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

came to the place lamenting his wife that was dead and his family left poverty-stricken. On whom the Saint, having compassion, said: “I give thee this mantle upon such condition, that thou render it up to none save he buy it fairly and pay thee.” And when the brethren heard this, they ran together to the poor man, that they might take the mantle away from him. But the poor man, taking heart of grace in the sight of the holy father, held it fast with joined hands, and was carrying it off as being his own. In the end the brethren redeemed the mantle, taking care that a fair price should be paid to the poor man.