TANCHO AND THE BELL
The Emperor Charlemagne wanted to have a magnificent bell cast for the church he had built. An artist named Tancho was employed by the church to make it. He was furnished, at his own request, with a great quantity of copper, and a hundred pounds of silver for the purpose. He kept the silver for his own personal use, however, and substituted in its place a quantity of tin. He made the bell of tin. When the work was completed, he presented the bell to the Emperor, who had it suspended in the church tower. The people, however, were unable to ring it. So Tancho was commanded to help them. Tancho pulled so hard on the chain that the bell’s tongue fell down because of bad workmanship, and it killed Tancho.