Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-08-22
Gistortcol .Sketcl
WILLIAM TELL.


country, which goes by the name Of Swi
zorland, was under the Austrian Cover
mont, md the people were little bett
than slaves They were made to pay be
Wy tt xes, and to perform the most men
Offices, whilst the Austrians lived upon Il
fruits Of their labor, and governed tll
as with roe of iron.
One Of the Austrian governors, by tl,
name of Gesler, was very great tyrant
and did all that he could to break thl
spirit Of the Swiss people, but it was os
little use.
Gcslcr went so far in his tyranny as 10
command his hat or cap to be placed on
pole in tho market place, and ordered
every Swiss, who pa 3ed it, to bow to it.
The poor Swiss people did not Ike it at
all but they were afraid to disobey the
order, as Imprisonment or death would be
the consequence of their disobedience.
There was, however, one noble minded
man, who was nei her afraid Of imprison-
ment nor death, who refused to bow to
Geslers cap. His name was WILLIAM
TELL. He not only refused 10 bow to til
cap, but melted his countrymen to throw
off the Austrian yoke.
He was soon seized and brought into
the presence of the tyrant. Tell was
famous bowman, and had his bow aud ar
rows about his person when he was seized
Gesler, telling him that he had forfeited
lis life, proposed that he should exhibit a
specimen of his skill as an archer, promis
ing him that if he could Lit an apple at
certain distance, he should have freedom,
Tell was glad to hear this, and began to
have Il better opinion of the Governor than
lie deserved; but the cruel man called
Tells only sen, boy seven years old, for
ward, and placed the apple on his head,
bidding his father to fire at it.
When Tell saw this he nearly tainted,
and his hand trembled SO much that he
could scarcely put the arrow in the string.
There was, however, no alternative; he
must attempt the feat or die, but that which
unrervcd his arm was the fear that his
skill might kill his only child.
The child, seeing his fathers distress,
endeavorod to console him
81 am sure you will not hit me, father
said he, "for have seen you strike a bird
upon the wing at a great distance, and l
will stand qutt3 still."
The ground was now measured, and the
hoy was placed against tree. tits i'm
possible for you to understand what the un-
fortunate Tell felt when he prepared to
shoot. Twice lie leyelcd his arrow to shoot
but he DR. ppod it again. His eyes were
so blinded with emotion that he could not
see the apple.
The assembled spectators, of whom there
were numbers, seemed to hold their breath
At length, Tel summoned up all his cOur-
age, Uc dashed the tears from his eyes,
and bent his bow---away went the arrow
and piercing the apple, cut it in two, and
imboddod it3.lf in the tree
The spectators shouted and applaGdod.
Tell was tax to Go-lor, who was about
10 set him free, when he observed another
arrow sticking under lis gigdlc.
"IIa! said he, ian arrow! Why that
concealed weapon?"
at was destined for you," replied Tell,
"if had killed my child"
Upon this daring threat, Tell was again
seized by the tyrant's soldiers, and was
hurried away to be put to death But be.
ing a strong and rcsolute man, lie made
his escape, and fleeing away into the noun
-, tails, melted the people to throw of the ty-
rams yoke. They accordingly took up
arms, and made Tell their leader.
> Bat he was again taken prisoner, and
being put into boat with Gesler and his
u men, for the purpose ofrowiug over one Of
), the lakes, a storm arose and the boat was
u driven ashore. Tell lcaped out before any
! one else could land, and snatch;ng a con-
y ecaled arrow from his person, took aim at
4 :, the tyront, and shot him dead as he sat in
the boat.
. After this, Tel reused the people that
Y they soon gained their freedom aud Swift
: zorlaud is a free country to this day, Tell
~ has never been forgotten but tie people
II always think Of him as the de!iveror Of his
+, country,
a. n, ...,, la