While thus engaged in a portion of the province of Connaught, a deputation arrived from Leinster to solicit the saint to take up her residence in that territory; but the motives which they urged were human, and such could have no weight with Bridget. She was insensible to every argument founded on friendship and family connections (for, as we have already said, she was of Leinster descent, and had spent in that province a great portion of her youth); it was only the prospect of the many spiritual advantages that would result from compliance with their request, that induced her to accede, as she did, to the wishes of the respectable body which had petitioned her. Some time after, the saint taking with her a number of her spiritual daughters, journeyed to Leinster, where they were received with many demonstrations of respect and joy, the people exulting at the great spiritual good which they were about to confer on the province. The site on which Kildare now stands appearing to be well adapted for a religious institute, there the saint and her companions took up their abode. To the place appropriated for the new foundation some lands were annexed, the fruits of which were assigned to the little establishment. This donation, indeed, contributed to supply the wants of the community, but still the pious sisterhood principally depended for their maintenance on the liberality of their benefactors. "Mercy having grown up" with Bridget from her very childhood, she contrived out of their small means to relieve the poor of the vicinity very considerably, and when the wants of these indigent persons surpassed her slender finances, she hesitated not to sacrifice for them the moveables of the convent. On one occasion, when their distress was unusually grievous, the spouse of Christ, imitating the burning charity of St. Ambrose and other great servants of God, sold some of the sacred vestments that she might procure the means of relieving their necessities. She was very generous and hospitable too, particularly to bishops and religious, and so humble, that she sometimes attended the cattle on the land which belonged to her monastery. The renown of Bridget's unbounded charity drew multitudes of the poor and necessitous to Kildare; the fame of her piety attracted thither many persons of distinction also, who were anxious to solicit her prayers or to profit by her holy example. In course of time the number of these so much increased, (and what an additional proof does it not afford of the thirst for spiritual improvement indulged by our ancestors!) that it became necessary to provide accommodation for them in the neighborhood of the new monastery, and thus was laid the foundation and origin of the town of Kildare. [3]