Middletown transcript., 1892-03-17
A QUEER LAWSUIT.

Jean Renard was a poor tler, OF
Grenouilleville, who had wife anC
two children. Jean was no advocate
of polygamy. He found one wife
quite enough, for La Louise, as she
was called, often led him a hard life.
Jean worked with a viii from
morning to night; he was full Of
courage and strength, and yet, in
spite Of all the hours he spent on the
roofs in company with lovelorn cats,
he barely managed to eke out iv-
ing.
'sThe two youngsters, their mother
and me, /" said he, sthat makes four,
and four stomachs to fill is not
small affair. 1t means-to work,
Jeanp
And work he did, poor man, and
yet never knew what it meant to
have a few spare coins laid by in the
corner of a drawer.
The winter of 1879-S0, cruelty rigor-
GUS, as will be remembered, taxed
the slater rudely. No work to be had
to warm his blood he was obliged
from time to time to whip his arms
back and forth, but work also would
have kept his blood in circulation,
and in addition would have brought
in coins for dinners and breakfasts.
Often at this time Jean Renard
looked up at the high steeple of the
old church of Grenouilleville. In
many places the ruined states had
fallen away piece by piece.
What a lot of work there was to be
done on that spirel
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 spire had been
blown down during a storm. The
cure had often been asked by his peo-
pie to reinstate 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 ! propose to the cure to
put back his cock for nothing if he
viii give me the work that is to be
done on the steeple"
But the cure was miser, and he
replied that it made no difference to
him if the steeple was leaky, as he
did not sleep there.
Repair as much as you want to, !"
said he to Jean. "but l will not give
you 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
change in the mayoralty of Gre
nouilleville. The new magistrate in
augurated his rule by asking thecure
to repaint the flag, covered with rust.
which crowned the steeple.
''But, Monsieur le Marie, objected
the cure, ''you do not ask me if !
have the money to pay for this
work" -
do not bother yourself about
that, Monsieur le Cure" replied the
mayor; 'chave the flag repainted. and
the municipality shall pay"
Every well. then, since you wish
it, replied the cure, none too happy
at seeing the national eolors foat
over his steeple.
True to his principles, the cure beat
down the price, franc by franc, in
making his bargain with Jean Re
nard; and when it was concluded,
the priest added, 'sAnd it is well un-
derstood that putting back the cock
is included in the bargain"
"Oh, no, said Jean, that is not
understood at all. That, you know,
sir, doubles the labor; and also, the
cock, has to be put much higher than
I mount to paint the flag. Placing
the cock is a perilous job-so perilous
that it is my life you are asking me
to risk for nothing. No."
eyes, my friend" said the cure,
with an unctuous smile; you will
do that for the love Of God"
"Do you say masses only for the
love Of God, Monsieur le Cure9 ]
consent to replace the cock, but you
will add fifty francs to your price;
it is worth that"
Fifty francsl" cried the priest.
How you run on See here, Jean,
once you are up there, it won't be
much of an effort to go 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! comel No more talking.
I'll give you ten francs"
"Ah, Monsieur le Cure, you take
advantage of my poverty. You know
Unjust 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 cock was going to
he in place once more!
1t was December and the bad
weather still persisted. Jean, there
fore, was forced to wait several days
before undertaking his dangerous
ascent. At length the rain ceased,
by night the clouds had gone and
next morning all the roofs were COW
cred with frost.
"Clear weather." said the slater.
II can go to work today"
All the good folks of Grenouille-
vile were assembled 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 containing red, white
and blue paints for the flag, and to
his back was attached the cock, re-
splendent in new gliding. He entered
the church to pass by a window at
the base of the spire.
When he appeared, throwing one