eless.

[Sidenote: _A Great Task._]

But all this time, ever since he returned from Egypt, Francis' health
was slowly but surely failing. Weak and ill, and with the lurking fear
that the principles of the Order were being undermined, his last two
years of life were anything but peaceful ones. Not that there was
anything done openly--that was the misery of it; an open, bold
innovation could have been taken hold of and dealt with, but Elias was
far too politic and clever to do anything that might lead to his being
put out of office. Any question of departure from the rules that came
up, he always blamed on the Provincial Ministers, and professed to be
as grieved over their failure as Francis himself though secretly he
supported them. He carefully gave all the truest Franciscans
appointments far away from Assisi and Francis, and kept those of his
own mind near home. This was not a bad thing for the ultimate success
of the Order, because it preserved the real spirit abroad, and when
Bernardo di Quintavelle stepped into Elias' place, ultimately, he had
all his foes close to hand round home, where the Franciscan principles
had taken deepest root.

It was hard for Francis when one after another of his faithful
followers came to him, and with tears reproached him for having given
them into the hands of another. When they at last took in the fact
that though the spirit might be willing, the flesh was too weak to do
what it had once been able to do, their sorrow knew no bounds. Some of
them were almost a little selfish in their grief.

"You will pass away," said one. "Your family will remain in the valley
of tears. Who can take charge and direct it after you? If you know of
one on whom your mind can rest, I conjure you to tell me."

"My son," said Francis, with tears, "I see no one around me equal to
this task of being shepherd to so great a flock."

[Sidenote: _Foes._]

Thus, tortured by bodily pain and weakness, and tormented by unseen
foes and enemies of all that he counted dearest and most sacred, he
entered upon the two last dark years, which were his Valley of the
Shadow before the Eternal Sun rose, never to set again.

God of my life, through all my days
My grateful powers shall sound Thy praise,
My song shall wake with opening light,
And cheer the dark and silent night.

When anxious cares would break my rest,
And griefs would tear my throbbing breast,
Thy tuneful praises, raised o