The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-11-07


an unctuous smile; you will do that
for the love of God"
"Do you say masses for the love of
God, NJ. lie Cure? consent to replace
the weathercock, but you will add
fifty francs to your price; 1t is worth
| that"
"Fifty francsp cried the priest 1.-THE
deuce 1 will How you run on! See
here, Jean, once you are up there, it
won't be much of an effort to go a few
steps higher"
"But If misfortune befalls me, do
you think you, for the love of God,
will care for and bring up my chill
dren?"
"Come! come! No more talking I'll
give you ten francs"
"Ah, NJ. le Cure, you take advantage
| of my poverty. You know l must earn
a living, and so you get the better of
me. In short, accept for ten francs
! more"
The cure, delighted at his success,
spread the good news through the
town At last the weathercock was
| going to be in place once morel
| 1t was December, and the bad wealth
er still persisted Jean, therefore, was
forced to wait several days before un-
dertaking his dangerous ascent. At
length the rain ceased; by night the
clouds had gone, and next morning all
| the roofs were covered with frost.
"Clear weather." said the slater. 81
can 20 to work to-day.
All the good folks of Grenouilleville
| ,,-o,,, 1900. 1,1,1 ,F t1,o ob,,ro1,
in the large square to see Jean Renard
hoist himself to the top of the steeple.
He had in his belt three bottles con-
tanning red white and blue paint for
the flag, and to his back was attached
the wcathercocl5, resplendent in new
| gliding. He entered the church to pass
by window at the base of the spire.
When he appeared, throwing one of
his ropes over the first hook of the
steeple, there was a murmur of con-
steruation from the watching crowd;
but terror became paroXysm when
Jean, near the middle of his ascent, al
most lost his equilibrium by the break
ing of an iron eaten by rust. The up
turned faces were pale with emotion,
but the deXterous slater quickly
grasped a higher hook.
Nevertheless. he was long in mount
ing. 1t was nearly three o'clock in the
afternoon when he touched the base of
the cross at the top of the steeple. He
lashcd himself fast thereto, feet and
body, and began his first worl5-the
painting OF the flag. In about half an
hour cheers and applause broke from
the crowd; the national colors floated
over the steeple.
The hardest part, though, was yet to
be done: the weathercock had to go
up. Two feet more to mount; and to
crown the danger it was the cross that
had to be climbed, that is to say, mere
bar of iron.
In December it is soon night; already
the watchers saw but o family outlined
form amid the mists of twilight, and
they began to grow uneasy. How
would poor Jean Renard manage now?
He could no longer see to work, and
now in greater danger than ever.
Suddenly Il small light showed in the
darllening night. Jean Renard, being
careful man, had thought to carry
with him candle. Soon nothing more
could be seen but that tiny light,
cleaning on high like star lost in the
clouds, and the anxious crowd began to
disperse.
Jean continued working.
On the morrow, at dawn, the carly
riscrs of Grenouillevillc saw a fright
full sight.
Jean Renard hung, head downwards,
from the top of the steeple, his feet
still held by his ropes.
The unfortunate man had doubtless
lost his balance, and in falling his
work apron had turned backwards,
thus concealing his face He no longer
moved; dead, probably, some hours
since.
The cure, who was at once arprised,
expressed his sentiments in intolerable
form:
"Unlucky fellow! Well. at least, he
had put back the weathcrcOck"
"Yes, was replied, but we cannot
leave the corpse up there; it must be
got down"
THAT is true" said the priest; sit
must be brought down, but who will
do it?"
THAT, NJ. lie Cure, is your bust
ness. Get worllmen from the city, if
you must, at no matter what cost; the
body of Jean Renard must not remain
up there"
Get workmen from the city--that
was very expensive, and the cure hesi-
tated, but it had to be done. just then
it was learned in the village that the
priest had pushed his avarice to the
point of trying to get his weathercock
repaired for nothing, and feelings OF
aversion for him developed in the
breasts of his parshioners.
A subscription was opened for the
orphans of the tiler, and the same day
a hundred francs were paid in; little,
but the people of Grenouilleville were
not rich. man had gone to the city,
but they asked two hundred francs, and
the cure found that ridiculously exor
bitant, So the next day the corpse
being still suspended from the steeple
funeral ceremonies were held in front
of the great church door, draped fol-
the occasion; and all GrenouillevillC
Joined in the last prayer for Jear
Renard.
But to inter the body, it had to be
got down from its lofty perch. The
fellow-citizens of the slater this time
. showed great decision. They would
have the body, and, if necessary, woulc