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all gentle animals. Gazing at thefe turtle- 

 doves with pitiful eyes, he faid to the boy: 

 " Oh, good youth, give them to me, I pray 

 you ; nor fuffer birds fo meek and gentle, 

 to whom chafte, humble, and faithful fouls 

 are likened in the Scriptures, to fall into 

 the hands of cruel men, who will flay 

 them." The boy, fuddenly infpired of 

 God, gave them all to Saint Francis; and 

 he receiving them in his bofom, began to 

 fpeak fweetly unto them : *' O my Sifters, 

 fimple, chafte, and innocent doves, why did 

 ye fuffer yourf elves to be taken } I would 

 now refcue you from death, and make nefts 

 for you, that ye may increafe and bring 

 forth young, according to the command of 

 the Lord our God." And Saint Francis 

 went forth, and made nefts for every one ; 

 and they, ufmg them, began to lay eggs, 

 and to bring forth young before the 

 Friars ; "and fo tame were they and con- 

 forted fo freely with Saint Francis and the 

 other Friars," as they had been hens and 

 ever fed from their hands, and departed not 

 from among them, until Saint Francis with 

 his bleffmg gave them leave to fl}^ thence. 

 And to the boy who gave them to him 

 Saint Francis faid : " Son, you fhall yet be 



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