Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-07-20

Ab WtAS nAS Outyf "ueh NatNA WesS AS4AtV0 " II 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 as 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 the 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 overflow if moro 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 it was now only dropping, and that utter and general ruin would be the consequence of the inundation that must follow. The song dies on his lips and his heart tremhles with fear as he realizes the danger which threatens his country. There is no time to run home and tell his father. He knows that every moment is as precious & dia- mond 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 work of a moment, and to his great delight he finds that 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 a little while Hans thought only of the success of his plan. But the night was closing in and the cold winds were rising. The boy looked round in vain for some pass CTS by who would help him. The Dutch peo- pie 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 bis voice:
 "Helpi helpl help!"
 Then he cried still louder:
 ''Firel fire! firel"
 Then he screamed until he thought his throat would burst with the effort he was making.
 'Murder murder murderI'
 There was no answer but the echo of h1s voice, the rippling of the water the signing of the winds and the barking of some dogs far away.
 "There is no help for it." said the brave little fellow to himself. "I must stay hero 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. twill be hard work, but will do it."
 Every moment the cold was becoming
 
 hole began to feel benumbed and soon the numbness extended to the hand and thence throughout the whole arm. The pain be- came still greater, yet the boy moved not from the cold, hard stone on which he sat. Tears rolled down his cheeks as be 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 if he removed the small, | slender finger which he had opposed to the escape of the water not only would he him. self be drowned, but his parents, his brothers and sisters, his neighbors-in fact, the whole village would be swept away. Who can tell how often his courage fal- | tered, how many times he felt his purpose failing during that long and terrible night; At last the moon went down, the barking of the dogs ceased, there was darkness and stiffness over all the earth. There was not | even the hooting of an owl to break the ter | rible silence that made the brave little heart l quake with the fear that most children feel when alone in the dark. The wind blew | keener and colder, and the boy's limbs ached | like the toothache.
 He heard some wings Tapping over his l head, and he shuddered with dread as he l thought it 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 l faSten themselves in ones hair and never let l go until it thunders.
 The wings were brushing against his cheeks. With his left arm he struck a terri | ble blow at it, and to his great Joy it fel dead at his feet. It was bat
 
 Now the chickens in the distance began te announce by their growing that the dawr was approaching. Soon the dogs began tt bark, the COWS to low; the little birds sans their sweet morning songs, there were crim son pointed clouds in the east, and dayligh was coming once more after night tha seemed week long to the aching body O little Hans. Soon he knew some one would pass by and give him assistance and releas, him from his painful position. Oh, how the little fellow prayed fo strength to hold out until that person came But though his spirit was as brave as ever h. could not keep from grooming from the pail he was enduring, so he did not hear the fain sound of the footsteps of 8 man coming alon, the tow path of the canal.
 It was Herr Vondel, the preacher, who wa returning from the bedside of one of his dy ing parishioners.
 The good man followed the sound of tn groans be heard until he discovered the chiI, seated on a stone writhing from pain am with pale face and fearful eyes.
 "In the name of wonder, boy" be ex claimed, "what are you doing therel"
 II am keeping the water from ruunin out," was the answer, in perfect simplicity of the child who during that whole night ha been showing such heroic fortitude and ur daunted courage.
 So the minister took the place of Hal, until the boy could get his father to bring hi men and stop up the hole.
 "Why didst thou not send to search for m when thou foundst did not come homer' tn boy said reproachfully to his mother whe he was recovering from the effects of hi fatigue.
 "Why, Hans" his mother replied, apole getically, II thought thee was iE bed wit the other twelve It's hard work to keep bakers dozen of boys in their places. ."-M F. in Philadsiphia.Call.
 '
 Method of Snake Catching.
 The best method have found for captu, ing snakes, except the large black ones, Is th following. When you see one that 70 want, endeavor, by all possible means, { cover him with your net Then grasp h hofu Sho z