THE VENERABLE DON BOSCO
do with little sleep," he used to say. And one of his disciples tells us that he often contented himself with less than five hours, adding the almost incredible fact that two nights of the week he slept none at all.
In 1883 he extended his travels through France, desirous of doing all the good possible ere his health, which was already perceptibly weakening, should fail utterly. In Avignon, the house where he was a guest was besieged. In spite of the watchfulness of his hosts, pieces of his soutane were clipped off as relics, for he was everywhere venerated as a saint.
"Well, if my soutane is cut," he would say with a benignant smile, "I may hope for a new one."
While awaiting dinner one day at the St. Peter's Patronage, Lyons, a Salesian house, Don Bosco expressed regret that the Fathers had not as yet erected a chapel more worthy of their Eucharistic Guest. A Mr. Michel present showed him a plan which the architect had drawn at an estimate of thirty thousand francs.
"But you will hardly get that sum now, Father," he observed; "we have had many collections and lotteries for charity here this winter."
"Nevertheless," persisted the Father, "I would like to have the money today; I feel ashamed of so poor a chapel."
Dinner was announced. At dessert the attorney of the house arose and addressed Don Bosco. "Father, I take pleasure in informing you that a
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