i. His was the true Italian nature, whose heart always turns
towards home, as a sunflower to the sun! He must have had a revival of
strength just here, because we read of his standing on a stone in the
cemetery at Cortona, preaching to the people. But he was not deluded
into thinking that this meant recovery. Oh, no, he told the people
plainly that he was on his way to Assisi to die.

For two months he stayed in Cortona, detained there by the people, who
refused to part with him, and then he was seized with dropsy and
fever. He begged to be taken back to his native land. It was his last
wish, and they at once carried out his desire. For fear the
Perugians--through whose town they had to pass--would also try to
detain him, Elias sent a messenger to the magistrates of Assisi asking
them for an escort back. The magistrates immediately sent a party of
armed men on horseback, chosen partly from the nobles, and partly from
the principal men of the town. They surrounded the litter in which
Francis was laid, and the journey commenced. It was a curious
procession, the worn invalid, lying on his hard couch, and borne by
his brown-robed, bare-footed brethren, and round them the brilliant
costumes and gay trappings of the nobles and their prancing horses.
Did Francis, we wonder, compare his present position with that day
some twenty years back, when hunted and hounded through his native
town, he was glad to take refuge in a cave! If he did, we may be sure
that to God he gave all the glory.

[Sidenote: "_For the Love of God._"]

Francis took a keen delight when as it happened he was able to prove
to his gay escort by ocular demonstration the power of his beloved
poverty. They were stopping at a tiny mountain village in order to let
him rest, and as they had no food, the men set out to buy some. They
came back a little later, very discomfited and not a little cross. The
people had refused to sell them any, saying loftily, "We are not
shopkeepers."

"We are reduced to living upon your alms," the men said to Francis,
"we cannot find anything to buy."

Francis enjoyed their dilemma hugely.

"You have found nothing," he explained, "because you have trusted in
your money more than God. But return where you have been, and instead
of offering money ask food for the love of God. Do not be ashamed;
since sin came into the world all we have is alms, it is of the
charity of the Great Almoner that we receive what we call our
possessions.