The Overall Boys in Switzerland

by Eulalie Osgood Grover

  _After awhile the boys and their father got into a smallboat and rowed far out on the dark fairy lake_]

  After awhile the boys and their father got into a small boat and rowedfar out on the dark fairy lake. Other boats were floating quietlyabout, too, each carrying a lighted Chinese lantern.

  Somewhere across the water people were singing lovely Swiss songs, andall were watching the strange, fiery things in the sky above.

  Mount Pilatus, which rose very high, close beside the lake, looked coldand ghostlike under the weird, blue lights.

  "Would you like to hear a ghost story about Mount Pilatus, boys?" askedtheir father.

  "Oh, of course we should! Please tell us a ghost story!" said the boys.

  "Well," began their father, "you know how Pilate, the Roman governorof Galilee, allowed Jesus to be killed. It is said that Pilate wasafterward driven out of Galilee, and that he came to this part of theworld and drowned himself in a lake near the top of that mountain. Sothe mountain was named Pilatus.

  "For many hundreds of years the people about here believed thatPilate's ghost came out of the lake once a year and wandered overthe mountain. To protect the people from the ghost, the government ofLucerne 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 fromGalilee that the government of Lucerne gave permission for four men toclimb the mountain and to explore the lake. As the men did not find theghost, they decided that at last it was quiet.

  "So people have been climbing the mountain ever since, and now theyeven have a railroad which goes away up to the little lake. How do yousuppose the old ghost likes that?"

  "And what do you suppose he thinks of the fire balloons that aresailing around his head to-night?" said Joe.

  Suddenly somebody screamed, and then somebody else screamed. The littleboats began to hurry and scurry in every direction. It looked as ifall the Chinese lanterns had gone crazy.

  Everybody's eyes were turned toward the sky, for up there, rightabove them, was a fire balloon. The fire had caught in the top of theballoon, and it was all ablaze.

  Now this blazing balloon was falling straight down, down, down, towardthe little boats on the lake. Of course the boats were scurrying to getout of the way, and of course the people screamed.

  _A fire balloon_]

  Each thought that the burning balloon would surely fall right into hisboat, but it did not. It fell hissing and sputtering into the darkwaters, right where the boats had been only a few moments before.

  "Well, that was a narrow escape!" exclaimed Jack. "We can imagine nowhow it would seem to be in a falling flying machine. I think I don'tcare to try it."

  Then, with many other boats, they rowed quickly back to the brightlylighted city, and the boys were soon sound asleep, resting for the nextday's fun.

  THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.]

  THE BIRTHDAY PARTY

  Now the next day was Joe's birthday, and he was to have a real Swissparty. At least, he was going with a dozen Swiss boys and theirschoolmaster for a long tramp up the mountain side behind Lucerne. Jackwas going, too.

  The boys were hardly through breakfast on the birthday morning, whenthey heard the beating of a drum in the street. In a moment the highgarden gate swung open, and in marched a procession of jolly boys.

  The leader of the procession was the drummer boy. A great St. Bernarddog bounded along beside him.

  These boys could all speak a little English, and as Jack and Joe hadlearned some German, they had no trouble in talking with each other,though sometimes it was hard for the St. Bernard dog to understandtheir language.

  _The drummer boy and the schoolmaster and the dog ledthe way, while the other boys followed, two by two_]

  The Overall Boys put on their knapsacks and quickly joined theprocession. The drummer boy and the schoolmaster and the dog led theway, while the other boys followed, two by two.

  Swiss boys nearly always carry knapsacks or botany cans on their backswhen they are tramping. They like to gather and study the wild flowersand plants that grow by the way. Of course they always carry freshrolls and sweet chocolate in their knapsacks, too.

  These boys think nothing is so good for lunch as rolls and sweetchocolate, and the Overall Boys are sure that they are right. They arealso sure that no other sweet chocolate is as good as that made inSwitzerland.

  The Swiss schoolboys often wear soft green felt hats with bunches ofmountain flowers or long feathers standing straight up behind. So theOverall Boys bought feathers for their hats, too.

  In passing through the town the schoolmaster took the boys to see theirfamous national monument, the Lion of Lucerne.

  High on a natural wall of rock they saw the figure of a great dyinglion, with a broken spear in his side. At the foot of the wall thereis a small, dark pond with green trees around it, making a quiet andbeautiful spot.

  The schoolmaster told the boys how, many years before, some brave Swissguards had given their lives to protect the palace of the French King,Louis XVI, in his beautiful city of Paris.

  _High on a natural wall of rock they saw the famousnational monument, the Lion of Lucerne_]

  He told them how this national monument had later been made by a greatartist in memory of the soldiers who were as brave as lions, and whowere not afraid to die at their post.

