NK - Fw: [gdh] Fw: pure punishment

[Angus]

>
>J. Bethancourt                                 White Tree Productions
>joeb at locksley.com                      http://www.locksley.com/
>http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Underground/3092/
>        http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/6696/
>
>-----Original Message-----
>
>>
>>> After Quasimodo's death, the bishop of the cathedral of Notre
>>> Dame sent word through the streets of Paris that a new bellringer
>>> 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 decided to call it a day when a lone, armless man
>>> approached him and announced that he was there to apply for the
>>> bellringers job.
>>
>>> The bishop was incredulous."But you have no arms!"
>>
>>> "No matter," said the man, "Observe." He then began striking the
>>> bells with his face, producing a beautiful melody on the carillon. 
>>> The bishop listened in astonishment, convinced that he had finally 
>>> found a suitable replacement for Quasimodo. 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 
>>> sure rings a bell."
>>>
>>> (but 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
>>> (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?"
>>>
>>>
>>> (Wait for it...)
>>>
>>>
>>> "I don't know his name," sighed the distraught bishop, "but he's a
>>> dead ringer for his brother."
>>
>>
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