The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-03-20
DUB STORY TELLER.
THE DYKE.

Tho kingdom Of the Netherlan DIS, or
rs il is more commonly known, Holland,
owes its existence as much to the skill
and energy of its people as to anything
else. The surface of large part of the
country is several feet below the level
OF the sea; and but for the ingenuity
and unceasing vigilance of the govern
ment 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 en-
bankments, have been erected along the
low, fat 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
10 inundation from the Rhine and other
rivers, as well as from the sea and thus
exhibited q succession of shiny and bar
rem sands. But patient industry, by
rai-ing dykes against the sea and rivers,
has converted the waste into smiling
garden.
These dams or dykes form the charac-
terislic and most remarkable feature of
the Dutch landscape. They are some
times planted with rows of trees, be-
tween which run the canals and roads
of the country. At frequent intervals
the dykes are surmounted with wind
mills. the object of which is to pump
che 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
by the name of Dirk Dauneker. He
had family of young children, the
usual accompaniment of a poor man s
lot; but he was lucky in having a wife
who made the best of their humble con-
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 IL 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 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
aud he himself had narrowly escaped
being drowned. 1t had left vivid ina
preston upon his mind, and he shud
dered to think of it, though a score OF
years had elapsed since then.
He had six children, four boys and
two girls, all as psle-faced and moon
eyed as the most ardent Hollander coulc
have desired. They were remarkably
good, sensible children-the oldest being
just sixteen, and the youngest abou
seven and their parents were as proud
as they were fond of them.
The fourth child, Hans by name, wa
the mothers pet. He was just ten year
old, and had a sweet, wistful face, sucl
rs any painter would have been eager Il
transfer to canvas. He was a 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 O
the dangers of fisherman's life; bu
best of all to those which related to tn
terrible inroads of the sea upon hi
native land. He pondered over theI
gravely, and often spoke to his parent
Of them. Sometimes his father, smilin
at his wise remarks, would say:
"My little Hans, when you are a bi
man like me, you will be a fisherman
and sail my boat"
But Hans would reply, gravely:
mo; when 1 am a man, shall as
the king to let me watch the dykes, an
i will Keep back the sea, and save m
country from suffering any SORROW"
Young as he was, Hans watched th
dykes. Every day, and every night b,
fore he said his prayers and went to bec
he would go out to the dyke in front {
his fathers hut, and examine it car
fully; and as soon as he was up in th
morning he would repeat the searcl
His mother watched him, wistfully, bu
said nothing. Yet she never ceased (
fear that the sea would take him frol
her.
The winter that brought little Hans
tenth birthday was wild and storm
season. Such constant and unbroke
succession of gales had not been know
- in the German Ocean for a centur
The king sent orders to the low cou
tries TO watch the dams with ceasele
care; and an increased force was st
toned along the coast with orders to
in readiness to repair any sluice at
moments warning. Night and day
watch was kept all along the coast.
But the best watchman there was Ii
tie Hans Dauneker. He went his roun
J. regularly, and his eye never passed ov
o square inch of the embankment wit
out ascertaining thoroughly its conc
ton.
One night, about mid-winter, wi
storm was passing along the coast.
was a fearful storm, and had been rs
ing with unabated violence for thr
days.
ats bad time," said Dirk Daur
ker, gloomily. "If the dykes can stal
this, we need fear nothing else"
The mother looked at little Hans, b