about inquiring for my wife and other children; met the chief
man and chief constable of the town going from my house, not
towards it to help me. I took him by the hand and said "God's
will be done!" His answer was, "Will you never have done your
tricks? You fired your house once before; did you not get
enough by it then, that you have done it again?" This was cold
comfort. I said, "God forgive you! I find you are chief man
still." But I had a little better soon after, hearing that my
wife was saved; and then I fell on mother earth and blessed God.

I went to her. She was alive, and could just speak.
She thought I had perished, and so did all the rest, not having
seen me nor any share of eight children for a quarter of an
hour; and by this time all the chambers and everything was
consumed to ashes, for the fire was stronger than a furnace, the
violent wind beating it down on the house. She told me
afterwards how she escaped. When I went first to open the
back-door, she endeavoured to force through the fire at the
fore-door, but was struck back twice to the ground. She thought
to have died there, but prayed to Christ to help her. She found
new strength, got up alone and waded through two or three yards
of flame, the fire on the ground being up to her knees. She had
nothing on but her shoes and a wrapping gown, and one coat on
her arm. This she wrapped about her breast, and got through
safe into the yard, but no soul yet to help her. She never
looked up or spake till I came; only when they brought her last
child to her, bade them lay it on the bed. This was the lad
whom I heard cry in the house, but God saved him almost by a
miracle. He only was forgot by the servants, in the hurry.
He ran to the window towards the yard, stood upon a chair and