The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-06-12
SAVED THE CITY.
The True Story of q Brave Little Dutch
Boy.

Tho True Story of q Brave Little Dutch
Boy.
The country OF Holland in E urope is
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, it 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 it is pleasant and airy
place to walk.
Men are chosen whose business 1t is
to watch these dykes and see that the
water, which is always trying to break
through. never does. It is necessary
to be very watchful, for If there comes
break ever so small, it must be
stopped at once, or it will grow bigger
and bigger, and it would take but a
few hours to bring on a dreadful food.
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, as it was getting late.
1t was a quiet part OF the city, and
there was no one but himself on the
street Every thing was quiet, so
quiet that presently he heard soft
gurgling sound like that OF running
water All. Hans knew in moment
what that meant! it meant that some
where the sea had made q 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 to look about
for something to stop it. He could find
nothing. What should he do? Should
he run into the city and call watch.
manp but before he could get one, tho
little stream might become a great
river. He looked up and down the
empty street.
well, there's one thing I 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 luckyT' 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 night; once
he saw man walking along on the
dyke, but too far off for his voice to
reach him.
He grew tired and cold, but he did
not give up. He thought Of the stories
he had heard of the damage done by
the floods in times past, when the
dykes had given way. He thought Of
the little brothers and sisters ut home.
and of other happy homes that might
be swept away should he leave his
post And so be bravely staid by,
though it seemed to him sometimes
that he should drop down. he was SO
tired.
Every once in awhile he would call
out, and early in the morning watch
man heard him and fastened to the
spot. And it was not long, you may
be sure, before others came. and the
little break was stopped, and Hans was
carried to his home.
The Dutch are brave people, and
have fought many battles in the past
to save their country from its enc
mics. But among them there was
never drawer hero than this little
boy. who, through the long hoars OF
that lonely night, saved the great city
from the sea--Pamela Macarthur Cole,
in Our Little Men and Women.