Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-12-12


the malicious features Of Gelser the lyrsnt
ai whose name virtue and innocence ,rem-
bic, aud in whose bosom there ibrobs
heart which would not disgrace the veri,st
| fcnd that ever strobe in the dark domains
Of Internal Pluto. Soon the heavy tramp
Of armed men is heard and fifty Austrian
anchors stand upon the shore by the side oil
Golser. 10 their midst isa prisoner hcav.
/ lily Ironed. They all embark on board
a boat, which impelled by twenty oars, speeds
swiftly over the s,ll waters Of the s,ar.h
| lake.
Bot who is the captive man so severely
chained, yet standing so proudly crcct2-
his noble micn-his flashing eye, and his
lofty contemp, Of the insul, heape1 upon
him--all betray the hero of the mouniain--
TELL of the iron heart Yes, he has fallen
iato the power OF his coun,rys oppressor,
who was bearing him thus fct,cred and
guarded, 10 distant dungeon where be
might wreok his vengeance upon the noble
spirit that dared defy his wrath, and plot his
death even in the midst Of his myrmdons
But that heaven which watches over and
protects virtue, forsook not The patriot Tell
in this dread hour. Black. gloomy clouds
began 10 send through the sky. The nigh.
ty tempest is heard rushing on from the dis
tan, caverns ofthe north. The snow flies
in feecy pillows up the hillside, and the gi-
ant oaks ofthe forest bend and crackle be.
fore it. Yet still il comes, on and on, and
now striking upon the lake it covers the
whole surface with foam The angry
waves lifting up their bilowy cres,s on
high, dash against the fra boat. threat
ening 10 overturn and sink it in darkUnder-
wads deep and storm-heaved bosom.
! The life of Tell had been pure, and he
feared not death /; and when eternity yawn.
ed before him, he camly awaited bis fate
rejoicing atthe happiness his country would
derive from the death of her tyrant But
soldiers who had been for years familiar
with the darkest crimes, and whose hands
had often times been stained with the blood
Of innocence--what terror reigned in
their hearts They threw down their oars
Cold trembings run over them. In ashy
p1leness they knel, upon the deck while the
, prayer Of agony quivers upon their bps
!; And oh what pangs rend the heart and
, what tortures tears the guilty soul of GEES
, Ter He IS now where riches, rank, and
, strength, can avail him nothing for the
power of heaven is abroad in wrath, and he
, must die The hosts he has murdered
lhrong around him in borred array The
eye-balls he had ordered torn from the blee-
r ding sockets of venerable age, glare upon
; him on all sides with terrific ficrccness, and
a bloody hand beckons TO him from, the
black bosom OF every wave. With llvld
, lips and blackened checks, shaking in NOR
!, tai fear, and as last effort for life, he or
ders the chains TO be striker from Tell, und
offers him life and liberty if he brings them
safe to land. He, the most renowned man
. through all the four Cantons in the art Of
! Drawing storm, silently takes the helm
!, and with an arm never weakened by vicious
:, dissipation, turns its course. He siezes a
, pair of oars and after a long struggle ir
, spite ofthe winds and dashing waves land:
. the boat Just as the storm lulls The haughti
| ness and tyranny of Gesler returns with biz
e safety, and he would fain command Tel
4 chained again Notwithstanding his promise
!. but he, the moment the boat struck til,
= shore snatching bow and culver from
/ one of the archers, leaps upon rock, and
$ crags, like the chamols bounding from it
- hunter.
~ Gesler, enraged and thwarted, bids hi
=. followers pursue and STAY him, and hmsel
/. leads them on. The HERDS plan is success
=, full. He permits Gesler to approach nea
- enough 10 do his work, and then suddenl
= bending his bow, with an aim that neve
l., failed, he sends an arrow. liberly-pointed
. whzzlng through the air Freedom wave
~ her standard full high and shouts, as it pier
=. ces the heart of Gelser, and tyranl's bloc
Il stains the ground. Tells heart beats war;
= with hone. as he flies over the unfa,home
=. path to Altorf and in an hour joins hi
= brave countrymen already assembled b,
a fore the fortress walls They receive hlr
:. with ioyons acclamatons He narrstes III
~ death of Gelser, and leads them on to III
% altack-resolved to conquer or persist
r., seize the en,renchment Of tyranny, or /
v. buried in the attempt.
he And now the strife begins. The Au
n trims light with desperation and many
a. brave Swi,zer bites The bust, and faint's
= death as lic's red fluid streams from b
AL wide wounds. But they strike for LiJeri
ms they struggle for Life-and they are vi
Of torious The foe cast away their weapon
rk and kneel for mercy, while Freedoms fla
is. floats proudly upon the baltlements, al
by Switzerland is delivered.
The conquest secured, tie enthusiast
,se people would reward their deliverer b
be- his ambition is a higher principle, than
sh. gllttering bauble or tinselled trappings CT
oat satisfy, and "when the sparkling round
ak. powerhoa,s airilywiihin his grasp he prou
yn liz smiles, and turns TO his humble peasa
-. =, ,rnE.rrinrr "a enond his declininnr da