  After leaving the lion, the boys marched down the steep, crookedstreets toward the river. Mount Pilatus rose high in front of them, asoft, white cloud above his head.

  _They passed a number of small milk carts_]

  "We are sure of fine weather to-day, boys," said the master. "Pilatusis 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 mustbe good to-day."

  As the boys tramped on they passed a number of small milk cartsbringing barrels of fresh, rich milk into the city. The milk had beensent down from the high mountain pastures, where the cattle spend thesummer months.

  Each milk cart was drawn by two strong dogs and a man. The dogs seemedvery proud of their work. They knew every house where they must stop toleave the morning's milk.

  In a few minutes the party was crossing a queer, crooked bridge overthe river. It is called the Chapel Bridge. On its roof and walls thereare more than one hundred and fifty pictures, which were painted along, long time ago.

  Right beside the bridge, standing in the river, is a very old stonetower. The schoolmaster said that this tower was probably once used asa lighthouse.

  The Overall Boys were very much interested in the quaint old coveredbridge, but they were even more interested in some beautiful whiteswans swimming in the water below it.

  "The swans are hunting for their breakfast," said Joe. "I am going togive them one of my nice rolls."

  Then Joe ran quickly through the bridge and down to the edge of theriver. He took one of the fresh, long rolls from his knapsack andbroke it into small bits, which he threw into the water.

  _He took one of the fresh, long rolls from his knapsackand 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" forthe generous breakfast.

  At last the procession tramped out through a low gate under a largewatch tower on the old city wall. Soon they were climbing up throughthe beautiful woods on the mountain side.

  They found many interesting plants and flowers to study, and they wereglad of the sweet chocolate and rolls in their knapsacks.

  But the real fun came when they reached the restaurant high on themountain. One of the boys kept Joe out of sight while the others helpedarrange a table for the birthday dinner.

  It was a large, round table, and it stood out of doors
on a highterrace, where they could look far down upon the little city ofLucerne, and upon the beautiful lake surrounded by the great mountains.

  The boys took from their knapsacks a number of small packages, whichthey had kept a secret from Joe.

  "Let's arrange all of our presents around Joe's plate," said Jack. "Andlet's put a bunch of alpine roses in the center of the table."

  _Alpine roses_]

  In a few moments a procession of carved wooden bears and queer littledwarf men were marching around Joe's plate, while on the plate werepiled the other presents.

  There was a handsome jackknife; a pocket book containing a silver francpiece, which is the same as twenty cents; a tiny Swiss chalet with areal music box inside of it; and best of all, a beautiful little Swisswatch,--one which would keep perfect time,--besides cakes and cakes ofdelicious sweet chocolate.

  _The boys stood around the table and sang_]

  When everything was ready, the boys stood behind their chairs aroundthe table and sang a birthday song, while Joe was led back to theterrace by his little Swiss friend.

  Poor Joe! He was so surprised and so happy he did not know what todo or what to say, but he really said the very nicest thing: "Thankyou, thank you, everybody! Oh, ich danke euch allen!" Then he sat downquickly in his chair and began looking at his many presents.

  But he could not look at his presents long, for he had to thinkabout the delicious birthday dinner that was being served. There waseverything that hungry boys could wish for, from real chicken to icecream and cake. And there was a box of chocolate candy for each boy totake home with him.

  A Swiss band played lovely music all the while they were eating, andthe schoolmaster told them wonderful stories about his life on the highAlps when he was a little boy.

  The boys ate so long, and they ate so much, the schoolmaster finallytold them that they must stop soon or they would not be able to trampback down the mountain.

  There was no need to be anxious, however, for they all tramped downbetter 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 had _ever_ known.

  WILLIAM TELL AND HIS LITTLE SON.]

  WILLIAM TELL AND HIS LITTLE SON

  Early next morning the Overall Boys and their parents went aboard asmall 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 agolearned that this was the best place for sightseeing; and they knewthat during the next few hours they would see some of the loveliestscenery 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 rathersee the spot where William Tell shot the apple from his little boy'shead, than any other spot in Switzerland."

  "Oh, I shouldn't!" said Joe. "I should rather climb one of those greatmountains 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'twant to do it to-day. I want to hear the story which father is goingto tell us, about how William Tell and his little boy helped to makeSwitzerland a free country."

  "Oh, yes, father! Do tell us the story while we are sailing up the verylake 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 notgovern themselves, as they do now. A part of the people were governedby the King of Austria. Austria is a large country northeast ofSwitzerland, you know.

