The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-12-24
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i d he hfallt G1rsus II

N<VSASe Va TIC AAkAdht 0NShS
Il is a sweet and beautiful
possession which many visitors come
from afar to venerate.
One Christmas eve the sacristan
was arranging the treasure confided to
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 1t was to this ugly person
that the privilege was reserved OF al.
ways caring for the adored relic. We
must not be astonished at this. but
must reflect that often the most hum
bic and unattractive are chosen to be
nearer the kingdom of heaven. But.
unfortunately. the hump-backed sacris-
tan had no idea that he was one Of the
elect. and the marvellous character of
bis task gave him no extraordinary
emotion. During the 20 years that he
had snuffed the candles of the cathe-
drai. and been In daily contact with
the treasure. be had received no en-
hghtenment; he never made the sign
OF the cross before touching the sa-
cred. linen. and he treated 1t with the
same mechanical indifference with
which he had hammered the soles Of
the boots In his former occupation Of
cobbler.
This day. on opening the cupboard
In which the linen of the Infant Jesus
was carefully enclosed, he whistled a
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 al 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 we'll with the fete for
which he was preparing; but doubtless
there was striking symbol In the
storm. and the Embossed elements
might calm themselves suddenly when
the words of pardon and pity were
said: ~On earth peace. good win 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 great rush Of
wind. The storm entered like an In
vasion Of the Barbarians; It 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 shurch. 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
sr! what are you saying?"
The little hump-back tore to the
door; he seemed stricken with mad
ness.
The linen!-what misery!--the lin
IN! BY the window! A pun Of wind!
Run quickly to catch It again."
Then in the road was sudden tumult!
everyone began to run in pursuit of |
he stolen relic.
The noses turned up to the houses
notes of interrogation.
There! there!" said some one.
; mo. mol"
They discovered It at last. It was ~
ng close to crest high up on the
oof Of the church One would have
aid that the fretwork column. chilled
nth cold. had taken refuge in the
heltering folds
There It isl there It fist" Every
ne cried out together. But how were
hey to reach IT.
IT'S the sacristan's duty to go up:
was he who let It CO." The hump
ack whistled no longer.
Suddenly a courageous man came
,rward. He crawled up the columns.
e hooked himself to the fretwork. be
ing from the projections: after a
,ousaud perils he arrived At the
lace. and extended his arm to take
he linen. But-at this moment. the
men unfurled itself and was blown to
neighboring roof.
People rushed to catch It: II waited ,
ntil the haxds were quite close. then I
flew OF to the other side of the I
rect Ia
Now began an extraordinary race.
rom street to street. from roof to
of. the Divine swaddling clothes {
w. pursued by the crowd Ia
What q chase! The priests. red with {
dignation. sitting, lifting their arms.
ying orders. and gesticulating madly.
IL Swiss followed with his useless 2
lberd. The little hump-backed sacris- 2