Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-06-12
The Juggler Of NOtre
Dame.


In the days of King Louis there was
III France a poor juggler of the name
of Barnabe, native of Compiegne,
who used to go from city to city play
ing all sorts of tricks.
Wherever there was a fair he was
sure to be seen, with his worn Tout
carpet spread on the ground, where,
after having drawn together throng
of children and loungers by old jokes,
which he repeated exactly as he had
learned them, he would throw him
self into all sorts of strange attitudes
and even balance pewter plate on
his nose. The crowd would at first
look on carelessly; but when, stand
ing on his hands, he would toss into
the air and catch on his feet six cop
per balls, sparkling in the sun, or,
when throwing himself back till his
neck touched his heels, he made him
self into living wheel and played
with twelve knives, murmur of ad-
miration would rise from the specta-
tors, and pieces Of money would rain
down on the carpet.
Notwithstanding like most people
who live by their talents, Barnabe
found it very difficult to live. Earn
ing his bread by the sweat of his brow,
he bore more than his just proper
ton Of the 'wretchedness caused by
the sin Of Adam, our common father;
and he could not even work as much
as he would have wished, for, in or
der to show his skill, he needed warm
sun and daylight as much as the trees
need them to give us fruits and flow
ers In the winters he was like leaf
less and half dead tree; the frozen
earth was hard to the poor juggler,
and, like Marie de frances grass
hopper,in bad weather he always suf-
fered from cold and hunger. But, as
he had a pure heart, he bore these
evils in patience.
He had never reflected on the origin
of riches and the inequality of human
conditions. He never doubted that,
as this world is bad, the other must be
good. This faith kept up his courage,
and he did not follow the example Of
thievish mountebanks and miscreants.
who have sold their souls to the devil,
He never blasphemed the name of
God; he lived uprightly, and though
he had no vito of his own, never COW
eted the wife of his neighbor, consid
ering that woman is the enemy of
strong men, as appeareth in the story
of Samson, told in the Holy Script
ure. He was not drunkard, though
ne loved drink when it was warm,
but an honest fellow, fearing God land
especially devoted to the holy virgin,
and always when he went into
church, he would kneel before her
image and say devoutly, "Madame,
take care of my life till it is Gods will
that die, and when I am dead ar
range it SO that I shall have the joys
OF Paradise"
Now, one evening of very rainy
day, as he was going along, sad and
bent, carrying the copper globes and
the knives wrapped up in his old car
pet and looking for barn where he
might go supperless to sleep, he over
took on the road monk, and greeted
him respectfully; and as they kept
on, they began to talk.
''Comrade,'' said the monk, chow
is it that you are dressed all in
green? Is it because you are going to
play the part Of fool in some mys-
tery?''
'sOh, nc, father" answered the
iuggler; ''such as you see NE am
called Barnabe' and I am a juggler by
trade 1t would be the best trade in
the world if only one had something
to eat every day."
ssFriend Barnabe,'' went on the
monk, ''take care what you say. The
most beautiful thing in the world is to
be a monk; for he celebrates the
praises of God, the virgin and the
saints, and the religious life is per-
petual song TO the Lord"
Barnabe answered: Gather, con-
TESS that I have spoken like an igno-
rant man. Ny trade cannot be com
pared.to yours; and although there is
merit in dancing with little coin
balanced on a stick at the end of your