  "Now the King of Austria could not live here and govern the peoplehimself, so he sent one of his men to be their Governor. The name ofthe last Governor was Gessler.

  _The Overall Boys hear the story of William Tell_]

  "This man Gessler was a very proud and cruel Governor. He made thepeople do many things which they did not think were right.

  "One of the strange things which Gessler did was to have a hat placedon a tall pole in the marketplace of the little village of Altdorf.He then commanded every one who passed through the marketplace to bowbefore 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 thecommand.

  "Of course the people were much excited, but they did not dare todisobey 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. Hethought it was foolish to bow to a hat on a pole, so he walked straightby it without bowing.

  "When Gessler heard what William Tell had done, he was very angry. As apunishment, he commanded Tell to shoot an apple placed on the head ofhis favorite son, Walter. If the arrow went through the apple, Tell'slife was to be spared. But if he missed the mark, he and his little boywere to die.

  "Gessler knew that William Tell could shoot an arrow straighter thanany other man in the country, but he thought that his courage wouldfail, with his own little boy standing just under the mark. And italmost did fail. But Walter called, 'Shoot, father! I am not afraid! Iwill 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 anapple on his head. He then commanded Tell to shoot.

  "In a moment Tell's arrow had gone straight through the center of theapple.

  "The people, who were watching, shouted for joy, because the lives ofWilliam Tell and his brave little son were saved. Even Gessler wasforced to praise Tell for his wonderful skill.

  "'But,' said Gessler, 'you must tell me why you put the second arrow inyour belt.'

  "Tell did not wish to answer this question, but Gessler promised heshould not lose his life.

  "'Well, sir,' answered Tell, 'as you have promised to spare my life, Iwill tell you the truth. If I had missed the apple and shot my boy, thesecond arrow should have gone through your heart.'

  "'Ah!' said Gessler. 'I have promised to spare your life, but you shallbe put where you will never again see the sun nor the moon. Then Ishall be safe from your swift arrows.'

  _Gessler asks Tell about the second arrow_]

  "So William Tell was quickly bound with ropes and taken to the boat onwhich 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 ifthey would all be drowned. The boatmen begged Gessler to take the ropesfrom their prisoner, so that he might help them bring the boat ashore.

  _As he sprang, he gave the boat a strong push with hisfoot, back into the rough water again_]

  "So Gessler commanded that Tell be untied and that he guide them tosafety.

  "Tell had been on this lake in storms many times before, and he knewwhere the few safe landing places were. He knew there was a large flatrock, close under the steep shore, on to which one could easily springfrom a boat, so he skillfully steered in its direction.

  "When a great wave swung the tossing boat quite close to the flat rock,Tell seized his crossbow and sprang out. As he sprang, he gave theboat a strong push with his foot, back into the rough water again.

  "Brave Tell was free. He climbed quickly through the woods and up thesteep mountain side. At last he came to the path Gessler would have totake in returning to his castle, if he were not drowned on the stormylake.

  "Here Tell waited and thought. He was waiting to see if Gessler wouldcome, and he was thinking about the brave people who were beingso cruelly treated by their Austrian Governor. He was willing, ifnecessary, to give his life to bring freedom to his country.

  "At last Gessler and his men came hurrying up the path toward thecastle. They had escaped the storm.

  "As Tell stood hidden behind some bushes near the path he saw Gesslerrefuse to help a poor woman and her little children. The woman had cometo beg the Governor to release her husband, who had been unjustly putinto prison. Ges
sler would not listen to her, and the unhappy womanwent away weeping.

  "Tell was now sure that it was his duty to save his people from theirsuffering. So he let fly a swift arrow from his bow and it hit themark, as his arrows always did.

  "That was the last of Austrian Governors for Switzerland. The peoplehave been free and have governed themselves ever since, and that, youknow, is more than six hundred years," said the boys' father.

  "Isn't it wonderful to be as brave as William Tell was!" said Jackafter a moment.

  "And isn't it wonderful to be as brave as Walter was!" said Joe. "Iwonder if I could be as brave as that!"

  A VISIT TO TELL'S COUNTRY.]

  A VISIT TO TELL'S COUNTRY

  While the boys were listening to this interesting story, the steamerwas carrying them slowly up the beautiful lake toward the very placeswhere it all happened.

  At last they came to a narrow part of the lake where the mountains rosesteep and high on both sides.

  "Look, boys!" said their father. "Do you see the little chapel justahead of us, on the left? It is called Tell's Chapel, because it isbuilt on the flat rock on to which Tell sprang from Gessler's boat thatstormy day. On the walls inside of the chapel an artist has paintedfour large pictures showing the whole story of William Tell."