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HERE WE TELL HOW THE CHILD OF A POOR WOMAN GAVE HIS CAKE TO OUR LADY'S CHILD
THERE was upon a time a certain bishop of the city of Spires, the which had an exceeding love for little children ; and because he was of opinion that none was too small nor too simple for God's service, he would have these little ones brought to him full early, that they might be clerked and set to sing the Office of the Church. Thus it was that in his cathedral young canons there were that knew not their letters nor scarce how to say Amen, and many little clerks that had prayed better at their mothers' knee than in the stalls of the choir. But because they were of his kindred, the bishop considered not their shortcomings, which indeed were many, for barely did they know how to comport themselves mannerly, much less how the Psalter should be sung. Yea, pardoning their errors of Latinity, he loved to hear his little ones sing the Hours as best they could, holding that the Holy Child would Himself look gently on their childishness.
Now there was amongst them one very little
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boy, the child of a poor woman, a widow ; and he was a clerk of the cathedral, and came every day in his surplice to walk in the procession of the singers. But he was so small a child that he could not rightly understand the service of God; therefore, when the Office began, he would go very often from the choir and play alone in the cathedral aisles whiles his brothers, that were lettered, said their prayers. And specially he loved to be in one place, namely, the ambulatory that goes behind the screens of the choir; for here he had a friend that ever waited him, to wit, Our Lady's Child, as I shall tell.
Now in this place there was a very ancient image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that held Our Lord, that is her Baby, in her arms ; and it stood in a corner niche, close to the ground, where all might come near it. And I would have you to know that this image had been once of an exceeding price and beauty, and for long time had been bestowed in a chapel, greatly worshipped, and made rich with candles and with votive gifts. But because it was now grown old, blackened with the smoke of many torches, and the fair colours that had been on it were altogether worn away, it had seemed to the people of that city to be no longer of a splendour befitting their cathedral-church. Therefore had it been taken from its altar, and stayed now in this corner, where few passed by but clerks going on their business from the sacristy to the choir. And none heeded it, for there was a finer and a newer image in the Lady Chapel, painted in the
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very colours of life; before this the townsfolk made their orisons, and the old, worn Virgin was forgot. Nevertheless, this image had still the high and golden crown that had been given her in the days when many prayed to her; but the Child that she carried wore only the kingship of infancy.
The little clerk came often to the dark corner where this Lady stood alone, and there he would talk to that other Child, and invite Him to play and bear him company; and though this Friend of his would answer never, yet he came gradually to love Him, and desire His comradeship and love. And he would say within himself as he came to the church, "Perhaps my fellow will speak with me to-day."
Now there came a day when a great feast was held, and all the clergy and singers and the burgesses and their wives came to the cathedral, and High Mass was sung with great solemnity. The little clerk came also, but because of the great press of clergy he could not find place for himself in the choir: so he wandered to the ambulatory, and, said he, "Perhaps my fellow will play with me today and I will give him of my cake to eat." For his mother had given him for his dinner a feast-cake, such as are sold in fairs, and this he was eating as he went through the church, and to the corner wherein the image stood.
Then he looked up and saw the worn face of God's Mother that gazed at him from her niche, and the Baby that was in her arms; and it seemed to him that whiles much orison
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was made in the choir to some God that he knew not, this Lady and her Child were very lonely, and had little joy in the feast. Then the little clerk, that was but a simple child, came to the feet of that image, as he might have done to his mother's feet, and he spoke as he was used to do to the Christ-child that was his Friend. And he offered Him a piece of cake, saying:
" Taste, little Baby, of my dinner; for you are welcome." And he broke off a bit from the cake and put it within the hand of the Holy Child, saying again, "Eat, little one!"
But when he saw how that his Friend neither answered nor ate of the cake, that little clerk was so greatly disappointed that he began to cry; and he reached up and put his arm about the neck of the Christ-child, as children do to one another in love, saying, "What is the matter, good fellow, that you will never speak with me nor play with me? Wilt not have my cake? Canst not speak?" For he thought within himself, "Perhaps such a very little boy had not yet learned to speak."
Then did he take comfort, considering in his mind how that doubtless so small a Baby refrained not from any unkindness, but rather because He understood not what was said, nor ate, unless of pap or broth. Therefore said he to Him, as his nurse might have do: “Suck, pretty Boy, this pap."
