William Tell
A Swiss Folklore
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Retold by The Legendary Connection
TLC#00065
Long ago, in a land of tall mountains and deep valleys, the people of Switzerland were not free and happy as they are today. They were ruled by a cruel tyrant named Gessler, who made their lives hard and unfair.
One day, Gessler set up a tall pole in the middle of the town square and placed his own hat on top of it. He gave strict orders that everyone who came into town had to bow down to the hat, as though it were him. But one man, named William Tell, was too brave to do that. He stood tall with his arms crossed and refused to bow to the hat. He would not bow to a tyrant, not even his hat.
William Tell was known far and wide for his bravery and skill with a bow and arrow. He lived in the mountains and was the best hunter in the land. When Gessler heard that William Tell had refused to bow, he was furious. Gessler feared that others might follow Tell’s brave example, so he decided to make an example of him.
Gessler came up with a cruel and dangerous plan. He knew of William Tell's great skill, so he ordered that Tell's young son be brought to the town square. Gessler placed an apple on the boy’s head and ordered William Tell to shoot the apple with a single arrow from his bow.
William Tell’s heart sank. He begged Gessler, “Please, what if my hand shakes? What if the arrow misses? I could hurt my own son!”
But Gessler refused to listen. “You must hit the apple, or my soldiers will kill your boy,” he said.
William Tell had no choice. He had to be brave, for his son’s life depended on it. He took a deep breath, carefully placed the arrow on his bow, and aimed. His son stood still, trusting his father’s skill. With steady hands and a brave heart, Tell let the arrow fly.
The arrow whistled through the air and hit the apple right in the center, knocking it off his son’s head. The crowd watching gasped, and then cheered loudly for William Tell’s incredible shot.
As William Tell turned to leave, a second arrow fell from under his coat. Gessler noticed and asked angrily, “Why do you have a second arrow?”
With great courage, William Tell looked the tyrant in the eye and said, “That second arrow was for your heart if I had harmed my son.”
The crowd was amazed by William Tell’s bravery. He had not only saved his son but also stood up to the cruel ruler, even when it was dangerous.
The story doesn’t end there. It is said that, not long after, William Tell’s bravery inspired the people of Switzerland. They rose up against Gessler, and William Tell himself used his bow and arrow to defeat the tyrant. His bravery set his people free, and they were no longer ruled by a cruel leader.
The story of William Tell teaches us that bravery is not just about being strong—it’s about standing up for what is right, even when it’s hard or scary. Through his courage, William Tell helped bring freedom and happiness to his land, showing that true bravery can change the world.
Original Source: “Fifty Famous Stories Retold.” Https://Www.gutenberg.org/Files/18442/18442-h/18442-H.htm, 23 May 2006, www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/18442/pg18442-images.html#THE_STORY_OF_WILLIAM_TELL. Accessed 10 May 2024.
