boys' hats
Shopping In Lucerne
boys talking to parents at table
So the Overall Boys had their first sail on lovely Lake Lucerne, the most famous lake in all the world.
The sun went down in a glory of color behind the city of Lucerne at the end of the long lake, and the great, round moon came hurrying up, eager to lend her light to this beautiful part of the world while the sun was away.
It was a wonderful evening. It was almost as wonderful as the evening before, when the boys had been up above the clouds on Mount Rigi.
To-night they were very tired after the long tramp down the mountain. They were too tired to look around much as they were driven quickly along the brightly lighted streets and up the hill to their boarding place.
But in the morning they were ready for anything. The first thing to interest them was breakfast. Jack led the way down the stairs to the large dining room, but it was empty. There was nothing to eat on any of the long tables.
"Oh, dear! We are too late," cried Joe. "I shall starve before noon. I know I shall."
"No, you won't," said Jack. "Look out there under the trees. The people are having a breakfast party."
"Oh, my!" cried Joe. "Are we going to eat out there, too? I hope so!"
"Father and mother are waiting for us over by the tall rose bushes," said Jack. "We can have a little table all to ourselves."
"Is it really a party, or is it just breakfast?" asked Joe.
"I expect it is just breakfast," said Jack. "Mother has said that people here in Switzerland eat out of doors whenever they can."
"Oh, goody! let's have our breakfast out here every morning," said Joe.
And so they did. Every morning when itdid not rain, the Overall Boys had their breakfast of rolls and honey and hot chocolate on a small, round table in the rose garden.
women embroideringThey often sat in front of their shops while working
They often sat in front of their shops while working
It was lots of fun. It was almost as good as a real picnic. Each morning while they were eating, they planned what they should do during the rest of the day.
Some days they spent the forenoon visiting interesting little shops. They liked to watch the pretty Swiss girls at work on their fine embroidery. These girls, dressed in their quaint Swisscostumes, often sat on the sidewalk in front of their shops while working.
But the boys liked best the carved wood shops. Sometimes they saw boys, not much older than themselves, carving jumping-jacks and bears and queer little dwarf men out of blocks of pear wood.
Many Swiss boys learn wood carving when they are quite young, so they can earn their living in that way when they are grown up.
The Overall Boys coaxed their father to buy a fine carved bear to take home with them. The bear was as tall as Joe. He sat on his hind legs, crossing his fore paws in front of him, and he looked as if he might growl any minute.
The boys' mother said the bear should stand by the front door at home, where he could hold umbrellas for people when they came to call.
"What fun we shall have when we introduce the Sunbonnet Babies to Mr. Bear!" said Joe.
"I know a fine way to do it," said Jack. "We will stand him under the big maple tree in the back yard at home. Then, the first timeMolly and May come to see us, we will take them out to meet our new playmate."
"Oh, that will be great!" shouted Joe. "I can almost hear Molly and May scream now."
"Let's visit the cuckoo shop," said Jack one afternoon. "And let's try to be there when the cuckoos all come out."
ornate cuckoo clockA cuckoo clock
A cuckoo clock
"Well, then, let's go now," said Joe. "It is ten minutes of five. We shall have just time to get there before the clocks begin to strike and the cuckoos begin to call for five o'clock."
So Jack and Joe hurried down the street into the old, old part of the city. They found the little shop just in time. An old man standing in the doorway invited the boys to go in, and of course they accepted.
On the walls around the small room hung many beautiful brown clocks of all sizes. They were very different from American clocks. These clocks looked like tiny Swiss houses or chalets. There was a round clock face in the front of each chalet, and two long swinging arms hangingdown below. But the clocks were all saying,tick,tick,tick,tick, just as American clocks do.
"Now watch!" cried Joe. "The doors are beginning to open. Here come the cuckoos."
And sure enough, as the boys stood looking at the clocks, a little door near the top of each swung quickly open and a tiny cuckoo bird stepped out and flapped its wings.
