The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-10-20

industry and perseverance,. It shows
from the first to the last that to the ac-
tive hand and steady will nothing is i'm
possible.
So they built along the line of coast,
huge dykes, somewhat resembling n mill
dam, and here and there they put huge
wooden gates, called sluices. They en-
pioyed men, called sluicers, to open and
shut these big oak gates, or sluices which
close the entrance of the canals and Sc
cure Holland from danger TO which it
geems exposed, of finding itself under
water rather than above it.
Now, the father of Hans was sluicer,
and ii was his duty, when water was re-
quired TO fill the canals, to raise the
sluices and let the water come through
and then to close them carefully again
when no more water was needed, just az
you shut off the water of a hydrant by
turning the faucet, otherwise the water
would flow into the canals, then overflow
them and inundate tho whole country.
Hans had often been with his father
when he was attending to the sluices with
the men in his employment. He knew
that the canals were already so full they
could hold no more water, and must over
flow if more was poured into them. With
the instant perception which every child
in Holland would have, the boy saw that
the water must soon enlarge the hole
through which ie was now only dropping,
ard that utter and general ruin would be
the consequence of the inundation that
must follow.
The song dies on bis lips and his heart
trembles with fear as he realizes the dan.
la, l. -
is no time to run home and tell his faith
er. He knows that every moment is as
precious as q diamond, now. To throw
away the flowers in his hand, to climb
from stone to stone until he reaches the
hole and to put his finger in it is but the
wcrk of moment, and to his great de-
light he finds that no more water is flow
ing through.
"Oh, thank God, my little hand can
stop the flow of these great waters"
Hans said aloud, though there was no
one to hear.
For little while Hans thought only of
the success of his plan. But the night
was closing in aud the cell winds rising.
The boy looked round in vain for some
passers by VINO would help him. The
Dutch people are very regular in their
habits of early rising and retiring, and
they are generally eating hearty suppers
in their cottages when the night shadows
fall.
Hans shouted at the top of his voice:
Help! help! help"
Then he cried still louder:
Fire. fire! fire."
Then he screamed until he thought his
throat would burst with the effort he was
making.
Murder! murder! murder"
There was no answer but the echo of
his voice, the ripping of the water, the
some dogs far away.
There is no help for it," said the
brave little fellow to himself, 81 must
stay here by myself all night if no one
comes, and hold my finger in this hole
and keep the water from breaking
through and drowning all the people in
the country. 1t will be hard work, but
will do it,"
more biting and the poor finger fixed in
the hole began to feel bepumbed and
soon the numbness extended to the band
and thence throughout the whole arm.
The pain became still greater, yet the
poN bibNou uot ITUul the Colu, nara stone
on which he sat. Tears rolled down his
cheeks as no thought of his father, of his
mother, of his warm little bed, where he
might now be sleeping so soundly; still
the brave little fellow stirred not, for he
knew that IL he removed the small slend er
finger which he had opposed TO the es-
cape of the water ot only would he him
self be drowed, but his parents, his broth.
a i, L.
whole village would be swept away.
Who can tell how often bis courage
feltered, how many times he felt his pur
pose failing during that long and terrible
nights
At last the moon went down, the bark
ing OF the dogs csased, there was dark.
ness and stiffness over all the earth.
There was not even the hooting of an owl
to break the terrible silence that made
the brave little heart quake with the fear
that most children feel when alone in the
dark. The wind blew keener and colder,
and the boys limbs ached like the tooth
ache.
He heard some Tapping over his head
and he shuddered with dread as he
thought il might be one of the ghosts of
which old Heinrich had often told him
tales, or, what he feared almost as much,
it might be one of those big bats that
are said to fasten themselves in ones
hair and never let go until it thunders.
The wings were brushing against his
cheeks. With his left arm he struck o
terrible blow at it, and to his great Joy it
fell dead at his feet. 1t was bat.
4 - r 4"
Now the chickens in the distance be.
gan TO announce by their growing that
the dawn was approaching. Socn the
dogs began to bark, the COWS to low, the
little birds sang taeir sweet morning
songs, there was crimson pointed clouds
in the east, and daylight was coming
once more after night that seemed a
week long To the aching body of little
Hans. Soon he knew some one would
pass by and give him assistance and re-
lease him from his painful position.
Oh, how the little fellow prayed for
strength to hold out until that person
came. But though his spirit was as brave
as ever he could not help groaninS from
the pain he was enduring, SO he did not
hear the faint sound of footsteps of \
man coming along the tow pa h of the
canal.