;-) One day, the local church had finished installing the new bells in its tower. Now the minister needed to hire someone to ring them every Sunday, so he advertised in all the nearby papers.
The first applicant was hunchbacked dwarf from another town. "Well sir," began the minister, "I appreciate your desire to serve the Lord, and the community, but I fail to see how you could ring the church bells with your birth defect."
"What, you mean my hunch?" puzzled the newcomer, "I never let that get in my way."
"Actually, my son," explained the minister, as delicately as he could, "I was thinking of the fact that you were born without any arms. I mean, without arms, how will you approach the task at hand? Er, so to speak."
The armless hunchback smiled. "Don't worry, I'll be sure to put my best foot forward." "Ahem. It's okay, father, I get doubters all the time. Let me show you."
At the hunchback's urging, the minister lead him to the top of the bell tower. "You see," the hunchback explained, "instead of pulling on the ropes from below, I'll use this padded leather helmet to butt the bells with my forehead." With that, he ran from bell to bell, ricocheting from each to the next. There resulted a melody that was beautiful, yet haunting. The leather padding produced a softer tone that was almost ethereal. The minister was stunned. From the window, he could see passers by stopping in their tracks, and gazing at the church tower in awe.
The minister smiled. "My son, you play the bells admirably. Your talent is just what this church needs to pack the congregation into the pews every Sunday. You have the job."
And so their routine continued, week after week. The hunchback's bell ringing brought the people in, and the minister's sermons held them riveted. In time, word spread.
"Great news!" beamed the minister one day. He held up a letter to the hunchback. "The bishop has heard of your skill, and will visit this Sunday to attend the sermon. Isn't that wonderful?" The hunchback agreed. "I will play my best for him, father."
That Sunday, while the bishop stood outside the church with the congregation, the hunchback began playing. He ran from bell to bell, striking each with his forehead in turn. He played a new melody, more stirring than any before. So intent was he on impressing the bishop, he missed his footing and stumbled on a loose floorboard. He hopped toward the window, pinwheeling his shoulders to regain his balance. With no arms to catch the sides of the window, he stumbled through, and tumbled to the ground below. There, his twisted and broken body lay sprawled before the stunned congregation.
The bishop pushed the parishioners aside as he cleared a path to the hunchback. "Oh, Lord!" he shouted to all. "Who is this poor wretch who should meet such a fate on this otherwise fine day?"
One of the townsfolk answered. "I think I've seen him before, sir; I couldn't tell you his name, but his face rings a bell."
:-D
