country. AT frequent inter
walls the dykes are surInOunted with wind
mills, the object OF which is, to pump the wa
ter from the enclosed land, or pOlder, into the
canal. s.
The most constant care is necessary to keep
the dykes in repair; and seepless watch Is
maintained over them at all points. The
slightest crevice or crack is a. once reported,
and workmen are set to repairing it. Not
moment is lost, for every second gained by the
water increases the leak until it sometimes
sweeps away the dam, causing frightful de-
struction to life and property.
AT the present day the dyke system has been
brought to such a state of perfection that
overfows are of rare occurrence save during
seasons of unusually violent and prOtracted
storms. But hundred years ago, the low
country was at the mercy of the sea; for the
dams were vastly inferior to those OF to-day,
and the system of drainage was but imper-
fectly understood. Then overfows were both
frequent and terrible. Sometimes miles OF
country were laid under water, and thousands
OF human beings drowned. The greatest OF
all these disasters occurred nearly six hum
dred years ago, when the ocean swept away
nearly as much land as is contained in Wales,
and destroyed many towns and several thou
sand human beings and cattle.
At the time of which we write, more than
century ago, the low country was in constant
danger, and the season OF storms was always
period OF dread and anxiety to the people
MANY were the tales which were told at win
ter tresides by the old folk, of dangers incurred
and lucky escapes made in moments of peril
from the waters, until even the little children
came to think OF the sea with feeling OF hor-
ror and dread, and to regard it as their mortal
enemy. Indeed, we may say that the people
were in state of constant suspense, which
may have done much to give them the patient
courage which they have transmitted to their
inth arc al acn 40
ones to their breast, and wonder il they would
ever grow to manhood and womanhood, or
how long it would be before the cruel sea
would rise in its wrath, and sweep them all
into one common grave. Every one, there
fore, watched the dykes; and the government
always felt assured, that whether the agents
were faithful or not, the vigilance of the peO-
pie never slept, and that any danger would be
detected at once.
In the year 1859, there lived on the shore
OF the German Ocean, in the province o!
NOrUh Holland, poor fisherman by the name
OF Dirk Darmeker. He had a family OF young
children, the usual accompaniment OF a poor
mans lot; but he was lucky in having a vie
who made the best OF their humble condition,
and spared no effort to brighten and cheer her
good man in his labors The Daunekers were
honest, God-iearing people, and were respected
by all the community. Yet they were very
poor, and it was with difficulty that they could
procure their daily store of bread and cheese.
The sea supplied them with fish; but OF meat
they had none.
Dirk Dauneker's ancestors had been fisher
men before him, and some had found a last
resting place in the blue waters which had
supplied their daily wants in life. His father
had persisted in an inundatiOn twenty years
before and he himself had narrowly escaped
being drowned. 1t had left vivid impress
sion upon his mind, and he shuddered to think
OF 1t, though score OF years had elapsed
since then. He had six Children four boys
and two girls, all as palefaced and moon eyed
as the most ardent Hollander could have de-
sired. They were remarkably good, sensible
children-the oldest being just sixteen, and
the youngest about seven-and their parents
were as proud as they were fond OF them.
The fourth child, Hans by name, was the
mothers pet. He was just ten years old, and
had u sweet, .wistiul face, such as any painter
would have been eager to transfer to canvas.
He was a quiet, thoughtful child, and, though
warm-hearted, was undemonstrative. AT the
first glance you would have thought him eff
Terminate, but, upon closer examination OF
the features, you could not but think that the
grave, firm lips, which were strongly marked
in one so young, were true indices of deter
minatiOn and courage OF the highest order.
Little Hans loved to listen to tue stories
which his father would tell of the dangers OF
fisherman's life; but the best OF all to those
which related TO the terrible inroads OF the sea
upon his native land. He pondered over them
gravely, and often spoke to his parents OF them
Sometimes his father, smiling at his wise re-
marks, would say: s -rtss F.4-.
"My little Hans, when you are big man
like me, you will be a fisherman and sail NV
boat"
But Hans would reply. gravely:
mo; when am man shall ask the king
TO let me watch the dykes, and will keep
back the sea, and save my country from sui-
fering any sorrow"
Young as he was, Hans watched his dykes.
Every day, and every night before he said his
prayers and went to bed, he would 60 out to
the dyke in front of his fathers hut, and ex-
anime 1t carefully; and as soon as he was up
IN the morning he would repeat the search
HIS mother watched him, wistfully, but said
nothing; yet she never ceased to fear that the
sea would take him from her -I
Inc winter that brought little Hans tenth
birthday was wild and stormy season. Such
a constant and unhroken succession of Gales
had not been known in the German Ocean for
century. The KING sent orders to the low
countries to watch the dams with ceaseless
care; and an increased force was stationed
along the coast with orders TO be in readiness
to repair any sluice at a moments warning
Night and day watch was kept all along the
coast.
But the best Waterman there was little
Hans Dauneker. He went his rounds regu-
larry, and his eyes never passed over square
inch of the embankment without aScertalning
thoroughly its condition.
One night, about mid winter, wild storm
was passing along the coast 1t was fearful
storm, and had been raging with undated
violence Tor three DAYS.
Its bad time,' said Dirk Dauneker,
gloomily. "If the dykes can stand this. we
need fear nothing else.o
The mother looked on little Han. bnt no
said nothing; and sat with his ewes fxaJ
dreamily on the fire. Presently he arose. and
went into the outer room. There he wrannad
himself in his warm coat, and lit his 70 tbppr.s
lantern. lie was leaving the house wban h;o
mother, who had followed him silently la a9
her hand on his shoulder '"i'
"Where are you going, child ?o she said
'TO look at my dyke, MOTHER he renIied
"On such a night as this?"
81 could not sleep, mother, unless I did 90
must do my little work, for home and father.
land"
The mother could not refuse him; SO she
laid her hand on his head, and said, tenderlv.
May heaven bless thee and keep thee, child"
The little Hans went out into the storm.
ne soon reached what he called his post; and
i1end every thing safe and secure. Some
t .nmS' me ne knew not what urged him to go be-
yonu li.s usual walk, and he kept on toward
.l VI north, hashing his lantern along the side
~ IA. Ino uyne, ana examining the earth wall