The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-05-28
THE ANGELUS.

CARELESS of the dead leaves the brisk north wind had
scattered over the veranda floor, while he directed
the whole of his attention and the eager gaze of his
round, bright eyes to what going on at the new
church.
The church stood on the adjoining lot in full
view of the velandas, and he had watched it with
curious interest from the day they had first broken
Ground until now, when, all completed, they were
hanging the bell in the tower.
While the building in progress he had often
slipped through the hedge to go and stand nearer
where he could see the worlmen busy at their sew
eral tasks sometimes asking the more good natured
among them questions about their work. 1t was
Catholic church and had been named "St. Eliza
beth" Now it was all completed and the bell had
been hung. June still gazed at the tower his broom
almost mOtlOnless.
tune! June!' called girls voice from with
in Are you going to take all day to do that sweep
ing? 1t is u clock now-quite time you were IN
the dining room.
The girl had just finished speaking when the
great bell pealed forth a single solemn note; there
1y9s pause while the air seemed to take the deep,
beautiful note and soften it in an exquisite whisper,
ochong and re-eehoing 1t until it became but the
fantest breath of music; then came second note
and pusing silence, and yet third. Three times
three the bell sounded, then for awhile rang stead
lily.
His black face appraised in delight, June listened
until the last echo died away.
ii
turning to the girl who had come to the door to see
how he had done his work ''Whut dey ring dat bell
darterwav fur2 l amt neber h'yerd no bell ring
LAX dat befo'. -
.That is the Angelus, June: it viii ring like that
every day at six, at twelve, and again at SIX
What fur?i queried June curousy- Eva hesl-
tailed. She was not a Catholic and had only vague
oonception of the real meaning of the bell, and it
was difficult to explain something which she herself
did moi thoroughly understand.
'.What dey do it fur?'' persisted June.
..Whv. it is to remind everybody to stop and
pray. 1t means that matter how busy they are
nor what they are doing, they musn' forget to be
good.
June's bright ewes grew brighter with smile.
tDat's bit!'' he exclaimed HDat S jes' whut hit
say Stop-an pray Stop-an' pray! Stop
an-pravt' With a flourish Of his broom he sent
few remaining leaves scurrylng to the ground
gave a few hurried dabs around and went seamper-
inc off toward the kitchen.
June had been part of the Severn household since
tbe lav of his birth, some eight years before. He
had first seen the light of day in the little CABIN
that stood in the Severn backyard Having arrived
ON The fourth dav of June, his mother had lmmedl-
atelv named him Fourth of June.
II done been er h 'yerin' all my life bout he
70 'f-er-July, an l knowed er man onct whut "uz
named dat so I don see how come | cyarn name
dis chile F'of-er-June!" So Fourth-of-June ne be
came though for convenience sake and everyday use
If WAS shortened to June: except at those times
when The small owner seemed deaf to ordinary tones
and COMMONPLACE name then his mothers voice
could be heard for several blocks away calling
" 70 'ef-er-June! You Fo 'ef-er-June Johnson don
You yer me?"
June's mother had been the Severn's cook for
wears and now June himself IN training as a
dining room servant. position he filled with great
pride and delight For Mrs. Severn and her young
daughter Eva known to his as Miss Eva and
Little Miss Eva Tor ''Limlss-eva, I" as he pro-
nounced IT'D June had the most worsmptul respcct.
And in his opinion the highest pinnacle Oh e'itnly
splendor and prosperity was to some day become the
butler for the Severn family.
At present IN his official capacity, he was known
as 'the dining room boy" and on one or two oeca-
sious had been allowed TO wait on the table when
company was present. There was one ume IN par
ticuIar when Mr.. Severn Unexpectedly brought nome
TO dinner two gentlemen from Montgomery, friends
of his and June, in his immaculate white duck, his
small heart beating rather wildly with pride and eN-
element was allowed to put his training to test.
Now unfortunately there had been no time to
add ANYTHING to the dinner and June overheard Mrs
Severn and his mother wondering obviously whether
or not there would be enough biscuits inns troubled
June terribly for he had a certain pride III having
that dinner credit to the family, which ii certainly
would have been. as far as June was concerned II |
the biscuits lust had not been so good.
Iune's mother was famous for her beaten bis |
cults. and the two gentlemen from Montgomery |
seemed fairly to appreciate them. Every time he
was called upon to hand them June grew more and
more nervous Finally there were only three lett on
bc plate. and with sinking heart he saw that Gen.
era Harris the elder guest, was again IN need OF |
me and casting speaking glances in their direction
Mrs Severn motioned to June TO wait on he gen
la but June seemed suddenly blind At last IN I
ID audertone, his mistress spoke to hm, but ne be
ame deaf But with a sinking heart he realized
hat he was only delaying the evil day, for Mrs
sWem's face grew stern.
''June.'' she said distinctly, hand the biscuits
% General Harris!'i
There was no help for it, 50 slowly and relust-
nifty he obeyed but not as he had been trained. In
toad, with some vague idea Of preventing dlsas-
err, when he reached the august generals side he
'ut out one little black hand, picked up biscuit
rom the plate with his fingers, and laid ii grudngly
lear him.
The CONSERVATION which ensued among the fam
" may easily be imagined. 1t was awful! How
ver il would have been much more but for the