--- title: The Bell of Atri. — Fifty Famous Stories Retold · full text with trees description: The Bell of Atri., «Fifty Famous Stories Retold» by James Baldwin: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: A-tri is the name of a little town in It-a-ly. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Fifty Famous Stories Retold](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/) / The Bell of Atri. # The Bell of Atri. The Bell of Atri. of «Fifty Famous Stories Retold» by James Baldwin: the whole text, 87 sentences and 1323 words. Every sentence has its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself; 5 of them are in the tales treebank and were checked by a teacher model. - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/1/) — A-tri is the name of a little town in It-a-ly. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/2/) — It is a very old town, and is built half-way up the side of a steep hill. - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/3/) — A long time ago, the King of Atri bought a fine large bell, and had it hung up in a tower in the market place. - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/4/) — A long rope that reached almost to the ground was fas-tened to the bell. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/5/) — The smallest child could ring the bell by pulling upon this rope. - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/6/) — "It is the bell of justice," said the king. - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/7/) — When at last everything was ready, the people of Atri had a great holiday. - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/8/) — All the men and women and children came down to the market place to look at the bell of justice. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/9/) — It was a very pretty bell, and was, pol-ished until it looked almost as bright and yellow as the sun. - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/10/) — "How we should like to hear it ring!" they said. - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/11/) — Then the king came down the street. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/12/) — "Perhaps he will ring it," said the people; and everybody stood very still, and waited to see what he would do. - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/13/) — But he did not ring the bell. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/14/) — He did not even take the rope in his hands. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/15/) — When he came to the foot of the tower, he stopped, and raised his hand. - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/16/) — "My people," he said, "do you see this beautiful bell? - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/17/) — It is your bell; but it must never be rung except in case of need. - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/18/) — If any one of you is wronged at any time, he may come and ring the bell; and then the judges shall come together at once, and hear his case, and give him justice. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/19/) — Rich and poor, old and young, all alike may come; but no one must touch the rope unless he knows that he has been wronged." - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/20/) — Many years passed by after this. - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/21/) — Many times did the bell in the market place ring out to call the judges together. - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/22/) — Many wrongs were righted, many ill-doers were punished. - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/23/) — At last the hempen rope was almost worn out. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/24/) — The lower part of it was un-twist-ed; some of the strands were broken; it became so short that only a tall man could reach it. - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/25/) — "This will never do," said the judges one day. " - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/26/) — What if a child should be wronged? - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/27/) — It could not ring the bell to let us know it." - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/28/) — They gave orders that a new rope should be put upon the bell at once,--a rope that should hang down to the ground, so that the smallest child could reach it. - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/29/) — But there was not a rope to be found in all Atri. - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/30/) — They would have to send across the mountains for one, and it would be many days before it could be brought. - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/31/) — What if some great wrong should be done before it came? - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/32/) — How could the judges know about it, if the in-jured one could not reach the old rope? - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/33/) — "Let me fix it for you," said a man who stood by. — checked by a teacher - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/34/) — He ran into his garden, which was not far away, and soon came back with a long grape-vine in his hands. - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/35/) — "This will do for a rope," he said; and he climbed up, and fastened it to the bell. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/36/) — The slender vine, with its leaves and ten-drils still upon it, trailed to the ground. — checked by a teacher - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/37/) — "Yes," said the judges, "it is a very good rope. - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/38/) — Let it be as it is." - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/39/) — Now, on the hill-side above the village, there lived a man who had once been a brave knight. - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/40/) — In his youth he had ridden through many lands, and he had fought in many a battle. - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/41/) — His best friend through all that time had been his horse,--a strong, noble steed that had borne him safe through many a danger. - [42](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/42/) — But the knight, when he grew older, cared no more to ride into battle; he cared no more to do brave deeds; he thought of nothing but gold; he became a miser. - [43](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/43/) — At