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INtRA
JOKES INDEX
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 when 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.......
"but his face rings a bell"
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 honour 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, picked up a mallet and struck the bells as beautifully as his brother.
But as he finished, 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..."
( . . . Wait for it . . .. )
But he's a dead ringer for his brother
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Bell ringer