The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-10-10
MASTER TIM.

lie was J.: Years of age, a. most ID, and he
not very arge for his age His slightly freckled
face chubby, ana there was abundance of mis-
chief and jrl!ity in his eyes. There little
more than tan and freckles and his morning ablu-
tons had been at least hurried, as darker shade
around his neck gave evidence. 1t fortunate
that he to white gloves In the procession,
because-well, you know the general condition of
real, live and lively small boys hands-and it is
safe say in describing them that his finger nails
were in more than half mourning, but then a good
shot at marbles cannot bother about small
matter as finger nails
In the sacristy he threw his coat in a heap on
the floor and pulled down from their pegs at least
six purple cassocks before he secured the one that
suited him, leaving the others in pile the floor
Of the cupboard Then the little white net surplice
was put on wrong side foremost. The ubiquitous
sacristan sister, Sister Annette, called him hang
up the cassocks he had thrown down. but he
already out of doors throwing at the birds behind
the church.
Suddenly he remembered he was thirsty, and
entered the sacristy and took drink at the faucet.
and could resist the temptation to tilt the over
flowing cup that the next boy waiting for drink
they had all become thirsty by suggeston-got
two or three spoonsful down his collar. Of course
it was an accident. Angel-face altarboys don't do
such things on purpose.
The sister was in another part of the sacristy
attending to the proper vesting of the smaller
bers of her beloved altar boys society and she for
got all about calling Master Tim to account for
his untidiness in the cassoek cupboard.
It was the Feast of Corpus Christi, and there
to be solemn high mass and afterward pro-
cession around the grounds of the church, where
the benediction would be given at the various tenn
porary affairs. There were about forty boys to
age and anyone who has any knowledge of sacristy
work will appreciate the troubles of the sacrsty sis
ter for half an hour before mass began.
Timothy Sheehan, after the drink, remained
quiet for the space of exactly minute. Then he
caught sight of boy larger than himself lighting
fat square of charcoal at gas Jet He went across
the sacristy.
"Say that amt the way to light de charcoal.
kid"
''What do you know about it ~ asked the Of
Tended taller boy
why, lights it every Sunday for Vespers an
you amt doin' it right"
The larger boy had ignited one corner of the
cake and was vigorously blowing the glowing spot
"See here you'se got to light all four corners
amt he, Sister? The priests, they'll want the in
cense soon in the mass won't they, Sister~
Jimmy is right, John" said the Sister. There
viii have to be more fire in the censor than you can
get in the time by lighting only one corner"
Didn't tell you, Smarty?" said Timothy, elat-
ed at his success over his rival Say Sister, can't
I have the censor? faint fair to give it to John
when he don't come regular, an Pm here every Sun
day. He don't come half the time"
Unfortunately for Tins desires, owing to the
Importance of the occasion the Sister had decided
that John and his companion who were the big
gest boys in the school, should act as censor bearer
and incense boat bearer in the sanctuary during the
mass.
Not today, Tim" she said, 'but you shall have
next Friday week, the Feast of the Sacred Heart"
Tim grumbled a good deal, but he had to accept
the decision as he knew from past experience that
the Sisters word was law
The defeated Timothy Sheehan did not retire
gracefully. He managed accidentally, Of course to
inillct rather sharp kick on the ankle of John as
ne passed him. The same John gave great scream.
and lin grew frightened for the consequences of
ms act What if he should be told by Sister Annette
70 take off his surplice and cassock and not be al
lowed to serve at the mass or walk in the process
sion OF the Blessed Sacrament Such thought was
100 dreadful to contemplate, and, slightly pale and
qute trghtened at the thought of such nosshilitv