en of black
threads. For he had been of an open and kindly heart, ready to share
with others in the joy of living, greatly pleased to do a good turn to
his neighbours, compassionate and gentle-natured, a lover of music and
of little children. So there were many things in his youth of which he
had no need to be ashamed, since they were both innocent and merry,
and the white and golden threads of a pure and grateful happiness were
not wanting in the fabric of his loom.

But of these he would not think, being set upon recalling only the
sinful hours that needed repentance. And of these he thought so
constantly that in the visions of the night they lived again, twining
their limbs about him and pressing their burning lips upon his. But
when he awoke he was filled with terror, and fell to counting the
severities and privations which he had endured for an atonement. So it
came to pass that he was strangely and dreadfully merry dreaming, but
strangely and desperately sad waking. And between the two he found no
peace, nor ever escaped from the trouble and anguish of himself.

After a twelvemonth or more of this life, very early in the morning he
awoke from a hot dream with horror, and groaned aloud, "If I die, I am
damned."

"How so, little sheep of God," said a voice near at hand; "who has led
thee into the wilderness?"

Fra Angelo lifted his head and looked at the opening of the cave, but
there was no one there. Then he looked behind him, and on both sides,
but he saw no one. Yet so clear and certain was the sound of the voice
that he could not rest, but went to the entrance and thrust out his
head.

On the shelf of the rock in front of the cave he saw a short and spare
brother dressed in the habit of a friar minor, with a thin black
beard, and dark simple eyes, kindled with gentle flames. In his right
hand he held a stick of wood, as it were the bow of a viol, and this
he drew across his left arm, singing the while in French a hymn of joy
for the sun, his brother, and for the wind, his companion, and for
the water, his sister, and for the earth, his mother.

At this Fra Angelo was astonished and confused, for these songs had
not been heard in the Friary since many years, and it seemed as if
some foreign brother must have come from France with strange customs.
But when he looked more closely he saw that the long and delicate
hands of the little brother were pierced in the palm, and his feet
were wounded as if a nail h