The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-12-29

On the great fete OF the morrow.
me sacristan was little, hump
hacked man. bandy-legged and red.
aossd. and 1t was to this ugly person
nat the privilege was reserved Of 4.
ways caring for the adorsd relic. We
must not be astonished at this. but
nust reflect that often the most hum.
DO and unattractive are chosen to be
nearer the kingdom Of heaven. But.
unfortunately. the hump-backed sacris.
IAN had no idea that he was one Of the
elsct. and the marvellous character Of
bic task gave him no extraordinary.
emotion. During the 20 years that he
eAd snuffed the candles of the cathe.
lral. and been In daily contact with
khs treasure. he had received no en-.
lightsnment: he never made the sign
pf the cross before touching the %.
cred linen. and he treated 1t with the
bams mechanical indifference with
which hs had hammered the soles Of
The boots In his former occupation Of
tobbler. ez.,
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!
tt's not nice weather outside
A violent wind was blowing In the
town. unlocking the sixpboards of the
shops, and making the chimnsys 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 q striking symbol in. the
storm, and the unloosed elements
might calm themselves suddenly when
khs words Of pardon and pity were
raid: ION earth peace. good will to-
ward men,"
The sacristan went to put his coarse
hand carelessly ON the Divine relic,
when an unheard-of event happened.
The window in the sacristy opened
suddenly. pushed by a 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
Mhirling tempest, was blown out Of
khe window. The hump-back remain
I'd for q moment stupid and stricken.
khen recovering himself. he rushed
Into the. church, crying:
Saint Joseph! Saint Martin! Help!
Help! They have taken the ltnen!"
At this alarming cry the people ran
from all parts. The priests in their
surplices, 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 Mother!
what are you saying?"
!; The little hump back tore to the
door: he seemed stricken with mad
ness.
1.-THE linen!-what misery!-the lin.
en-! BY the window! A pun OF wind!
Run quickly to catch 1t again!"
Then in the road was sudden tumult;
hveryone began to run in pursuit Of the
stolen relic.
Where Is TT"
Can you see anything?"
The noses turned up to the houses
resembled notes Of Interrogation.
"There! there!" said some one.
mo. MOI"
They discovered 1t at last. 1t was ~.
Ing close to crest high up on the roof
81 the church. One would have said
that the fretwork column. chilled with
cold. had taken refuge In the shelter.
Ing folds.
.'There 1t isl there 1t isl" Every
body cried out together. But how were
they to reach it,
its the sacristan's duty to 90 up;
It was he who let It 60" The hump
back whistled no longer.
suddenly 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 place.
and extended his arm to take the lin.
en. But-at this moment. the linen un-
kurled itself and was blown to . neigh
boring roof.
! People rushed to catch It; It waited
until the hands were quite close, then
Il dew OF to the other side Of the
btreet.
Now began An extraordinary race.
From street 70 street. from roof to roof.
the Divine swAddling clothes dew, pur.
- AZ q 81 ~ s+,.