Arnold Winkelried

by James Baldwin

　　

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A great army was marching into Swit-zer-land. If it should go muchfarther, there would be no driving it out again. The soldiers wouldburn the towns, they would rob the farmers of their grain and sheep,they would make slaves of the people.The men of Switzerland knew all this. They knew that they must fightfor their homes and their lives. And so they came from the mountainsand valleys to try what they could do to save their land. Some camewith bows and arrows, some with scythes and pitch-forks, and some withonly sticks and clubs.But their foes kept in line as they marched along the road. Everysoldier was fully armed. As they moved and kept close together,nothing could be seen of them but their spears and shields and shiningarmor. What could the poor country people do against such foes asthese?"We must break their lines," cried their leader; "for we cannot harmthem while they keep together."The bowmen shot their arrows, but they glanced off from the soldiers'shields. Others tried clubs and stones, but with no better luck. Thelines were still un-bro-ken. The soldiers moved stead-i-ly onward;their shields lapped over one another; their thousand spears lookedlike so many long bris-tles in the sun-light. What cared they forsticks and stones and hunts-men's arrows?"If we cannot break their ranks," said the Swiss, "we have no chancefor fight, and our country will be lost!"Then a poor man, whose name was Ar-nold Wink´el-ried, stepped out."On the side of yonder moun-tain," said he, "I have a happy home.There my wife and chil-dren wait for my return. But they will not seeme again, for this day I will give my life for my country. And do you,my friends, do your duty, and Switzerland shall be free."With these words he ran forward. "Follow me!" he cried to his friends."I will break the lines, and then let every man fight as bravely as hecan."He had nothing in his hands, neither club nor stone nor other weapon.But he ran straight on-ward to the place where the spears werethickest."Make way for lib-er-ty!" he cried, as he dashed right into the lines.A hundred spears were turned to catch him upon their points. Thesoldiers forgot to stay in their places. The lines were broken.Arnold's friends rushed bravely after him. They fought with whateverthey had in hand. They snatched spears and shields from their foes.They had no thought of fear. They only thought of their homes andtheir dear native land. And they won at last.Such a battle no one ever knew before. But Switzerland was saved, andArnold Wink-el-ried did not die in vain.

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