and crying "Fresh
water! Fresh water!" like any of the ordinary water-carriers. On his
way back he procured willows, and made baskets, which he sold to
supply himself with food. He was always very particular not to take
more than he considered was fair for his work.

Obedience was another of Egidio's strong points. He believed in his
call, he believed in Francis, he never questioned an order, even when
it was manifestly not altogether a wise instruction he received, he
still considered that "obedience was better than sacrifice."

Masseo appears to have had very little idea what kind of a life he was
entering upon, when he first joined the band. He was not a spiritual
man by nature, but by degrees he learned to look at the inside of
things instead of the outside, and to know a little of the mind of
God. Masseo was big and handsome, with a decided gift of speech. We
are told that because of his physical attractions the people always
gave to him the nicest and daintiest portions of food. It was a matter
of no little wonderment to him when he discovered that for all a
certain kind of people were attracted by his appearance, yet he had
little or no power to convict them of sin, and make them long to be
good. Francis by this time had lost all his good looks and become pale
and worn and thin with work. Masseo compared himself with Francis
greatly to his superior's disadvantage. At last one day he said to
him--

"Why is it? Why is it?"

"What do you mean?" asked Francis.

"I mean to ask thee," said Masseo, "why all the world goes after thee?
Why all men wish to see thee, to hear thee, and to obey thy word? Thou
art not handsome, nor learned, nor of noble birth. How is it then that
men go after thee?"

The answer which Masseo received, made him see what kind of a
character he had come in contact with, and from that day there was no
more faithful and adoring disciple than handsome Masseo.

"Would you know the reason why all men come after me?" asked Francis.
"It is because the Lord has not found among men, a more wicked, a more
imperfect, or a greater sinner that I am, and to accomplish the
wonderful work He intends doing, He has not found a creature more vile
than I upon earth; for this reason He has chosen me to confound
beauty, greatness, birth, and all the science of the world, that man
may learn that every good gift comes from Him, and not from the
creature, that all may glory in the Lord!"

[Sidenote: _Sylvester'