THE STORY OF WILLIAM TELL


The people of Swit-zer-land were not always free and happy as they are

to-day. Many years ago a proud tyrant, whose name was Gessler, ruled

over them, and made their lot a bitter one indeed.



One day this tyrant set up a tall pole in the public square, and put

his own cap on the top of it; and then he gave orders that every man

who came into the town should bow down before it. But there was one

man, named
illiam Tell, who would not do this. He stood up straight

with folded arms, and laughed at the swinging cap. He would not bow

down to Gessler himself.



When Gessler heard of this, he was very angry. He was afraid that

other men would disobey, and that soon the whole country would rebel

against him. So he made up his mind to punish the bold man.



William Tell's home was among the mountains, and he was a famous

hunter. No one in all the land could shoot with bow and arrow so well

as he. Gessler knew this, and so he thought of a cruel plan to make

the hunter's own skill bring him to grief. He ordered that Tell's

little boy should be made to stand up in the public square with an

apple on his head; and then he bade Tell shoot the apple with one of

his arrows.



Tell begged the tyrant not to have him make this test of his skill.

What if the boy should move? What if the bow-man's hand should

tremble? What if the arrow should not carry true?





"Will you make me kill my boy?" he said.



"Say no more," said Gessler. "You must hit the apple with your one

arrow. If you fail, my sol-diers shall kill the boy before your

eyes."



Then, without another word, Tell fitted the arrow to his bow. He took

aim, and let it fly. The boy stood firm and still. He was not afraid,

for he had all faith in his father's skill.



The arrow whistled through the air. It struck the apple fairly in the

center, and carried it away. The people who saw it shouted with joy.



As Tell was turning away from the place, an arrow which he had hidden

under his coat dropped to the ground.



"Fellow!" cried Gessler, "what mean you with this second arrow?"



"Tyrant!" was Tell's proud answer, "this arrow was for your heart if I

had hurt my child."



And there is an old story, that, not long after this, Tell did shoot

the tyrant with one of his arrows; and thus he set his country free.



More

;