Page:The golden days of the early English church from the arrival of Theodore to the death of Bede, volume 3.djvu/26

12 of the roof draw it down. There fell out of it a folded napkin, in which the Saint found a loaf and a piece of meat yet warm, sufficient for a single meal. He divided these, and gave one-half to the horse, reserving the rest for himself. This story Bede claims that he heard from a devout priest of his own monastery named Ingwald, who reported that he had himself heard it from Cuthberht after he became Bishop.

In another story of a miracle we have a nice trait of the Saint reported. He was on one of his journeys, accompanied by a boy, when his provisions ran short, and his companion's dejection was cured by Cuthberht pointing out a sea-eagle flying aloft, and remarking that by its agency their want would be supplied. As they proceeded along the river bank (the Anon. Life calls it the river Tesgeta) they noticed the eagle sitting there, whereupon he said to the boy: "Do you see our handmaid? Run and search if the Lord has not provided us something." The boy soon brought back a large fish, which the bird had captured. "Why have you not given our handmaid her share?" he said. "Cut it in two, and give her the portion which she deserves for her service"—which was accordingly done.

When he was at Melrose, Cuthberht used to visit Abbess Æbbe at Coldingham. I have told a story about one of these visits in a later page.