The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-14
THE DYKE.

energy OF It's people as to anything else.
The surface OF u large part of the coun-
try is several feet below the levil of the
sea, and but for the ingenuity and un-
ceasing vigilance of the Government and
people the ocean would soon be sweeping
over that thriving country, and it would
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
height, especially along the shores of the
German Ocean on 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 cir.
cumstance to resist the encroachments 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 slimy and bar
rem sauds. But patient industry, by
raising dykes against the sea and rivers,
has converted the waste into smiling
garden.
These dams or dykes form the charac-
teristic and most remarkable feature OF
the Dutch landscapes. They are some
times planted with rows of trees, between
which run canals and roads of the cOun-
try. At frequent intervals the dykes are
surmounted with windmills, the object
of which is to pump the water from the
inland, or polder, into the canal.
In the year 1859 there lived on the
shore of the German Ocean. in the Prov.
ince of North Holland, poor fisherman
bv the name of Dirk Dauneker. He had
a family of young children, the usual
accompaniment of poor mans lot; but
he was lucky in having awife 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-fear.
ing 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
fishermen 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 perished in
an inundation twenty years before, and
he himself had narrowly escaped being
drowned. 1t had left vivid impression
upon his mind, and he shuddered tc
think of it, though score Of years had
elapsed since then.
He had six children, four boys and
two girls, all as pale-taced and moon.
eyed as the most ardent IIollander could
have desired. They were remarkably
GOOD, sensible children-the oldest being
Just 16, and the youngest about 7-and
their parents were as proud as they were
fond of them.
The fourth child, Hans by name, wa.
the mothers pet. He was lust ten year
old, and had sweet, wistGul face, sucl
as any painter would have been eager tc
transfer to canvas. He was q quiet
thoughtful child, and, though warm
hearted, was undemOnstrative. At tn,
first glance you would have thought hin
effeminate; but, upon closer examina
tion of the features, you could but thinl
that the grave, firm lips, which wer'
strongly marked in one so young, wer,
true indices of determination and cour
age of the highest order.
Little Hans loved to listen to tn,
stories which his father would tell of tn
dangers of a fisherman's life; but best o
all to those which related to the terribl
inroads of the sea upon his native land
! He pondered over them gravely, an'
often spoke to his parents of them
Sometimes his father, smiling at his wis
remarks, would say:
, "My little Hans, when you are bi
man like me, you will be fisherman
: and sail my boat"
But Hans would reply, gravely:
, 'No; when | am man, shall ask tn
: King to let me watch the dykes, an
| | will keep back the sea, and save m
: country from suffering and sorrow"
. Young as he was, Hans watched tn
e dykes. Every day, and every night b'
| fore he said his prayers and went to bee
he would go out to the dyke in front c
his fathers hut, and examine it careful
lv; and as soon as he was up in the morr
ing he would repeat tie search. H
! :. mother watched him wistfully, but sal
nothing Yet she never ceased to fes
: that the sea would take him from her.
! The winter that brought little Han.
= tenth birthday was a wild and storm
season. Such a constant and unbroke
l. succession of gales had not been know
h in the German Ocean for century. II
Y King sent orders to the low countries I
y watch the dams with ceaseless care, an
an increased force was stationed alon
q the coast, with orders to be in readine
to repair any sluice at moments war;
o ing. Night and day watch was ke,
all along the coast.
But the best watchman there was lit
Hans Dauneker. He went his rounC
regularly, and his eye never passed ov'
a square inch of the embankment witt
. out ascertaining thoroughly its cond
g ton.
i One night, about mid-winter, a will
" storm was passing along the coast. Ii WI
y a fearful storm, and had been raging wit
unabatcd violence for three days.
'Its bad time" said Dirk Dauneke
Il gloomily "If the dykes can stand tn
:. we need fear nothing else.
4 The mother looked at little Hans, bl
d he said nothing; and sat with his ey
fixed dreamiIy on the fire. Presently /
:. arose and went into the outer room. The
q q he wrapped himself in his warm coat an
Lit his fathers lantern. He was leavir
the house, when his mother, who ha
followed him silently, laid her hand c