CHAPTER IX.
SANTA CLARA Popular piety in Umbria never separates the memory of St.Francis from that of Santa Clara.

It is right.
Clara[1] was born at Assisi in 1194, and was consequently about twelve years younger than Francis.

She belonged to the noble family of the Sciffi.

At the age when a little girl's imagination awakes and stirs, she heard the follies of the son of Bernardone recounted at length.

She was sixteen when the Saint preached for the first time in the cathedral, suddenly appearing like an angel of peace in a city torn by intestine dissensions.