--> "Quasimodo's Replacement" > > > After Quasimodo's death, the bishop of the > Cathedral of Notre Dame sent word through the > streets of Paris that a new bell ringer was > needed. > > The bishop decided that he would conduct the > interviews personally and went up into the belfry > to begin the screening process. After observing > several applicants demonstrate their skills, he > had decided to call it a day. > > Just then, an armless man approached him and > announced that he was there to apply for the bell > ringer's job. The bishop was incredulous. "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 > carillon. The bishop listened in astonishment; > convinced he had finally found a replacement for > Quasimodo. But suddenly, rushing forward to > strike a bell, the armless man tripped and plunged > headlong out of the belfry window to his death in > the street below. > > The stunned bishop rushed to his side. 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." > > > WAIT! WAIT! There's more . . . > > The following day, despite the sadness that > weighed heavily on his heart due to 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 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, twirled around, 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? Who is this man?" the first > monk asked breathlessly. "I don't know his name," > sighed the distraught bishop, but..." > ...he's a dead ringer for his brother. > >