SIR WILLIAM WALLACE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 94, 20 December 1913, Page 5

SIR WILLIAM WALLACE.

FIRST PRIZE ESSAY. The following is the. winning essay in the competition promoted by the Taranaki SjcpHfsh Society, the writer being Thomas , ((/‘Heather”) of tlie West End School. Neiy Ply- .!: <) * mourn: — In the summer of 129 G the sun.shod, its first' fijinV rays'Over' ‘ Scotland— Scotland 1 : gfo|-s[nts with purplo iasulcu and other f'air'Mowers. YefWr .all

-his bright land hung an ominous, for a few months be- ■ loro,' the Scottish noblemen had signed allegiance to an English king. In doing this they had sold all that made j]|l*o worth living for: their liberty and -their honor Jt bice who 'was'to bring f thw\so{ile to realise the dishonor of their hateful thraldom, to lead his people been through the stony pathway to .liberty,, to die for his country and hi# people; In history there are few other, figures, if any, whose lives show .pathetic and vet so courageous a recent.

His fair voting wife, who was more to him than life itself, had been murdered by the hated English. It was the memory of her loVed form that moved him to sacrifice all, nay, even his own life.

Over, fair Scotland burst that darK cloud.- For years the country was torn and distracted hy what might almost lie termed a civil war. There are few sadder things in the history of the world than two peoples of the same race lighting, killing, and exalting over their fallen brothers. Battle after battle was fought and won hy Wallace. His influence must have been almost hypnotic for bis countrymen worshipped and adored him almost as a god. The crown of Scotland was offered to him by a grateful people hut he refused. His only ambition was to see poor, oppressed Scotland, oppressed no longer and then to die.

Ob! Caledonia stern and wild. Meet nurse for a poetic child. Land of brown heath and shaggy

wood. Land of the mountain and the flood, Land of my sires, what mortal hand Can ere untie the filial band

That knits mo to thy rugged strand. But. alas, Wallace still had traitors in his :irmy, though they were hut Few. Once again he was called upon Co face the tyrant: once again he fought with what seemed almost supernatural strength; and once again he proved himself worthy to cross swords with the stubborn monarch of England. • His victorious career was to come to a sad hut tilting end. Long and fiercely raged the battle of Falkirk finally terminating in the victory of Ihe English. Wallace was betrayed by his own countrymen into the hands of Edward. In L'lOd he was executed, and then ceased to heat the noblest heart that ever heat in the breast of man. He died in the prime of life “for those whom the Hods love die young,” hut he left a lasting influence noon the land of Scotland. Ho paved the wav for a lasting peace and tranquillity which brought prosperity unto Scotland. His work was completed by Hubert Bruce, hut it is to the idol of every Scottish heart, — William Wallace, that Scotland then owed her liberty and her freedom.