Wichita eagle., 1888-07-22

be was attending to the stuices with the men
in his employment He knew that the canals
were already so full the cn,,ld hold no more
water, and must overflow 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 it was now only
dropping, and that utter and general ruin
would be the consequence OF tho tnundation
that must follow.
The song dies on bis lips and his heart
trembles with fear as he realizes the danger
which threatens his country. There is no time
to run home and tell bis father. He knows
that every moment is as precious as 9 dia-
mond now. To throw away the flowers in
his band to climb from stone TO stone until
he reaches the hole and to put his finger in it
is but the work Of moment, and TO his great
delight he finds that no more water Is fow-
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 though, 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
ers by who would help him. The Dutch peo-
pie are very regular II their habits OF early
rising and retiring, and they are generally
eating hearty suppers in their cottages when
the night shadows fall.
Hans shouted q: the top Of bis voices
Help, help belp!"
Then be cried still louder:
''Firei firei fire.
Then he screamed until he thought his
throat would bG.ss with the effort he was
making.
'sMurderl murder, murderw
There was no answer bat the echo Of his
voice, the ripping Of the water, the signing
Of the winds and tie barking OF some dogs
far away.
There Is no help for IT," said the brave
little fellow to himself II 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
ell the people IL the country. It will be hard
work, but VIII do 70"
Every moment the cold was becoming
mere biting and the poor finger fixed in the
hole began to feel benuubed and soon the
uumbness extended to the hand and thence
throughout tia whole arm. TIE pain be-
came still greater, yet the boy moved not
from the cold, hard STONE on which he sat.
Tears relied down his cheeks as be thought Of
his father, Of his mother, Of his warm little
bed, where he might now be sleeping so
souuGiy; still the brave little fellow stirred
net, for he lIcow thet e be removed the small.
slender foger which he Lad opposed to tie
escape Of TIE water not only would he MIN
Sc De drowned, but his parents, his brothers
and sisters, his re.gkborr-in fact, the whole
village would be swept away.
Who can tell how often his courage faI-
tered, how many times he felt. his purpose
failing during tdat long and terrible night.
At last the moon went down, the barking
of the dogs ceased, there was darkness and
stiffness over ell the earth. There was not
even the hootng Of On owl to break the ter
rible 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
hike the too.hache.
He heard some wings tapping over his
head and hs shuddefed with dread as he
thought u might be ono Of the ghosts Of
which oI&8einrich had often told him tales,
or, what Be feared almost IS much, it might
be one Of those big bats that are said to
fasten themselves in os1s's hair and never let
20 until tt thunders.
The wings were brushing against his
cheeks With his left arm he struck terri
be blow at it, and to his great joy it fell
dead at his feet. It WIS bet,
Now the chickens In the distance began to
announce by their growing that the dawn
wss approaching. Soon the dogs began to
bark, the COWS to low: the little birds san,
their sweet morning songs. there were Grim
son pointed clouds in the east, and daylight
was coming once moro after q 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 release
him from his painful position.
On, how the little fellow prayed for
strength to hold out until that person came.
But though his spirit was as brave as ever be
could not keep from groaning from the pain
he was enduring, SO Re did not hear the faint
sound Of the footsteps OF a man coming along
ths tow path Of the canal
It was Herr Vondel. the preacher. who was
returning from the bedside Of ons OF hi. dy-
ing parishjoners.
The good man followed the sound 81 thu
groans he heard until he discovered the child
seated on stone wrishi1s from pain and
with pale face and tearfrl eyes.
SIN the name of wonder, buy;s he ex-
claimed, what are you doing th.reF
Il an keeping the water from running
out WAS the answer, in perfect simplicity,
Of the child who during that whole night had
been showing such heroic forttude and IN
daunted courage.
So the minister took the place Of Hans
until the boy could get his father % bring his
men and stop UP the hole.
why didst thou not send to search for me
when thou foundst l did not come homer Che
boy said reproachtuIly to his mother when
he was recovering from the effects Of his
fatigue.
why, Hans bis mother replied, apollo
gccicaLy, u thought thee was IN bed with
the other twelve. It's hard work to keep q
bakers dozen OF boys In their places.n-M Y
F. in Philadelphia Call
Oyster Shells in Medicines
DR. Peter Hood, Of London, in a communi-
cation to The Lancet, calls attention TO an
article published by him in the same journal
some twenty years ago on the value Of cal
cium carbonate il the form Of calcined oy-
ster shells, as the means Of arrestinS the
growth Of cancerous tumors. In the case
which be then reported, that Of lady
nearly 50 years old, the growth sloughed
away and lstt q healthy surface after
course Of the remedy ia question, as much
as would lie on 8 shilling being taken once or
twice day in little warm water OF tea
He now reports another case OF schlrrus Of