Catoctin clarion., 1892-06-09
Mechanjcsown Frederick County, Maryland Thursday June g. 1892
A QUEER LAWSUIT.


children. Jean was no advocate O
polygamy. He found one wife quite
enough, for la Louise. as she was call
ed, often led him Il hard life.
jean worked worked with will from
morning till night; he was full Of
courage and strength, and yet, in spite
OF all the hours he spent on the roofs il,
company with lovelorn cats, he barely
managed to exc out living.
The two youngsters. their mother
and me, he said, that makes four, and
four stomachs to fill is not small af-
fair. 1t means-,to work, Jean !!
And work he did. POOR man, and yet
never knew what 1t meant to have a
few spare coins in his pocket.
The winter Of 1879 80, crueily y rigor
Gus, as will be remembered, taxed the
slater rudtly. No work he had to
warm his blood he was obliged to whip
his arms back and forth, but work also
would have kept his blood in clIcula-
ton, and in addition would have
brought In CONS for dinners and break
fasts.
Often at :hs time Jean Renard look
ed up at the high steeple Of the old
church Of GrenoullIevilie. In many
places the ruined states had fallen away
piece by piece.
What lot of work there was to be
done on that spire
OF course it was dangerous work.
Jean knew that, but he knew his trade
too.
Long ago also the cock that perched
on the summit of this srire had been
blown down during storm. The cure
had often been asked by his people to
re,ns;ate this cock in his high station.
and had always replied that he asked
nothing better. if he could manage to
do so without its costing him anything
Jean Renard had an inspiration.
Suppose I propose to the cure to put
back his cock for nothing if he will
give me the work that is to be done OH
the steeple.'
But the cure was a miser, and he re-
piled that 1t made no difference to hlm
if the steeple was leaky, as he did not
sleep there.
Repair as much as you want to-, said
he to Jean, but | Will not give you a
cent
The slater found this too little and
gave up the affair, keeping however, a
grudge against the cure.
AT about this epoch there was a
change in the mayoralty of Grenouille
Vile The new magistrate inaugnrated
his rule by asking the cure to repaint
the flag covered with rust,
which crowned the steepIe.
But, Monsieur le Marie, objected the
cure, you do not ask NE if | have The
money to pay for this work.
DO not bother yourself about that
Monsieur lie Cure replied the mayor
have the flag repainted and the munic-
lpality shall pay
Very we'll, then, since you wish it,
replied the cure, none too happy ut see.
ing the national colors float over his
steeple.
True to his principles, the cure beat
down the price; franc by franc, in max.
ing his bargain with Jean Renard and
when it was concluded, the priest add
ed, 'and it is understood that putting
back the cock is included IN the bar
gain
oh no. said Jean, that is not un.
derstood at all. That, you know, sir,
doubles the labor; and also, the cock
has to be put much higher than
mount to paint the flag. Placing the
cock is perilols job-so perilous that
it is my life YOU are asking me to risk
for nothing. No.,
Yes, my friend,' said the cure with
an unctuous smile; you will do that for
the love of Goa
DO you say masses for the love Of
God, Monsieur lie Cure ? consent to re-
place the cock, but you will add so
francs to your price it is worth that
Fifty francs ! cried the priest. How
you run on See here, Jean. once you
are up there, 1t won't be much of an ef-
fort to 60 few steps higher.
But if misfortune befais me, to you
THINK you, for the love Of God, will care
for'"nd bring up my children
Come! come! No more talking. I'll
give you ten francs.
'Ah, Monsieur le Cure, you take ad-
vantage Of my poverty. You know
must earn a Lying and so get the bet
r.of me, In short,,4 accept for ten
francsrmorei.s