The Young Lady's Counsellor by Daniel Wise

64 THE YOUNG LADV'S COUNSELLOR
ini^ one night from a village, to which he nr.d \nien
sent by his father on an errand, when he observed
the water trickling through a narrow opening in the
dyke. He paused, reflected on the consequence?
that might follow if that aperture was not closed.
He knew, for he had often heard his father relate
the
sad disasters proceeding from such
small begiimings,
that in a few hours that opening would enlarge, and
let in the mighty mass of waters pressing on the
dyke, until, the whole defence being washed away
the adjacent village would be destroyed.
Should he
hasten home and alarm the villagers, it would be
dark before they could arrive, and the orifice might
even then, be so large as to defy attempts to close it.
Prompted by these thoughts, he seated himself on
the Dank of the canal, stopped the opening with hia
hand, and patiently awaited the approach of some
villao-er. But no one came. Hour after hour rolled
slowly past in cold and darkness, yet there sat the
heroic boy, shivering, wet and weary, but stoutly
pressing his hand against the dangerous breach
At
last the mornmg broke. A clergj^man, walking i t-