Chapter XIV. Of a man who offered cloth such as the Saint had asked for before

43. At the same place the father of the poor was wearing a shabby old tunic, and one day he said to one of his companions whom he had appointed his warden: "I would, brother, that, if thou couldst, thou wouldst find me some cloth for a tunic". The brother, on hearing this, cast about in his mind how he might come by the cloth which was so necessary and had been so humbly asked for; and next morning at dawn he went to the gate intending to go to the village for the cloth, and by the door he found a man sitting who wanted to speak to him, and he said to that brother, "Do, for the love of God, accept from me cloth for six tunics. Keep one for thyself, and distribute the rest as it pleases thee, for the benefit of my soul! "The brother, filled with joy, returned to brother Francis, and told him of the offering made from heaven; and Francis said: "Accept the tunics, for the man has been sent [hither] that he might in such wise supply my need," adding: "Thanks be to Him who seems to take thought for us alone!"