he Tragic Accident

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

The laws regarding guns in Lilliland were very simple. No guns were allowed. This was a very strict law that had been in the law books for over a century.

Two teenage brothers, Robert and William, played sports in school and were very popular with other students and teachers.

A friend who was visiting from another country gave a small loaded handgun to them as a misguided present. Both brothers knew that guns were illegal in Lilliland but decided to keep the gun anyway. They had the notion that owning a gun was the hallmark of a real man.

While inspecting the gun one evening while their parents were away, the gun accidentally went off and the bullet struck and killed William. It was truly an accident because the brothers were the best of friends.

When the Baron and Lady Angela heard of the accident, they were sad and upset and knew that the parents were very grief-stricken.

The Baron mentioned to Lady Angela that the purpose of the gun law was to protect people from unfortunate situations just like this.

A month later Robert was still very sad and gave up all team sports that he and his brother had played together. Then he later gave up school entirely, and just sat at home wanting to be alone in his grief.

A week later Robert’s body was found floating in Castle Lake and a note was found in his bedroom on his pillow. The note was addressed to his mother and father and he said that he was so very sorry about causing the accidental death of William, that he could not live with the guilt he felt and the harm he caused his family.

The Baron and Lady Angela attended another memorial service for the family of William and Robert.

The Baron was heard saying that owning a gun and shooting the gun up in the air, at a cardboard target, or at a living creature, was not the mark of a man. Kindness and good deeds were the mark of a good man.