Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-18

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 il was now only dropping,
ard that utter and general ruin would be
the consequence of the inundation that
must follow.
The song dies on his lips and his heart
trembles with fear as he realizes the dan
ger which threatens his country. There
is no time to run home and tell his faith
CT. 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
work of moment, and to his great de-
light he finds that no more water is flow
ing through.
son, 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 and 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:
"FiEe! fire! fret!
Then ne screamed until he thought his
throat would burst with the effort he was
making.
"Murder! murderi murderc
There was no answer but the echo of
mis- voice, the ripping 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, 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 ali the people In
the country. 1t will be hard work, but I
will do it."
Every moment the cold was becoming
more biting and the poor finger fixed in
the hole began to feel bepunbed and
soon the numbness extended to the band
and thence throughout the whole arm.
The pain became still greater, yet the
boy moved not from the cold, hard stone
on which he sat. Tears rolled down his
cheeks as he thought of his father, of his
mother, of his warm little bed, where he
might now be sleeping SO soundIy; still
the brave little fellow stirred rot, for he
knew that if he removed the small slender
finger which he had opposed to the es-
cape of the water not only would he him
self be drowed, but his parents, his broth.
ers and sisters, his neighbors-in fact, the
whole village would be swept away.
Who can tell how often his courage
faltered, how many times he felt his pur
pose failing during that long and terrible
night?
At last the moon went down, the bark
ing OF the dogs ceased, 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 it might be one of the ghosts of
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
terrible blow at it, and to his great Joy it
fell dead at his feet. 1t was bat.
Now the chickens in the distance be
gan to announce by their Growing that
the dawn was approaching. Soon the
dogs began to bark, the COWS to low, the
little birds sang their sweet morning
songs, there was crimson pointed clouds
in the east, and daylight was coming
once more after night that seemed
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 grooming from
the pain he was enduring, so he did not
hear the faint sound of footsteps of a
man coming along the tow pa b of the
canal.
was returning from the bedside OF one of
his dying Pensioners.
The good man followed the sound of
the groans he heard until he discovered
the child seated on stone writhing from
pain and with pale face and fearful eyes.
"In the name of wonder, boy" he ex.
claimed, "what are you doing there!"
Il am keeping the water from running
out" was the answer, in perfect sim Pile
ity of the child who, during that whole
night, had been showing such heroic for
titude and updaunted courage.
SO the minister took the place of Hans
until the boy could get his father to bring
his men TO stop up the hole.
"Why didst thou not send to sesrch for
me when thou foundst I did not CONE
homer" the boy said reproachfClly to his
mother when he was recovering from the
effects of his fatigue.
"Why. Hans" his mother replied, apol-
ogetically, II thought thes was in bed
with the other twelve. It's nard work TO
keep a bakers dozen of boys in their
places"
POWER OF WoMAN'S HIND.
n WI ". H.