The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-06-06
SAVED TIE CITY.

CHliuFtH W nave lHelF own way, any
how. Us. Jennie Smith, In Christian
Inquirer.
SAVED THE CITY.
The True story Of brave Little Dutch
The country OF Holland in Europe ID
almost surrounded BY the sea. To be
sure there is nothing strange in that,
for all islands are entirely surrounded
by the sea. But Holland is low coun-
try. and If the people had not built
high banks to keep the water of,
whenever there was storm, or very
high tide, 1t would wash right over
the whole land, and sweep away all
the houses and drown the people.
The Holland folks built the banks
many years ago. They are called dykes.
They are not only high. but SO thick
through there is room for broad street
on top Trees are planted along these
streets. and II il a pleasant and airy
place to walk.
Men are chosen whose business IL Is
to watch these dykes and see that the
water, which is always trying to break
through, never docs. 1t is necessary
TO be very watchful, for If there comes
u break ever SO small, it must be
stopped ut once. or it will grow bigger
and bigger, and It would take but a
few hours to bring on y dreadful flood.
And even the smallest Dutch child
knows the danger OF being careless
about the dykes.
One evening little boy in the city
Of HARLEM was on his way home. He
walked fast, rs 1t was getting late.
It was quiet part Of the city. and
there was no one but himself on the
street. Every thing was quiet, 50
quiet that presently he heard soft
gurgling sound like that OF running
water. All. Hans knew in a moment
what that meant! it meant that some
where the sea had made little road
through the dyke.
He stopped and looked carefully and
eagerly, and very soon he found it--a
tiny stream, that rippled and ran as
though it meant not the least bit Of
harm to any body. or to any thing.
But Hans knew better than that. and
the first thing he did was 10 look about
for something to stop it. He could find
nothing. What should he do? Should
he run into the city and call watch
man? but before he could get one, the
little stream might become great
river. He looked up and down the
empty street.
well, there's one thing can do. -
said Hans to himself, and he went up
to the great dyke, and put one of his
fingers into the hole. 1t just filled it!
Isn't that lucky?' thought Hans
And now I'll stay here till somebody
comes" And he did.
The twilight passed and the night
came on; the stars shone out one after
another; by and by, the moon came up
in the east: very slowly the hours went
by: it seemed to little Hans that never
had there been SO long a night; once
he saw a man walking along on the
dyke. but too far of for his voice to
reach him.
He grew tired aud cold, but he did
not give up. He thought Of the stories
he had heard of the damage done by
the. floods lin times past, when the
dykes had given way. He thought of
the little hrqthers and sisters at home,
and, Of othef: happy homes that: might
be swept away should he leave his
post. And 50 be brayely staid by.
though ii seemed to him sometimes
that he should DROP down. he was 80
tired.s' -; ~
Every once in awhile he" Would call
out, and early fn-the Morning a watch
man heard him and FASTENED to the
spot. And it was. not lohg:"you may
be sure before others, chiiic, and the
little break!was stopped, and Hans was
carried to his home. I. :.
The Dutch are . brave people, and
have fought many battles, in the past
to save their country from its ene-
mics. But among them there was
never !. drawer hero than this little
boy. who. through the long holrs OF
that lonely night, saved the great city
from the sea. Pamela Macarthur Cole.
in Our. Little Men and Women.