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.
[Illustration: _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 the wild 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 given their lives to protect the palace of the French King,
Louis XVI, in his beautiful city of Paris.
[Illustration: _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.
[Illustration: _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 took one of the fresh, long rolls from his knapsack and
broke it into small bits, which he threw into the water.
[Illustration: _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.
They found many interesting plants and flowers 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."
[Illustration: _Alpine roses_]
In a few moments a procession of carved wooden bears and queer little
dwarf men were marching 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.
[Illustration: _The boys stood around the table and sang_]
When everything was ready, the boys stood behind their chairs around
the table and sang a 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 had _ever_ known.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: WILLIAM TELL AND HIS LITTLE SON.]
[Illustration]