And this he said to see if he were understood, putting a soft crumb from the dough of his cake to the lips of the Holy Child.
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"Yes, eat, dear Baby, in faith, God helping you, " he said, "for I fear You may die of hunger if You eat not. Taste, then, a little of my dinner, for truly it is very good, and afterward we may play together if You will. I see well that there be none here to care for You nor feed You; therefore will I do so if God will be my helper."
Then did God do great miracle; for Our Lady Saint Mary spoke by the mouth of this her image, and she said to her Son:
"Fair Son, what recompense shall be given to this little child for his cake, the which he hath freely given to You? Shall You not eat with him as he hath asked You, and be his good fellow in love?"
And at once the child that was held in her arms replied to her, saying: "Dear and sweet Mother, I know that this little clerk would serve Me well if he could; for during all the years wherein I have rested in this place, and have received the prayers of those that call upon Me, none before has given Me to eat, save only this little boy, who has said, “Taste of my cake, little one.” Sweet Mother, here I may not eat with him nor play with him, but I say unto you that in three days this child shall come to Me in Paradise, and there we shall dine together, and I will give to him a crown exceeding glorious; and never before has he tasted such meat as that which he shall share with Me then."
Then said Our Lady to the little boy: "Dear my child, you have heard the words that my The Little Lord and Son hath said: therefore keep them well in mind, for in three days you shall most surely come to my Son and to me, and I will receive you and cherish you full sweetly, for I am the Mother of all children that give to one another in love. Now go you to your mother, and tell her all that I have said to you, and lie down upon your bed with thankfulness, for my Son calls you to a better place, and there He waits His brother, and I with Him, and He shall give you of a bread sweet as honey whereon you shall dine."
Said the little clerk, "Right gladly will I come to my fellow and dine with Him, what day soever it please Him best; but shall not my mother come too?"
The Blessed Virgin replied to him, "She is not ready for that dinner, but afterward she shall come."
Then the little clerk went out from the cathedral, and he returned to his home and lay upon his bed. And his mother said to him: "Why have you come from the church in the midst of the feast?"
"Mother," said the little boy, "be not wrathful, for I must lay me on my bed with patience, because the image of Our Lady has spoken with me and ordained it, and so has my fellow, that is her Child. And they said unto me that in three days I should go hence that I may dine with Him, and then I shall be lodged in Paradise, for so the image of Saint Mary has willed. And I long greatly," he said, "to be
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again with that little Child, and to play with Him and He with me, for I love Him; and I know that it shall be so, for already my head begins to hurt me very much, and I am sure that I must die."
Saith his mother: "My sweet boy, say you truly that the image has spoken with you?"
"Yes, mother, doubt it not; even that old image of which none take heed, the same that stands in the niche behind the choir."
Then that mother ran in haste to the cathedral-church, and to the image; and there she saw the Holy Child that held still the piece of cake He had received from her little son. And by this was she shown the truth of that which she had heard; and she came back much sorrowful to her child where he lay on his bed. And for three days she tended him in his sickness, but he mended not.
And on the morning of the third day, as she sat beside him, she saw our most gracious Lady, even the glorious Virgin Mary Queen of Angels, crowned and vested in the manner of that image by the which she had spoken to the little clerk. And this most sweet Lady came and stood by the bedside, and said to the child: "Come, little son, your Brother awaits you; for you are made one of His family, in that you have freely and lovingly given of that which was yours. Even now He looks for your coming, that you may eat together in Paradise the banquet He hath set for all His friends.'
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Then did Our Lady receive right tenderly the soul of the little boy, and bore it with her to Paradise; and his mother went forth weeping much bitterly for that she had lost her child, and told the matter to her priest. And because of the miracle they took the body of the little clerk and laid it in the cathedral-church with great and joyous ceremony; and the miracle was fairly writ and put in authority, for the comfort and encouragement of all faithful folk.
But who is there that can truly write or say all the grace and kindness of that Virgin Mother, Mater Purissima, Janua Coeli; even she that disdains not the gifts of the little children of the poor nor the love of simple men? Verily hath he chosen wisely who hath chosen this best and sweetest Friend!
