The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-04-09

AiN
could ITO longer see to work, and WIS
not in greater danger than ever.
Suddenly 4 small light showed In the
darkening night. Jean Renard, being n
careful man, had though to carry with
him a candle. Soon nothing moro could
be seen but that tiny light, cleaning on
high like u star lost in the clouds, and
tho anxious crowd began to dispense.
Jean continued working.
On tho morrow, at dawn, tho carly
risers Of Grenoullleville saw n frightiul
sight.
Jean Renard hung, head downward,
from the top OF the steeplc, his feet still
held BY his ropes.
Tho unfortunate man had doubtless
lost his balance, and in falling his work
apron had turned backward, thus con.
ccaling his face. He no longer moved;
dead, probably, some hours since.
The cure, who was ut once appraised.
expressed his sentiments in i~ntoiorable
form:
"Unlucky fellow! Well, at least, he
had put back the cock!n
YES" was replied, "but We cannot
leave tho corpse up there; it mustbe got
down."
"rha. is true" said the priest; at
must DO brought down, but who will
do Iit?"
"That. Monsieur 10 Cure, is yourbusi.
ncsc. Get workman from tho city, ii
You must, Mt no matter what cost:
tho body OF jean Ncnard must not re.
NUN up there" Y
Get workm m from the city-that was
very expensive, and the cure hesitated,
but it hal to BIO done. lust then it was
learned in tho village that the priest
had pushed his avarice. to the point; OF
trying to get his weatller,cock repaired.
for nothing, and feelings OF avcrsiontor
him developed in the breasts Of his par.
ishioners.
A subscription was opened for the or.
phans Of tho tilcr, and the Same day d.
Hundred francs were paid I'M little, but,
the people OF Grenouilleville were not.
rich. a man had goiie' TO thc.city, but
they asked two hundred francs, and tho
cure found that ridiculously ~exorbitant.
So tho next day, the corpse being still
suspended from tho stceple, funeral GER
emonies were held in front OF tho great
church door, drapcd for tho occasion,
and all Grenouillevillc joined in the last
prayers for Jean Rcnaru.
But to inter the body, it had to DO got
down from its lofty perch. Tho fellow
citizens OF the slater this time showed
great decision. They would have the
body, and ii necessary, would forco the
cure himself to go and get it.
When that person left the church, he
found himself confronted by, q, threat:
ening crowd.
mo, Monsieur lc Cure. lie shall not
stay up there it is an outraged
MY good friends, I am quito OF your
opinion; SO get him down!."
"fou shall 30 yourself, since you re-
fuse 10 pay some one else to SO" and al
ready the most audacious, the anti.cier-
ical faction, pushed the cure backward
toward tho church. ~
Thoroughly alarmed, he at length ex-
claimed:
at is impossible; I do not know how
to climb on roofs. I'll pay! I'll paw"
"They azll two hundred francs, to.
come from the city," cried the men on
all sides. r9,
"Oh!-but I'll give tllemm
"Stop! Stop!" cried a voice. "Ill do
the job fora hundred francs" and n man
forced his way toward the cure, through
the amazed villagers. j. a)4,-i1as
"Jean Rcnard! Jean Renard!p burst
from their lips
1t was indeed jean. He explained in
o few words howhe had planned totricls
the cure, who meant TO get the bette; OF
him. After his work was finished; he
came down, entered the bell tower, and
dressed q wooden figure in his clothe.;
lie then remounted and hung his etTigy
from the steeple.
But etligy or nos. it was a dishono- to
Grenouillcville, suspended from, thciin
church spire. and mustrematn flhhse if
longer. =. a. yEr fIi
Jean Renard climbed up and unlock:
ed the suppositious corpse, which fell
upon tine square beneath, amid general
cheers and laughter. y. 81 &c
The cure thus got the worst OF the bar:
gain; his money, after all, paid for the
weather-cock. q * u :
This was not the end OF the matter,
however. j
81 gavo Jean Renard a first-class
funeral service" thought the cure, "and
no shall pay for it"
lie then began suis against tbs slater,
who, naturally refused to pay.
81 did not ask you ior burial service,
Monsieur le Cure"
None asks that, my son, and yc; all
finish that way. You were thought
dead"
"But I was not, happily; and also, in
that case, it is never the customer who
pays. Garry your bill to my heirs"
ITO your heirs! You have none,
since you are not dead"
"Then why did you bury me?"
But, unhappy man, L prayed for the
salvation of your SOUL"
THE salvation OF my soul. Pray for
the salvation OF your own, for l am not
sure hat I have 4 soul"
Hereto" marmurcd the priest
1.-THE cause is heard" said, iii his
turn. the justice OF the peace, who gave
Judgment as follows;
Considering that jean Renard trick
ed the cure, but that the euro had first
triclicd Jean Renard; .
CONSTRUCTING tuut tnes traQo ora
priest is to pray for the salvation of
souls, as it is that OF skaters to set up
weather-cocks; Is. 81
"But, whereas tho slater could no
more have set up a weather.cock that
had not fallen down than the cure
could pray for the salvation OF a soul;
that was not in peril; E
Whereas, finally, Jean Renard al
firms that he has no soul, and in that
case no use for PRAYERS. sad lS&- GI5|,