d the violets and the cyclamens had not forgotten to bloom because
of sin, and the pure incense of their breath went forth unto gladness.

So Fra Angelo made his journey with a light heart, quickly, and came
to the city of Poppi. There he found the poor widow with her child
sick unto death, and he gave them the olive-wood box. The child took
the electuary eagerly, for it was pleasant to the taste, and it did
him good more than if it had been bitter. So presently the fever left
him, and the mother rejoiced and blessed St. Francis and Fra Angelo.
And he said, "I must be going."

Now, as he went and returned toward La Verna, he passed through a
village, and in the field at the side of it he saw many children
quarrelling.

"Why do you fight," said Angelo, laying hands on two of them, "when
you might be playing?"

"Because we know not what to play," they answered; and some shouted
one thing and some another.

"Let the older ones play at Fox and Geese," said Angelo; "and look,
here is a plank! We will put it over this great stone and I will play
at seesaw with the little ones."

Then the children all laughed when they saw a friar playing at seesaw;
but he went up and down merrily, and they were all glad together.
After a while they grew weary of the games, and Angelo asked what
they would do next.

"Dance," cried the children; "dance and sing!"

"But where is the music?" said Angelo.

So one of the boys ran away to a house in the village and came back
presently with an old viol and a bow. Angelo fingered the instrument,
and tuned it, for he had been a skilful musician.

"Now I will teach you," said he, "a very sweet music that I heard this
morning. And do you all sing as I teach you, and between the songs
take hands and dance around."

Then he sat down upon a grassy hillock, with the children in a circle
about him, and he taught them the songs that were sung by the little
brother of the sun and of the wind and of the water and of the
birds--even by that minstrel of God who came to the cave with the
morning light. Between the verses the children, holding hands, danced
in a ring around Fra Angelo, while he played upon the old viol.

As he played thus, he was aware of a hand upon his shoulder, and
supposed it to be one of the children.

"Go back," he said, "go back to your place, dearest naughty one; the
song is not finished."

"It is finished," said a voice behind him. "This is the right ending
of the song."