Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-12-22
No. |(x 8qeq1liegg{ l5tIs@||
AI.l Qt h9b6ant JESUS II

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NE of the most famous
AvAA cathedrals In Germany
NvN possesses as its most
A@SD sacred relic the swaddling
clothes of the Infant Jesus.
It is a sweet and beautiful
y possession which many visitors come
rom afar to venerate.
One Christmas eve the sacristan
was arranging the treasure confided to
MS care, which was to be exposed to
view on the great fete of the morrow.
Inc 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
ole 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-
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 ga
cred linen, and he treated it 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
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 snake
on all the pointed roofs.
The man, on entering the sacr1sty,
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 q striking symbol in the
storm. and the Embossed elements
might calm themselves suddenly when
the words of pardon and pity were
said: ION earth peace, good will to-
ward men,"
The sacristan went to put his coarse
hand carelessly on the Divine renc,
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; 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 rusneo
into the church. 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
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 Motner!
what are you saying!
The little hump-back tore to the
door: he seemed stricken with mad
ness.
THE nnen!-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. .-.
Where is it,"
Can you see anything?"
The noses turned up to the houses
resembled notes of interrogation.
"There! there!" said some one.
mo, MOI"
Thew discovered it at last. 1t was ly'
Ing close to crest high up on the root
of the church. One would have said
that the fretwork column, chilled with
cold had taken refuge in the shelter
ing folds. @=.
"There it is! there it Isl" Every
body cried out together But how were
they to reach It?
ITS the sacristan's duty to go up;
if was he who let it CO." The hump
hack 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
on But-at this moment, the linen I'M
fnrled itself and was blown to neigh
boring roof. $3.50 ..l...
People rushed to catch 1t; it waited
nntt, The hands were quite close, then
q few off tc the other side of the
street