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The Bell Ringer's Brother
[You might want to read The Bell Ringer before you read
this—trust me.]
The following day, despite the sadness that weighed heavily
on his heart due to the unfortunate death of the armless campanologist (now
there's a trivia question), the bishop continued his interviews for the
bellringer of Notre Dame. The first man to approach him said, "Your
excellency, I am the brother of the poor, armless wretch that fell to his
death from this very belfry yesterday. I pray that you honor his life by
allowing me to replace him in this duty." The bishop agreed to give
the man an audition, and as the armless man's brother stooped to pick up
a mallet to strike the first bell, he groaned, clutched at his chest and
died on the spot. Two monks, hearing the bishop's cries of grief at this
second tragedy, rushed up the stairs to his side. "What has happened?"
the first breathlessly asked, "Who is this man?"
"I don't know his name," sighed the distraught
bishop, "but he's a deadringer for his brother."
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