her dress to protect her from the cold, and went joyfully to offer it to the poor person. The latter was not satisfied and said to her: "Madam, you have given me a woolen garment, but can you not also give me something of linen to cover me ?" "Follow me," answered Catherine immediately, "and you shall be content." Our Lord followed his Spouse, without any mutual recognition, when they arrived at the house, Catherine ran to the place in which her father and mother put their linen, took two under garments and carried them quickly to the poor mendicant, who appeared still dissatisfied. "But, Madam " said he, "what shall I do with this garment that has no covering for the arms ? give me some sleeves and you will have furnished me with a complete suit. " This demand, far from importuning Catherine, augmented her zeal. She ran over the whole house in search of sleeves; she found at length hanging on the wall, a new dress belonging to the domestic; she took it down, and hurriedly removed the sleeves and carried them to the man.
But He who tried Abraham, still insisted and said to her: " Now Madam, you have dressed me, and I thank you in the Name of him for whom you did it; but I have at the hospital one of my companions who is in need of clothing; could not you give him some article that I might take to him on your part."
The multiplied demands had not yet chilled the charity of Catherine and she sought the means of clothing also the other necessitous person who was at the hospital. But she remembered that all the inmates of the house, her father excepted, complained of her donations and put what they had tinder lock and key, so that she might not distribute them unto the poor. She had already given
