The Little Bedesman of Christ 181

ging ; “ but I,” said the Brother, “quickly
drove them away with harsh and bitter
words.” ‘Then ‘sorely hast thou sinned
against charity,” replied the Saint in a
stern voice, “and ill hast thou obeyed the
holy Gospel of Christ, who wins back sinners
by gentleness, and not by cruel reproofs.
Go now, and take with thee this wallet of
bread and this little flask of wine which I
have begged, and get thee over hill and
valley till thou hast found these men; and
when thou comest up with them, give them
the bread and the wine as my gift to them,
and beg pardon on thy knees for thy fault, and
tell them that I beseech them no longer to do
wrong, but to fear and love God; and if this
they will do, I will provide for them so that
all their days they shall not lack food and
drink.” Then Brother Angelo did as he was
bidden, and the robbers returned with him
and became God’s bedesmen and died in His
service.

Not to men alone but to all living things
on earth and air and water was St. Francis
most gracious and loving. They were all
his little brothers and sisters, and he forgot