n the brink. As soon as they were established at St.
Damian's, which the Bishop of Assisi placed at their disposal--they
were joined by one woman after another, many their own personal
friends, and thus the second Order of what was then called "Poor
Ladies," was founded. The rule that they followed was very much like
that of the brothers, except in regard to the missionary life. Women
in those days never preached! The "Poor Ladies" supplied the passive
side of the organisation, and by their prayers and supplications,
supported the active workers. Their daily needs were met by what we
should call lay-sisters, women for whom a life apart from the world
was impossible. At first the people of Assisi brought the ladies the
food they needed, but when a little later this first ardour cooled
down, the lay-sisters took it upon themselves to provide regularly for
their necessities.

However, the Sisters themselves were by no means idle. They spun
thread, and made linen altar-cloths, and all that was needed for
churches round about. Then Francis was always sending the sick and
ailing to St. Damian's to be nursed, and for some time it was quite a
hospital. Clara, who was eventually put in charge of St. Damian's was
as rigid as Francis in her conviction as to the advisability of
possessing nothing. When her father died, she was his heir. It was a
very rich inheritance she came in for, but she commanded that
everything should be sold, and the proceeds given to the poor, and not
a penny of it went to enrich the convent. After her father's death
Clara had the joy of welcoming her mother and younger sister Beatrice
into her family!

Clara was always a true Franciscan. All through her life which was a
long one, she kept faithful to the principles of the Order, and never
would she yield to any dispensation that deviated from the narrow path
that Francis trod. When offered certain properties by a Church
dignitary, on the plea that the state of the times made it impossible
for women to possess nothing, she gazed upon him with speechless
astonishment.

[Sidenote: _"I want no Release."_]

"If it is your vows that prevent you," the worthy man went on, "you
will be released from them."

"No," she cried, "I want no release from following Christ."

She was a staunch defender of Francis. She also defended him from
himself! Many a time in hours of dark discouragement, when he was
sorely tempted to fly away, and shut himself up to a life of