the story of william tell

7/24/2019 The Story of William Tell

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The Story of William Tell

Author: James Balddwin


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Switzerland

Country in Europe

Switzerland is a mountainous Central European country, home to numerous lakes, illa!es and the hi!h peaks of the Alps" #ld Towns within its

cities contain medieal landmarks like capital Bern$s %yt!lo!!e clock tower and Cathedral of Bern" The country is also a destination for its ski

resorts and hikin! trails" Bankin! and finance are key industries, and Swiss watches and chocolate are renowned"


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ST&'( T)ESE W#*'S

So he made up his mindto punish the bold man. Many years ago a proud

tyrant, whose namewas Gessler, ruled over

them, and made theirlot a bitter one indeed.

He ordered that Tell'slittle boy should be

made to stand up in thepublic square with anapple on his head

+ old -fearless and darin!

+ tyrant-

A cruel and oppressiedictator

+ pulic s.uare -A place where people

meet


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+ The people of Switzerland

were not always free and

happy as they are today" /any

years a!o a proud tyrant,

whose name was 0essler,

ruled oer them, and made

their lot a itter one indeed"

+ Who was the proud

tyrant1


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+ #ne day this tyrant set up a tall pole

in the pulic s.uare, and put his owncap on the top of it2 and then he

!ae orders that eery man who

came into the town should ow

down efore it" But there was one

man, named William Tell, who would

not do this" )e stood up strai!ht withfolded arms, and lau!hed at the

swin!in! cap" )e would not ow

down to 0essler himself"

+ When 0essler heard of this, he was

ery an!ry" )e was afraid that othermen would disoey, and that soon

the whole country would reel

a!ainst him" So he made up his

mind to punish the old man"


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+ William Tell3s home was amon! the

mountains, and he was a famous

hunter" 4o one in all the land could

shoot with ow and arrow so well as

he" 0essler knew this, and so he

thou!ht of a cruel plan to make the

hunter3s own skill rin! him to !rief" )e

ordered that Tell3s little oy should e

made to stand up in the pulic s.uare

with an apple on his head2 and then he

ade Tell shoot the apple with one of

his arrows"


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+ Tell e!!ed the tyrant not to hae him

make this test of his skill" What if theoy should moe1 What if the

owman3s hand should tremle1 What if

the arrow should not carry true1

+ 5Will you make me kill my oy15 he

said"

+ 5Say no more,5 said 0essler" 5(ou must

hit the apple with your one arrow" 6f you

fail, my soldiers shall kill the oy efore

your eyes"5

+ Then, without another word, Tell fitted

the arrow to his ow" )e took aim, and

let it fly" The oy stood firm and still" )e

was not afraid, for he had all faith in his

father3s skill"


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+ The arrow whistled throu!h the air" 6t struck

the apple fairly in the center, and carried itaway" The people who saw it shouted with7oy"

+ As Tell was turnin! away from the place, anarrow which he had hidden under his coatdropped to the !round"

+ 58ellow95 cried 0essler, 5what mean youwith this second arrow15

+ 5Tyrant95 was Tell3s proud answer, 5thisarrow was for your heart if 6 had hurt mychild"5

+ And there is an old story, that, not lon! afterthis, Tell did shoot the tyrant with one of hisarrows2 and thus he set his country free"


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