ng for evil--vowed to mend his ways. And he kept his
word.

One by one he sold his estates to find the wherewithal for Vincent's
schemes of charity, and he would have stripped himself of all that he
had, had not Vincent himself forbidden it. His sword, which had served
him in all his duels, and to which he was very much attached, he broke
in pieces on a rock. His great chateau, the walls of which had rung to
the sound of wild carousals, was now thrown open to the sick and the
poor, whom the once-dreaded Count insisted on serving with his own
hands. He died the death of a saint a few years later, amid the
blessings of all the people whom he had helped.

The ladies of the parish, to whom before Vincent's arrival the hour of
the Sunday Mass had seemed too long for God's service and who had
spent it chattering behind their fans, began also to realize that
there was something in life besides selfish amusement. Some of them,
moved by curiosity, went to see the new preacher, who, receiving them
with his usual kindness and courtesy, drew a touching picture of the
suffering and poverty that surrounded them and begged them to think
sometimes of their less fortunate brothers and sisters.

Two of the richest and most fashionable ladies of the district,
touched by Vincent's words and example, gave themselves up entirely to
the service of the poor, traveling about the country nursing the sick,
and even risking their lives in the care of the plague-stricken. They
were the forerunners of those "Sisters of Charity" who were in after
years to carry help and comfort among the poor of every country.

One day, as Vincent was about to say Mass, one of these ladies begged
him to speak to the congregation in favor of a poor family whose
members were sick and starving. So successful was his appeal that when
he himself went a few hours later to see what could be done, he found
the road thronged with people carrying food and necessaries.

This, Vincent at once realized, was not practical. There would be far
too much today and nothing tomorrow. There was no want of charity, but
it needed organization. Sending for the two ladies, he explained to
them a scheme which he had thought out on his way home. Those who were
ready to help the poor were to band themselves together, each in turn
promising to provide a day's food for starving families.

Thus was founded the first confraternity of the "Ladies of Charity,"
who were to work in concert for th