e to wipe it
out of existence, or what would have been worse, it might have existed
only in name. As it was, it grew and spread and struggled for its
rights, till it became one of the most powerful religious, social and
political influences the world has ever felt. To go into the details
of this would occupy too much space, therefore, we shall turn our
attention to a few of the first Tertiaries.

[Sidenote: _Lucchese._]

The _very_ first was a man called Lucchese. This man was young,
good-looking, and ambitious. He was a tradesman, and his ruling motive
in life was to vie with the nobles. This, after a time, became a
passion with him. He knew the only way to success lay through riches.
Therefore, he determined to be rich. He began to speculate in grain,
and bought up as much as he could, and thus created an artificial
famine in his village. Then, when the want was greatest, he resold his
stores at enormous prices, and his fortune was made.

But God was looking after him, and, one day, when he was sitting
alone, the thought of what he had done came before him in all its
hideousness. He saw that there was something more in life besides
merely pursuing riches, and "what would it profit him," something
asked him, "if he should gain all his heart was set on, and be
eternally lost in the end?" From that hour he was a changed man.

After consultation with his wife, Bonadona, he sold the greater part
of his goods, and distributed their price to the poor. He kept only a
house and a garden of four acres, which he cultivated with his own
hands. This was a hard life for one who had been used to luxury. His
house soon became the "poor man's inn" for the district. Thither came
the poor and needy in troops, and never were they sent empty away.

Such was Lucchese's life when he met Francis, just at the time when
the necessity for the Third Order was pressing most heavily upon him.
Lucchese opened his heart to Francis, and told him how much he longed
to make up for the wrong he had done in the past, and live a life
well-pleasing to God.

"For some time," said Francis, who felt, as Lucchese talked with him,
that the man and the hour had both arrived, "I have been thinking of
founding a Third Order, in which married people will have an
opportunity of serving God faithfully. You can be the first to enrol
yourself."

[Sidenote: _Lucchese's Work._]

Then he explained the form which he intended to give this Order, and
Lucchese glad