last he sold all that he had, except his horse, and went to live in a little hut on the hill-side. - [44](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/44/) — Day after day he sat among his money bags, and planned how he might get more gold; and day after day his horse stood in his bare stall, half-starved, and shiv-er-ing with cold. - [45](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/45/) — "What is the use of keeping that lazy steed?" said the miser to himself one morning. " - [46](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/46/) — Every week it costs me more to keep him than he is worth. - [47](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/47/) — I might sell him; but there is not a man that wants him. - [48](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/48/) — I cannot even give him away. - [49](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/49/) — I will turn him out to shift for himself, and pick grass by the roadside. - [50](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/50/) — If he starves to death, so much the better." - [51](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/51/) — So the brave old horse was turned out to find what he could among the rocks on the barren hill-side. - [52](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/52/) — Lame and sick, he strolled along the dusty roads, glad to find a blade of grass or a thistle. - [53](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/53/) — The boys threw stones at him, the dogs barked at him, and in all the world there was no one to pity him. - [54](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/54/) — One hot afternoon, when no one was upon the street, the horse chanced to wander into the market place. — checked by a teacher - [55](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/55/) — Not a man nor child was there, for the heat of the sun had driven them all indoors. - [56](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/56/) — The gates were wide open; the poor beast could roam where he pleased. - [57](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/57/) — He saw the grape-vine rope that hung from the bell of justice. - [58](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/58/) — The leaves and tendrils upon it were still fresh and green, for it had not been there long. - [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/59/) — What a fine dinner they would be for a starving horse! - [60](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/60/) — He stretched his thin neck, and took one of the tempting morsels in his mouth. - [61](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/61/) — It was hard to break it from the vine. - [62](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/62/) — He pulled at it, and the great bell above him began to ring. - [63](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/63/) — All the people in Atri heard it. - [64](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/64/) — It seemed to say,-- - [65](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/65/) — "Some one has done me wrong! - [66](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/66/) — Some one has done me wrong! - [67](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/67/) — Oh! come and judge my case! — checked by a teacher - [68](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/68/) — Oh! come and judge my case! — checked by a teacher - [69](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/69/) — For I've been wronged!" - [70](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/70/) — The judges heard it. - [71](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/71/) — They put on their robes, and went out through the hot streets to the market place. - [72](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/72/) — They wondered who it could be who would ring the bell at such a time. - [73](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/73/) — When they passed through the gate, they saw the old horse nibbling at the vine. - [74](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/74/) — "Ha!" cried one, "it is the miser's steed. - [75](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/75/) — He has come to call for justice; for his master, as everybody knows, has treated him most shame-ful-ly." - [76](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/76/) — "He pleads his cause as well as any dumb brute can," said another. - [77](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/77/) — "And he shall have justice!" said the third. - [78](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/78/) — Mean-while a crowd of men and women and children had come into the market place, eager to learn what cause the judges were about to try. - [79](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/79/) — When they saw the horse, all stood still in wonder. - [80](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/80/) — Then every one was ready to tell how they had seen him wan-der-ing on the hills, unfed, un-cared for, while his master sat at home counting his bags of gold. - [81](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/81/) — "Go bring the miser before us," said the judges. - [82](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/82/) — And when he came, they bade him stand and hear their judg-ment. - [83](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/83/) — "This horse has served you well for many a year," they said. " - [84](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/84/) — He has saved you from many a peril. - [85](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/85/) — He has helped you gain your wealth. - [86](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/86/) — Therefore we order that one half of all your gold shall be set aside to buy him shelter and food, a green pasture where he may graze, and a warm stall to comfort him in his old age." - [87](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/25/87/) — The miser hung his head, and grieved to lose his gold; but the people shouted with joy, and the horse was led away to his new stall and a dinner such as he had not had in many a day. - ← previous: [Arnold Winkelried.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/24/) - next →: [How Napoleon Crossed the Alps.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/26/) - ↑ back to [Fifty Famous Stories Retold](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/)