The clocks all began striking and the cuckoos began calling just like this:—One, cuckoo; two, cuckoo; three, cuckoo; four, cuckoo; five, cuckoo.
It was five o'clock. The cuckoo birds folded their wings and stepped quietly back into their tiny houses. The doors closed quickly in front of them and all was still once more, except for thetick,tickof the many clocks.
"We justmustbuy one of those cuckoo clocks to take back to America with us," said Joe.
"We must buy two of them," said Jack. "We must take one to Molly and May. They will think it is splendid."
"Let's ask father about it," said Joe. "I know he will tell us to buy one for the Sunbonnet Babies and one for Tim and Ted."
"I am going home to supper now," said Jack. "This is Saturday, and there are fireworks on the shore of the lake every Saturday evening, you know."
"Oh, so there are!" cried Joe. "I had almost forgotten about them. Let's hurry."
boys looking at clocks on shelves
Saturday evening on Lake Lucerne.
Group of Swiss flags, the Swiss national lag in front
Long before it was dark the Overall Boys were walking up and down the beautiful shore front, waiting for the first sky rocket. Hundreds of other people were waiting and watching, too. A band was playing and everybody was happy.
"Listen! The band is playingAmerica!" cried Joe. "Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!"
"Wait a minute, Joe," said Jack. "Father says that is one of the national hymns of Switzerland. The music is the same as for our national hymn,America, but the words are different."
"It is fine, anyway, and I feel like shouting.—Three cheers for Switzerland!" said Joe.
"So do I!" said Jack. "Switzerland is a Republic and has a President, just as we have in the United States, you know. Its national motto is 'All for each, and each for all.'"
"I thought it seemed more like home than any other country over here," said Joe. "I shouldn't like to live in a country which has a King instead of a President. I like Presidents."
"But just think of it, Joe, the whole of Switzerland is only one third as large as our state of New York, and the city of New York has a million more people in it than this whole country has; father said so."
"Well, even though the country is so small," said Joe, "it has twenty-two Cantons or states, and each Canton has a special flag. I am going to buy them all for my flag collection."
"Puff! puff! There goes a sky rocket!" shouted Jack. "And there goes another! The fun has begun, Joe!"
During the next hour the boys forgot all about national hymns and Presidents and flags. They were watching fire balloons sail far out overthe dark lake and disappear behind tall mountains. They were watching rockets shoot high into the sky and burst into wonderful shapes—into ships and bears and pots of flowers. They were watching the mountains glow under lovely red and blue and yellow lights. And they were imagining that they were in a fairy city, beside a fairy lake, with the wonderful mountains of Fairyland all around them.
rowing on the lake with fireworks gonig off on the shoreAfter awhile the boys and their father got into a small boat and rowed far out on the dark fairy lake
After awhile the boys and their father got into a small boat and rowed far out on the dark fairy lake
After awhile the boys and their father gotinto a small boat and rowed far out on the dark fairy lake. Other boats were floating quietly about, too, each carrying a lighted Chinese lantern.
Somewhere across the water people were singing lovely Swiss songs, and all were watching the strange, fiery things in the sky above.
Mount Pilatus, which rose very high, close beside the lake, looked cold and ghostlike under the weird, blue lights.
"Would you like to hear a ghost story about Mount Pilatus, boys?" asked their father.
"Oh, of course we should! Please tell us a ghost story!" said the boys.
more fireworksA fire balloon
A fire balloon
"Well," began their father, "you know how Pilate, the Roman governor of Galilee, allowed Jesus to be killed. It is said that Pilate was afterward driven out of Galilee, and that he came to this part of the world and drowned himself in a lake near the top of that mountain. So the mountain was named Pilatus.
"For many hundreds of years the people about here believed that Pilate's ghost cameout of the lake once a year and wandered over the mountain. To protect the people from the ghost, the government of Lucerne forbade any one to go near the lake.
"Once six bold men disobeyed this law, and they were put into prison. The people still believed that Pilate's ghost lived on the mountain, and they did not want to offend it.
