The
Bishop’s Candlesticks
The Bishop was a noble and
kindhearted soul who lived with his sister Persome. He was always ready to help
anyone in distress. The doors of his house were always open for the poor and
the needy. He had donated everything except the Candlesticks, which was a
parting gift of his dying mother.
The Bishop’s sister Persome felt
that most people took advantage of his simplicity and nobility. In her opinion,
he was often cheated and misused because of his generosity. One such occasion
was Mere Gringoire; the old woman who lived on the top of the hill and did not do
any work. He was made to pay for the old lady’s house rent by selling his
salt-cellars.
One day in the midnight, the Bishop
sat to read. A convict entered his house and asked for food at knifepoint. He
threatened to kill the Bishop if he tried to call out. The convict was rude,
suspicious and full of fear. The Bishop called Persome to open the
cupboard. He treated him with kindness and provided him with cold pie, wine,
chicken and bread to eat.
The convict narrated his painful
story. He told Bishop that he lived in prison for ten years. His
wife Jeanette was ill and was dying of hunger. He stole a piece of bread for
his wife and was arrested and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. While in
jail, he was informed that his dear wife had died. He lived in the hell for ten
long years and escaped from the prison.
The Bishop was moved on hearing the
convict’s story and asked him to sleep in his house and assured safety and
security. Saying this, he went inside to sleep. The convict happened to see the
candlesticks on the table. The Bishop had already told him before that they
were given by his mother. Unable to resist the temptation, the convict stole them
and ran away.
Soon after, the bishop and his
sister found about the missing candlesticks, and while they were discussing it,
there was some knocking at the door. A sergeant entered with three soldiers and
the convict. They told the Bishop that the convict was walking
on the road with the candlesticks, and they had arrested him on suspicion.
The cops remembered the candlesticks of the Bishop, and so they brought the
silver candlesticks there to get them identified. Though the candlesticks were
very dear to the Bishop, he saved the convict from going to prison by telling
that he had gifted them to the convict and called the convict his friend.
The convict was deeply touched by
the noble gesture and generosity of the Bishop. He was full of repentance and
asked for the Bishop’s blessings. He blessed him and also gave the candlesticks
as a gift. Then, he showed him a secret road to Paris. The noble act of the
Bishop restored the convict’s human values and human goodness. The Bishop
prayed to God believing that he had become a man again, and would lead an
honest living in Paris.
