Francis had a kind of natural courtesy in his ways and words, and never said an unkind or unseemly word to anyone. Nay, more, though he was a merry and wanton youth, he determined to give no answer to any who spoke unseemly words to him. In consequence of this, his fame so spread over almost the whole province that many who knew him said that he would do some great thing.
Though he was in trade, he was a very frivolous spender of worldly wealth; but one day, when he was about his business in the shop where he used to sell, a poor man came to him asking alms for the love of God. Held back by greed of riches and care of business, he refused alms to the beggar. But the grace of God looked on him, and he accused himself of great churlishness, saying: 'If the poor man had asked you for something for the sake of a great Count or Baron, you would surely have given him what he asked for. How much rather, then, ought you to have done it for the sake of the King of kings and Lord of all!' And on account of this he determined thenceforth never to refuse anything asked of him for the sake of so great a Lord.
- text taken from Franciscan Days: being selections for every day in the year from ancient Franciscan writings, translated and arranged by Alan George Ferrers Howell