"It was not until fifteen hundred years after Pilate was driven from Galilee that the government of Lucerne gave permission for four men to climb the mountain and to explore the lake. As the men did not find the ghost, they decided that at last it was quiet.
"So people have been climbing the mountain ever since, and now they even have a railroad which goes away up to the little lake. How do you suppose the old ghost likes that?"
"And what do you suppose he thinks of the fire balloons that are sailing around his head to-night?" said Joe.
Suddenly somebody screamed, and then somebody else screamed. The little boats began tohurry and scurry in every direction. It looked as if all the Chinese lanterns had gone crazy.
Everybody's eyes were turned toward the sky, for up there, right above them, was a fire balloon. The fire had caught in the top of the balloon, and it was all ablaze.
Now this blazing balloon was falling straight down, down, down, toward the little boats on the lake. Of course the boats were scurrying to get out of the way, and of course the people screamed.
Each thought that the burning balloon would surely fall right into his boat, but it did not. It fell hissing and sputtering into the dark waters, right where the boats had been only a few moments before.
"Well, that was a narrow escape!" exclaimed Jack. "We can imagine now how it would seem to be in a falling flying machine. I think I don't care to try it."
Then, with many other boats, they rowed quickly back to the brightly lighted city, and the boys were soon sound asleep, resting for the next day's fun.
boys fast asleept
The Birthday Party.
Bears and gnomes
Now the next day was Joe's birthday, and he was to have a real Swiss party. At least, he was going with a dozen Swiss boys and their schoolmaster for a long tramp up the mountain side behind Lucerne. Jack was going, too.
The boys were hardly through breakfast on the birthday morning, when they heard the beating of a drum in the street. In a moment the high garden gate swung open, and in marched a procession of jolly boys.
The leader of the procession was the drummer boy. A great St. Bernard dog bounded along beside him.
These boys could all speak a little English, and as Jack and Joe had learned some German, they had no trouble in talking with each other,though sometimes it was hard for the St. Bernard dog to understand their language.
hikingThe drummer boy and the schoolmaster and the dog led the way, while the other boys followed, two by two
The drummer boy and the schoolmaster and the dog led the way, while the other boys followed, two by two
The Overall Boys put on their knapsacks and quickly joined the procession. The drummer boy and the schoolmaster and the dog led the way, while the other boys followed, two by two.
Swiss boys nearly always carry knapsacks or botany cans on their backs when they are tramping. They like to gather and study thewild flowers and plants that grow by the way. Of course they always carry fresh rolls and sweet chocolate in their knapsacks, too.
These boys think nothing is so good for lunch as rolls and sweet chocolate, and the Overall Boys are sure that they are right. They are also sure that no other sweet chocolate is as good as that made in Switzerland.
The Swiss schoolboys often wear soft green felt hats with bunches of mountain flowers or long feathers standing straight up behind. So the Overall Boys bought feathers for their hats, too.
In passing through the town the schoolmaster took the boys to see their famous national monument, the Lion of Lucerne.
High on a natural wall of rock they saw the figure of a great dying lion, with a broken spear in his side. At the foot of the wall there is a small, dark pond with green trees around it, making a quiet and beautiful spot.
The schoolmaster told the boys how, many years before, some brave Swiss guards had giventheir lives to protect the palace of the French King, Louis XVI, in his beautiful city of Paris.
HELVETIORUM FIDEI AC VIRTUTI; DIE X AUGUSTI II ET III SEPTEMBRIS MDCCXCIIHigh on a natural wall of rock they saw the famous national monument, the Lion of Lucerne
High on a natural wall of rock they saw the famous national monument, the Lion of Lucerne
He told them how this national monument had later been made by a great artist in memory of the soldiers who were as brave as lions, and who were not afraid to die at their post.
After leaving the lion, the boys marched down the steep, crooked streets toward the river. Mount Pilatus rose high in front of them, a soft, white cloud above his head.
looking a a milk cart pulled by dogsThey passed a number of small milk carts
They passed a number of small milk carts
"We are sure of fine weather to-day, boys," said the master. "Pilatus is wearing his hood.
