The Little Flowers and the Life of St. Francis, with the...

Now this church had a little vineyard nigh the house wherein the Blessed Francis abode, and in the house was a door whereby well-nigh all they that visited him did enter into the vineyard, and the more for that the grapes were then ripe and the place was right passing pleasant; so that by this occasion the vineyard was demolished, as it were, and despoiled of the grapes.

Hearing the which, the Blessed Francis made him be called and said unto him: “Sir, be not further troubled, forasmuch as we cannot now do other, but trust in the Lord, seeing that for me, His little servant, He is able wholly to restore unto thee thy loss. Tell me, how manysalmeof wine hadst thou, when thou hadst most out of thy vineyard?” The priest made answer, “Father, thirteensalme.” Said the Blessed Francis unto him, “Henceforth be not aggrieved, nor by reason hereof speak a reproachful word unto any, but have faith in the Lord and in my words, and if so be that thou hast less than a score salme, I will have it made good unto thee.” And thenceforth the priest held his peace and was quiet, and in the time of vintage by divine dispensation he had twentysalmeof wine out of that vineyard, and no less. And the priest marvelled greatly and all they that heard hereof, saying that had the vineyard been full of grapes, it was impossible that there should be twentysalmeof wine therein.