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Quasimodo was the famous hunch back of Notre Dame. After his death, the bishop of his Cathedral sent word through the streets of Paris that he needed a new bell ringer.
The Bishop decided that he would conduct the interviews
personally and so he went up into the belfry to begin the screening process. After observing several applicants demonstrate their skills, he shook his head – none were as good as Quasimodo.
Just as the
bishop was leaving, a man with no arms approached him
and announced that he was there to apply for the bell ringer’s
job.
The bishop was incredulous.’
But, you have no arms!’
.
‘No matter, ‘said the man.’
Observe!’
And he began striking the bells with his face,
producing a beautiful melody on the bells. The bishop listened in astonishment; convinced he had finally found a replacement for Quasimodo
But suddenly, rushing forward to head the bell, the armless
man tripped and plunged headlong out of the belfry window. Sadly, he died on the the street below.
The stunned bishop rushed to the armless man. When he reached the street, a crowd had gathered around the fallen figure,
drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moments before.
As they silently parted to let the bishop through, one of them asked, ‘Bishop, who was this man?’
.
‘I don’t
know his name, ‘the bishop
sadly replied, ‘but his face rings a bell.’
Part 2
The next day, despite the sadness of the unfortunate death of the armless campanologist,
the bishop continued his interviews for the bell ringer 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 will honour my brother’s
life by allowing me to replace him as your esteemed bell ringer’
.
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, twirled around, and died on the spot.
A monk, hearing the bishop’s
cries of grief at this second tragedy, rushed up the stairs to his
side.’
What has happened? Who is this man?’
the monk asked breathlessly.
‘I don’t
know his name, ‘sighed the distraught bishop, but…’
. …. He’s
was a dead ringer for his brother.