'If Pilatus wears his hood,Then the weather's always good.'"
"He is celebrating my birthday," said Joe. "Of course the weather must be good to-day."
As the boys tramped on they passed a number of small milk carts bringing barrels of fresh, rich milk into the city. The milk had been sent down from the high mountain pastures, where the cattle spend the summer months.
Each milk cart was drawn by two strong dogs and a man. The dogs seemed very proud of their work. They knew every house where they must stop to leave the morning's milk.
In a few minutes the party was crossing a queer, crooked bridge over the river. It is called the Chapel Bridge. On its roof and walls there are more than one hundred and fifty pictures, which were painted a long, long time ago.
Right beside the bridge, standing in the river, is a very old stone tower. The schoolmaster said that this tower was probably once used as a lighthouse.
The Overall Boys were very much interested in the quaint old covered bridge, but they were even more interested in some beautiful white swans swimming in the water below it.
"The swans are hunting for their breakfast," said Joe. "I am going to give them one of my nice rolls."
Then Joe ran quickly through the bridge and down to the edge of the river. He tookone of the fresh, long rolls from his knapsack and broke it into small bits, which he threw into the water.
feeding swansHe took one of the fresh, long rolls from his knapsack and fed the swans on the river
He took one of the fresh, long rolls from his knapsack and fed the swans on the river
In a moment the lovely white swans were sailing swiftly toward him. They bowed their long, graceful necks in many a pretty "Thank you" for the generous breakfast.
At last the procession tramped out through a low gate under a large watch tower on the old city wall. Soon they were climbing up through the beautiful woods on the mountain side.
flowersAlpine roses
Alpine roses
They found many interesting plants andflowers to study, and they were glad of the sweet chocolate and rolls in their knapsacks.
But the real fun came when they reached the restaurant high on the mountain. One of the boys kept Joe out of sight while the others helped arrange a table for the birthday dinner.
It was a large, round table, and it stood out of doors on a high terrace, where they could look far down upon the little city of Lucerne, and upon the beautiful lake surrounded by the great mountains.
The boys took from their knapsacks a number of small packages, which they had kept a secret from Joe.
"Let's arrange all of our presents around Joe's plate," said Jack. "And let's put a bunch of alpine roses in the center of the table."
In a few moments a procession of carved wooden bears and queer little dwarf men weremarching around Joe's plate, while on the plate were piled the other presents.
There was a handsome jackknife; a pocket book containing a silver franc piece, which is the same as twenty cents; a tiny Swiss chalet with a real music box inside of it; and best of all, a beautiful little Swiss watch,—one which would keep perfect time,—besides cakes and cakes of delicious sweet chocolate.
groupl singingThe boys stood around the table and sang
The boys stood around the table and sang
When everything was ready, the boys stood behind their chairs around the table and sanga birthday song, while Joe was led back to the terrace by his little Swiss friend.
Poor Joe! He was so surprised and so happy he did not know what to do or what to say, but he really said the very nicest thing: "Thank you, thank you, everybody! Oh, ich danke euch allen!" Then he sat down quickly in his chair and began looking at his many presents.
But he could not look at his presents long, for he had to think about the delicious birthday dinner that was being served. There was everything that hungry boys could wish for, from real chicken to ice cream and cake. And there was a box of chocolate candy for each boy to take home with him.
A Swiss band played lovely music all the while they were eating, and the schoolmaster told them wonderful stories about his life on the high Alps when he was a little boy.
The boys ate so long, and they ate so much, the schoolmaster finally told them that they must stop soon or they would not be able to tramp back down the mountain.
There was no need to be anxious, however, for they all tramped down better than they had tramped up.
Joe did not complain once because of the extra weight in his knapsack. It had been the finest birthday that he hadeverknown.
