76 ^ije ILittle iFlotorrs oC 



CHAPTER XVII. 



How a Francifcan Child, while Saint Francis 

 prayed by Nighty Jaw Chrijl and the Virgin 

 Ma7y, and many other Sai?its with Him, 



AVERY pure and innocent child was 

 received into the Order while Saint 

 Francis yet lived ; and he abode in a fmall 

 convent, wherein from fheer neceffity the 

 Brethren flept in cafb-off rags. Saint Fran- 

 cis coming on a time to this place, at even- 

 tide, Complines being faid, he went to fleep 

 betimes, to the end that he might rife in 

 the night to pray when the other Brothers 

 flept, as was his wont. The faid child de- 

 termined folicitoufly to watch the ways of 

 Saint Francis, for the better acquaintance 

 with his fan6lity, and efpecially to know 

 that which he did at night when he arofe 

 from bed. And to the end that fleep might 

 not overtake him, this little lad lay down to 

 fleep by the fide of Saint Francis, and bound 

 his girdle to that of Saint Francis, that he 

 might have warning if he rofe up : and of 

 this Saint Francis knew not aught. But 

 in the firft fleep of night, when all the 



other 



