William Tell :: The legend of freedom and independence of Switzerland
The People of Switzerland were not always free and happy as they are today. Many years ago a proud tyrant, whose name was Hermann 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 of Altdorf, 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 William 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 William Tell's little boy Walter should be made to stand up in the public square with an apple on his head ; and then he bade William Tell shoot the apple with one of his arrows.
William Tell begged the tyrant not to have him make this test of his skill. What if the boy should move? What if the bowman'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 Herrmann Gessler. " You must hit the apple with your one arrow. If you fail, my soldiers shall kill the boy before your eyes."
Then, without another word, William Tell fitted the arrow to his crossbow. He took aim, and let it fly. They 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 William Tell was turning away from the place, and 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, William Tell did shoot the tyrant Gessler with one of his arrows ; and thus he set his country Switzerland free.
the Story of a man who like the freedom.
William Tell became the Hero of Switzerland.
William Tell: The liberty and independence go higher of everything!
