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THE LEAK IN THE DIKE

PHOEBE CARY

In Holland, there is an old story called "The Leak in the Dike," a beautiful story of a boy's bravery and faithfulness. Many parts of Holland, you know, are below the level of the sea. Great dikes or banks of earth shut out the sea. If the sea should break through one of these dikes, it would flood the fields and the towns and drown the people.

The brave boy in this story was the son of a sluice-keeper, that is, a man who attends the great gates through which water can be let into the canals that crisscross Holland.

The boy's mother had sent him to take some food to an old blind man; and while on this errand, Peter found the sea water trickling through a small hole in the dike. He knew at once that the water would soon wash out a great hole, then break the dike, and flood the land far and wide. He had no time to go for help. He must stop up the hole in some way and keep it stopped up. He saw no way but to push his hand into the hole, and keep it there till he could get help. And so he did this.

Then the brave little fellow waited for some one to come and help him. But no one came. All night long, the little hero lay on the side of the dike, his almost frozen hand stopping up the hole. Just try to imagine it, if you can.

In the morning, he was found, still at his post of duty. Those who found him pulled out the stiffened little hand and safely stopped the hole in the dike. But Peter was too weak to stand and they had to carry him home.

As you read the story, try to picture the brave little fellow as he lay on the sloping side of the dike through the long hours of the

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night. He knew that only his small, cold hand held back the water and kept it from drowning thousands of people. You see, he was not a "quitter." His story was told far and wide, and it is yet told in Holland as the people walk along where the hungry sea is still trying to break through the dikes.

As boys and girls read this fine story, they admire brave little Peter, the Dutch boy who was not a "quitter." But the story should make each one of us think whether there is not every day in our own lives some duty wherein we can be just as brave and faithful as little Dutch Peter. Keeping to a task till it is done is the kind of thing for which Peter was called a hero.

Remember as you read that this story would make a good moving picture and that you have not really read it until you have seen it all on the screen of your mind."

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Learn the meanings of the following words before you read the poem:

the good dame: the good perish: die.

woman, the mother.

conscience: the feeling within us that tells us whether what we do is right or wrong. narrow bound: the narrow dike,

or embankment which keeps out the sea.

mortal fear: fear of death. succor (suk'er): help.

reverent joy: joy that shows

reverence, or high respect for some one who is good. valiant hero (văl'yănt): brave hero.

turf: sod held together by the

roots of grass and other small plants; it is often used for fuel.

THE LEAK IN THE DIKE

1

The good dame looked from her cottage

At the close of the pleasant day,

And cheerily called to her little son

Outside the door at play :

"Come, Peter, come! I want you to go, While there is light to see,

To the hut of the blind old man who lives

Across the dike, for me,

And take these cakes I made for him

They are hot and smoking yet;

You have time enough to go and come
Before the sun is set."

2

Then the good wife turned to her labor,
Humming a simple song,

And thought of her husband, working hard
At the sluices all day long;

And set the turf a-blazing,

And brought the coarse black bread,

That he might find a fire at night,
And find the table spread.

3

And Peter left the brother

With whom all day he had played,

And the sister who had watched their sports
In the willow's tender shade,

And told them they'd see him back before
They saw a star in sight,

Though he wouldn't be afraid to go

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In the very darkest night!

For he was a brave, bright fellow,
With eye and conscience clear;

He could do whatever a boy might do,

And he had not learned to fear.

Why, he wouldn't have robbed a bird's nest,

Nor brought a stork to harm,
Though never a law in Holland
Had stood to stay his arm!

4

And now, with his face all glowing
And eyes as bright as the day

With the thoughts of his pleasant errand,
He trudged along the way,

And soon his joyous prattle

Made glad a lonesome place

Alas! if only the blind old man

Could have seen that happy face!
Yet he somehow caught the brightness
Which his voice and presence lent,
And he felt the sunshine come and go
As Peter came and went.

5

And now, as the day was sinking,
And the winds began to rise,

The mother looked from her door again,

Shading her anxious eyes;

And saw the shadows deepen

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