Swans and cynets
William Tell and His Little Son.
chalet on bank
Early next morning the Overall Boys and their parents went aboard a small steamer which would carry them to the other end of the long, narrow lake of Lucerne.
They hurried quickly to the front upper deck, for they had long ago learned that this was the best place for sightseeing; and they knew that during the next few hours they would see some of the loveliest scenery in the whole world.
"I believe this will be the finest trip we have had yet," said Joe.
"I know it will be the finest one!" exclaimed Jack. "I should rather see the spot where William Tell shot the apple from his little boy's head, than any other spot in Switzerland."
"Oh, I shouldn't!" said Joe. "I should rather climb one of those great mountains all covered with snow, and take a walk on a real glacier."
"Well, some day perhaps we can do that, too," said Jack. "But I don't want to do it to-day. I want to hear the story which father is going to tell us, about how William Tell and his little boy helped to make Switzerland a free country."
"Oh, yes, father! Do tell us the story while we are sailing up the very lake where a part of it happened," said Joe.
"All right," said their father. "This is the story:
"More than six hundred years ago the people of Switzerland did not govern themselves, as they do now. A part of the people were governed by the King of Austria. Austria is a large country northeast of Switzerland, you know.
"Now the King of Austria could not live here and govern the people himself, so he sentone of his men to be their Governor. The name of the last Governor was Gessler.
Boys on deck of boatThe Overall Boys hear the story of William Tell
The Overall Boys hear the story of William Tell
"This man Gessler was a very proud and cruel Governor. He made the people do many things which they did not think were right.
"One of the strange things which Gessler did was to have a hat placed on a tall pole in the marketplace of the little village of Altdorf. He then commanded every one who passed through the marketplace to bow before the hat, just as if the King of Austria were sitting there.
"A watchman stood near by to take the names of any who did not obey the command.
"Of course the people were much excited, but they did not dare to disobey the Governor. At least no one dared to do so until, one day, William Tell came to the marketplace. He was a proud and brave man. He thought it was foolish to bow to a hat on a pole, so he walked straight by it without bowing.
"When Gessler heard what William Tell had done, he was very angry. As a punishment, he commanded Tell to shoot an apple placed on the head of his favorite son, Walter. If the arrow went through the apple, Tell's life was to be spared. But if he missed the mark, he and his little boy were to die.
"Gessler knew that William Tell could shoot an arrow straighter than any other man in the country, but he thought that his courage would fail, with his own little boy standing just under the mark. And it almost did fail. But Walter called, 'Shoot, father! I am not afraid! I will stand very still!'
"So Tell placed an arrow in his crossbow and another one in his belt. Gessler stood the boy under a tree some distance away, and placed an apple on his head. He then commanded Tell to shoot.
"In a moment Tell's arrow had gone straight through the center of the apple.
"The people, who were watching, shouted for joy, because the lives of William Tell and his brave little son were saved. Even Gessler was forced to praise Tell for his wonderful skill.
"'But,' said Gessler, 'you must tell me why you put the second arrow in your belt.'
"Tell did not wish to answer this question, but Gessler promised he should not lose his life.
"'Well, sir,' answered Tell, 'as you have promised to spare my life, I will tell you the truth. If I had missed the apple and shot my boy, the second arrow should have gone through your heart.'
"'Ah!' said Gessler. 'I have promised to spare your life, but you shall be put where you will never again see the sun nor the moon.Then I shall be safe from your swift arrows.'
man on horseback in crowdGessler asks Tell about the second arrow
Gessler asks Tell about the second arrow
"So William Tell was quickly bound with ropes and taken to the boat on which Gessler was to cross the lake in returning to his castle.
"While they were on the water a terrible storm came up. It seemed as if they would all be drowned. The boatmen begged Gessler to take the ropes from their prisoner, so that he might help them bring the boat ashore.
Boys looking at picture of Tell storyAs he sprang, he gave the boat a strong push with his foot, back into the rough water again
As he sprang, he gave the boat a strong push with his foot, back into the rough water again
"So Gessler commanded that Tell be untied and that he guide them to safety.
