dead ringer

The Bishop decided that he would personally interview candidates to fill the vacant job of bell ringer. He had observed several applicants throughout the afternoon, and was just about to call it a day when an armless man approached and asked to be considered for the job.

"But you have no arms!" blurted out the Bishop. "How will the grasp the mallet to ring the bell?"

"No matter", said the man, "Observe!" and the man began running at the bell and hitting it with his face. He played beautiful music on the carillon, which soon attracted a crowd at the base of the tower. Then while running to hit the bell, the man stumbled and fell through the window, hit the ground and died instantly.

The Bishop rushed to the man's side, and as the crowd parted , a man asked him "Who was this man?"

The Bishop replied, "I don't know his name......but his face rings a bell."

Though saddened by the terrible accident, the next day the Bishop continued his search for a bell ringer.

The first man who approached said to the Bishop, " Your Excellancy, I am the brother of the poor armless wretch who fell to his death yesterday. In his honor, would you let me ring the bell in his place?"

The Bishop agreed to let the man apply, and as the man reached for the mallet with which to ring the bell, he clutched his chest, moaned and fell dead on the spot.

Hearing the Bishops cries of grief at this second tragedy, a monk rushed up the stairs. "Who is this man?", asked the monk.

"I don't know his name." cried the Bishop, "But he is a dead ringer for his brother!"