The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-11-06

CT SIlll peFSlSIeu jean, IueTtlOEc, WIS
forced to wait several days before I'M
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 go to work to-day.
All the good folks of Grenouilleville
were assen. bled in front of the church
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 bacl; was attached
the weathercock, Respondent in new
gliding. He entered the church to pass
by window at the base of the spirc.
When he appeared, throwing one of
his ropes over the first hook of the
steeple, there was a nurmur of con-
Sternation from the watching crowd;
but terror became paroXySn 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 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
dashed himself fast thereto, feet and
body, and began his first work-the
painting of the flag. In about half an
hour cheers and applause broke from
the crowd; the national colors foated
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 elm bed, that is to say, mere
bar of iron.
In December it is soon night; already
the watchers saw but a family outlined
form amid the miStS of twilight, and
they began to grow uneasy. How
would poor Jean Renard manage now?
lie could no longer see to work, and
now in greater danger than ever.
Suddenly a small light showed in the
darkening night. Jean Renard, being
a careful man, had thought to carry
with him a candle. Soon nothing more
could be seen but that tiny light,
cleaning on high like star lost in the
dispense.
Jean continued working.
On the morrow, at dawn, the early
risers of Grenouilleville saw a fright
full sight.
Jean Renard hung, head downwards,
from the top of the stecple, 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 conccaling his face. He no longer
moved; dead, probably, some hours
since.
The cure, who was at once appraised,
expressed his sentiments in intolera bic
form:
"Unlucl1y fellow! Well, at least, he
had put back the weathercOck!'
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 workmen from the city. if
you must, at no matter what cost; the
body of Jean Renard must not remain
w there.
Get worllmen from the city-that
was very expensive, and the cure hest
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 parishioners.
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 We're
not rich. A 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 for
the occasion; and all Grenouilleville
joined in the last prayer for Jean
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, would
force the cure himself to go and get it.
When that pA'son left the church, he
found himself confronted by threat
ening crowd.
"No, NJ. lie Cure. He shall not stay
up there; it is an outrage
my good friends, am quite of your
opinion; so get him down.
you shall go yourself, since you re-
fuse to pay some one else to CO. and al
ready the most audacious, the anti.cler-
ical faction, pushed the cure backwards
towards The church.
Thoroughly alarmed, he at length
exclaimed:
at is impossible; do not know how
to climb on roofs. I'll pay! lpayr'
"They ask two hundred francs to
corae from the city," cried the men on
all sides.
"Oh!-but I'll give themr'
"Stop! stop!' cried voice. ''I'll do
the job for hundred francs,'' and a
fo.no1 l.; ,,,o., Al.