"Tell had been on this lake in storms many times before, and he knew where the few safe landing places were. He knew there was a large flat rock, close under the steep shore, on to which one could easily spring from a boat, so he skillfully steered in its direction.
"When a great wave swung the tossing boat quite close to the flat rock, Tell seizedhis crossbow and sprang out. As he sprang, he gave the boat a strong push with his foot, back into the rough water again.
"Brave Tell was free. He climbed quickly through the woods and up the steep mountain side. At last he came to the path Gessler would have to take in returning to his castle, if he were not drowned on the stormy lake.
"Here Tell waited and thought. He was waiting to see if Gessler would come, and he was thinking about the brave people who were being so cruelly treated by their Austrian Governor. He was willing, if necessary, to give his life to bring freedom to his country.
"At last Gessler and his men came hurrying up the path toward the castle. They had escaped the storm.
"As Tell stood hidden behind some bushes near the path he saw Gessler refuse to help a poor woman and her little children. The woman had come to beg the Governor to release her husband, who had been unjustly put into prison. Gessler would not listen to her,and the unhappy woman went away weeping.
"Tell was now sure that it was his duty to save his people from their suffering. So he let fly a swift arrow from his bow and it hit the mark, as his arrows always did.
"That was the last of Austrian Governors for Switzerland. The people have been free and have governed themselves ever since, and that, you know, is more than six hundred years," said the boys' father.
"Isn't it wonderful to be as brave as William Tell was!" said Jack after a moment.
"And isn't it wonderful to be as brave as Walter was!" said Joe. "I wonder if I could be as brave as that!"
apple with arrow through it
A Visit to Tell's Country.
boat floating between two cliffs sadly lacking large statues of Kings of Gondor
While the boys were listening to this interesting story, the steamer was carrying them slowly up the beautiful lake toward the very places where it all happened.
At last they came to a narrow part of the lake where the mountains rose steep and high on both sides.
"Look, boys!" said their father. "Do you see the little chapel just ahead of us, on the left? It is called Tell's Chapel, because it is built on the flat rock on to which Tell sprang from Gessler's boat that stormy day. On the walls inside of the chapel an artist has painted four large pictures showing the whole story of William Tell."
"Oh, father, please let us go ashore here,"said Jack. "I want to look at those pictures."
Chapel beside lake"Do you see the little chapel just ahead of us?"
"Do you see the little chapel just ahead of us?"
"And I want to climb up into the dark woods behind the chapel," said Joe.
"All right," said their father. "How would you like to walk the rest of the way to the end of the lake? It is only two or three miles. I am sure you never have walked over so beautiful a road as this one."
"Oh, do let us walk!" shouted Joe. "It will be lots more fun than sitting still here on the steamer."
So they went ashore right near the little chapel. First, they looked at the pictures that told the story of Tell and Gessler, on the walls inside of the chapel. Then they followed a steep, narrow path that led up the mountain side through the dark woods. This path soon brought them to a pretty garden restaurant.
Of course they were all very thirsty, so they sat around a small table under the great trees and drank raspberry lemonade, which was served to them in very tall glasses. Raspberry lemonade, as it is made in Switzerland, is much nicer than plain lemonade, at least so the Overall Boys thought.
A few minutes later they began their tramp over one of the most beautiful roads in the world. It is called the Axenstrasse, because it is built along the side of the steep mountain called the Axenberg.
A part of the way the mountain is so steep the road could not be built on the outside of it, so a tunnel has been cut right through the rocky side. Here and there the outer wall ofrock has been cut away, making great arches through which people can look out over the beautiful lake to the high mountains beyond.
standing under great carved archesThe great arches from which people can see the high mountains beyond
The great arches from which people can see the high mountains beyond
The famous St. Gotthard railroad is also built along this mountain side. In some places the trains glide along the steep mountain almost straight above the deep lake, and in other places they pass through long, dark tunnels.
