The Little Bedesman of Christ 187

For two years thereafter Brother Wolf
dwelt in Agobio, going tame and gentle
from house to house and in and out at will,
doing hurt to none, but much loved of the
children and cared for in food and drink
and kindness by the townsfolk, so that no
one lifted stone or stick against him, neither
did any dog bark at him. At the end of
those years he died of old age, and the peo-
ple were grieved that no more should they
see his gentle coming and going.

Such was the courtesy and sweet fellow-
ship of St. Francis with the wild creatures.

It remains yet to say of him that he was
ever gay and joyous as became God’s glee-
man. Greatly he loved the song of bird and
man, and all melody and minstrelsy. Nor
was it ill-pleasing to God that he should
rejoice in these good gifts; for once lying in
his cell faint with fever, to him came the
thought that the sound of music might ease
his pain; but when the friar whom he asked
to play for him was afraid of causing a
scandal by his playing, St. Francis, left
alone, heard such music that his suffering
ceased and his fever left him. And as he