The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1910-12-13
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~ NE of the most famous
M;V>A cathedrals in G M
NSN/ SX8 possesses as it's most
MS1y1M sacred relic the swaddling
-WINW clothes of the infant Jesus.
It is a sweet and beautiful
possession which many visitors come
from afar to venerate
One Christmas eve the sacristan
was arranging the treasure connded 10
his care, which was to be exposed TO
view on the great fete of the morrow.
The sacristan was a little. hump
backed man. bandy-legged and red
nosed, and it was to this ugly person
that the privilege was reserved or al
ways caring for the adored relic we
must not be astonished at this, put
must reflect that often the most num-
BILE and unattractive are chosen to be
nearer the kingdom of heaven. But.
unfortunately, the hump backed sacrls-
tan had no idea that he was one ofthe
elect, and the marvellous character OF
his task gave him no extraordinary
emotion During the 20 years that he
had snuffed the candles of the cathe-
dral. and been In daily contact with
the treasure. he had received no en-
lightenment; he never made the sign
of the cross before touching the sa-
cred linen, and he treated it with the
same mechanical indifference with
which he had hammered the soles or
the boots in his former occupation or
cobbler
This day, on opening the cupboard
In which the linen Of the Infant Jesus
was carefully enclosed, he whistled
little dance tune and thought: ugh!
It's not nice weather outside"
A violent wind was blowing In the
town, unlocking the signboards OF the
shops. and making the chimneys shake
on all the pointed roofs.
The man, on entering the sacristy.
listened to the moaning of the wind,
and thought that the fury of nature
did not accord well with the fete for
which he was preparing; but doubtless
there was striking symbol In the
storm, and the unloose6 elements
might calm themselves suddenly when
the words of pardon and pity We're
said: "On earth peace. good will to-
ward men,"
The sacTistan went to put his coarse
hand careless'y on the Divine relic,
when an urheard-of event happened.
The window in the sacristy opened
suddenly, pushed by great rush OF
wind. The storm entered like an in
vasion of the Barbarians; 1t rushed
over all in the room, knocking down
the sacred objects. and the linen OF
the Infant Jesus, taken up In the
whirling tempest. was blown out OF
the window The hump-back remain
ed for a moment stupid and stricken,
then recovering himself. he rushed
into the ohurch, crying:
saint Joseph! Saint Martin! Help!
Help! They have taken the linen!"
At this alarming cry the people ran
from all parts. The priests in their
suplices. the beadle In his cap. the
Swiss with his halberd. the old women
who had been praying. ran with pale
faces and terrified eyes. and everyone
cried out:
what are you saying? Holy Moth
er! what are you saying?"
The little hump-back tore to the
door: he seemed stricken with mad
ness.
THE linen!-what misery!-the lin
en-! BY the window! A puff of wind!
Run quickly to catch it again."
Then in the road was sudden tumult!
everyone began to run in pursuit OF
the stolen relic.
The noses turned up to the houses
resembled notes of interrogation.
There! there!" said some one.
mo, no."
They discovered 1t at last. 1t was ~
ing close to crest high up on the
roof of the church One would have
said that the fretwork column. chilled
with cold. bad taken refuge in the
sheltering folds.
"There it is, there 1t isl" Every
one cried out together. But how were
r,they to reach 1t?
: cts the sacristan's duty to go up;
r. was he who let it GO" The hump
back whistled no longer.
Suddenly a courageous man came
forward. He crawled up the columns.
he hooked himself to the fretwork. he
hung from the projections; after q
thousand perils he arrived at the
piaee. end eTtendad ets arm to take
r: @ 8 f.. s,o.n tho TO
a neighboring roof.
People rushed to catch It; It waited
until the haxds were quite close. then
Il new or to the other side Of the
street.
Now began an extraordinary race
From street to street. from roof to
roof. the Divine. swaddling clothes