The carriage road over which the Overall Boys were tramping was as smooth and level asa floor. Many automobiles flew past the happy walking party, but the boys did not envy the people who were riding in them. They could see and enjoy everything, while those who had to ride missed a great deal.
They passed through two or three small villages, where the narrow balconies on the pretty chalets were all covered with beautiful climbing roses.
In the center of a fountain, in one of the small flower gardens, the boys saw the figure of a queer little dwarf with a large, red umbrella over his head.
"Oh, Jack, see that little man standing in the fountain!" cried Joe. "He looks like the good dwarfs we read about in fairy tales. See what a small body he has, and what a large head!"
"And do look at his long beard and his high, pointed cap!" said Jack. "How proud he is of his big, red umbrella! He stands in the center of the fountain with the water falling all around, but not a drop falls on him."
"Isn't he a jolly old fellow! I suppose hebrings good luck to the people who own that garden," said Joe. "In fairy tales the mountain dwarfs always bring good luck, if they are treated kindly."
Statue of dwarf holding umbrellaThe queer little dwarf under his large, red umbrella
The queer little dwarf under his large, red umbrella
"Well, this old fellow looks as if he were enjoying his lovely garden home," said Jack.
At last the trampers came to a small town where there was a high coach drawn by four horses waiting to carry people two miles up the valley, to the village of Altdorf.
Travelers usually go to Altdorf by trainnow, but the Overall Boys chose to ride on top of the high coach.
boys riding on coachThe Overall Boys chose to ride on top of the high coach
The Overall Boys chose to ride on top of the high coach
It was a beautiful drive, and everybody was happy and hungry when the coach drew up to a small hotel in the famous little village.
Supper was served in the hotel garden, then the boys went to bed to dream of William Tell and his brave son, Walter, who had once walked the streets of this very village.
Quite early next morning, two eager little boys were standing in the old marketplaceThey were looking at the tall bronze monument of William Tell and his little son.
"Think of it!" said Joe. "William Tell stood on this very spot when he shot the apple from Walter's head."
"Yes," said Jack. "And Walter stood away back there, where the fountain now is."
"My! I know I should have trembled, if I had been in Walter's place," said Joe.
"I am sure Walter did not tremble. See how brave and happy he looks, as he stands up there with his father's hand on his shoulder. He was proud to help save his father's life. He was even willing to die to save him. Why, I should be willing to do as much for my father, if he were in trouble," said Jack.
"So should I!" cried Joe. "No one shall ever hurt father or mother, if I can help it!"
"Well, that sounds good," said their father, who came up behind the boys just in time to hear what they were talking about. "I shall not be afraid to serve my country, so long as I have boys as brave as Walter Tell."
boys standing on balcony looking at monumentThey were looking at the monument of William Tell
They were looking at the monument of William Tell
"Oh, father, did this all really happen, or is it just a story?" asked Jack.
"Well," said their father, "a few wise men are telling us that it is only a legend, but many of the Swiss people believe that it is every bit true. They are proud to have had such heroes as William Tell and his little boy."
"Of course they are," said Joe. "I am going to believe that it is true. Why, William Tell did almost as much for his country as George Washington did for ours. I think thathe ought to be called the 'Father of his Country,' the same as Washington is."
"So do I," said their father. "But let me tell you something now. I have a surprise for you. The people of the village are going to play the story of William Tell to-day in their little open-air theater on the edge of the woods.
"The king's hat will be there on a pole in the center of the busy marketplace, and all the people will bow low to it—all except William Tell and his little son, who will march proudly by it. Then, of course, Tell will have to shoot the apple from his little boy's head, and he will be taken across the stormy lake in Gessler's boat, and then he will spring out upon the rocky shore, and escape into the woods. Gessler and his men will climb up the mountain path toward the castle; the poor woman will beg Gessler to release her husband from prison—and all the rest of the story will be played. Would you like to see it?"
"Oh, of course we should!" exclaimed theboys. "We should rather see it than anything else we can think of."
And when they had seen it, they wanted to see it all right over again.