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ther white men he couldfind。 They had beaten him and left him for dead。 Now； everyone had shut their doors； praying andwaiting； for it was said that the white folks would e to…night and set fire to all the houses； asthey had done before。
In the night that pressed outside they heard only the horse’s hoofs； which did not stop； therewas not the laughter they would have heard had there been many ing on this road； and nocalling out of curses； and no one crying for mercy to white men； or to God。 The hoofbeats came tothe door and passed； and rang； while they listened； ever more faintly away。 Then Florence realizedhow frightened she had been。 She watched her mother rise and walk to the window。 She peered outthrough a corner of the blanket that covered it。
‘They’s gone；’ she said； ‘whoever they was。’ Then： ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord；’ shesaid。
Thus had her mother lived and died； and she had often been brought lo； but she had neverbeen forsaken。 She had always seemed to Florence the oldest woman in the world； for she oftenspoke of Florence and Gabriel as the children of her old age； and she had been born； innumerableyears ago； during slavery； on a plantation in another state。 On this plantation she had grown up asone of the field…workers； for she was very tall and strong； and by and by she had married andraised children； all of whom had been taken from her； one by sickness and two by auction； andone； whom she had not been allowed to call her own； had been raised in the master’s house。 Whenshe was a woman grown； well past thirty as she reckoned it； with one husband buried—but themaster had given her another—armies； plundering and burning； had e from the North to set them free。 This was in answer to the prayers of the faithful； who had never ceased； both day andnight； to cry out for deliverance。
For it had been the will of God that they should hear； and pass thereafter； one to another；the story of the Hebrew children who had been held in bondage in the land of Egypt； and how theLord had heard their groaning； and how His heart was moved； and how He bid them wait but alittle season till He should send deliverance。 Florence’s mother had known this story； so it seemed；from the day she was born。 And while she lived—rising in the morning before the sun came up；standing and bending in the fields when the sun was high； crossing the fields homeward when thesun went down at the gates of Heaven far away； hearing the whistle of the foreman and his eeriecry across the fields； in the whiteness of winter when hogs and turkeys and geese were slaughtered；and lights burned bright in the big house； and Bathsheba； the cook； sent over in a napkin bits ofham and chicken and cakes left over by the white folks—in all that befell： in her joys； her pipe inthe evening； her man at night； the children she suckled； and guided on their first short steps； and inher tribulations； death； and parting； and the lash； she did not forget that deliverance was promisedand would surely e。 She had only to endure and trust in God。 She knew that the big house； thehouse of pride where the white folks lived； would e down； it was written in the Word of God。
They； who walked so proudly now； had nor fashioned for themselves or their children so sure afoundation as was hers。 They walked on the edge of a steep place and their eyes were sightless—God would cause them to rush down； as the herd of swine had once rushed down； into the sea。 Forall that they were so beautiful； and took their ease； she knew them； and she pitied them； who wouldhave no covering in the great day of His wrath。
Yet； she told her children； God was just； and He struck no people without first giving manywarnings。 God gave men time； but all the times were in His hand； and one day the time to forsakeevil and do good would all be finished： then only the whirlwind； death riding on the whirlwind；awaited those people who had forgotten God。 In all the days that she was growing up； signs failednot； but none heeded。 ‘Slaves done ris；’ was whispered in the cabin and at the master’s gate： slavesin another county had fired the masters’ houses and fields and dashed their children to deathagainst the stones。 ‘Another slave in hell；’ Bathsheba might say one morning； shooing thepickaninnies away from the great porch： a slave had killed his master； or his overseer； and hadgone down to Hell to pay for it。 ‘I ain’t got long to stay here；’ someone crooned beside her in thefields； someone who would be gone by morning on his journey north。 All these signs； like theplagues with which the Lord had afflicted Egypt； only hardened the hearts of these people againstthe Lord。 They thought the lash would save them； and they used the lash； or the knife； or thegallows； or the auction block； they thought that kindness would save then； and the master andmistress came down； smiling； to the cabins； making much of the pickaninnies and bearing gifts。
These were great days； and they all； black and white； seemed happy together。 But when the Wordhas gone forth from the mouth of God nothing can turn it back。
The Word was fulfilled one morning； before she was awake。 Many of the stories her othertold meant nothing to Florence； she knew them for what they were； tales told by an old blackwoman in a cabin in the evening to distract her children from their cold and hunger。 But the storyof this day she was never to forget； it was a day for which she lived。 There was a great running andshouting； said her mother； everywhere outside； and； as she opened her eyes to the light of that day； so bright； she said； and cold； she was certain that the judgment trumpet had sounded。 While shestill sat； amazed； and wondering what； on the judgment day； would be the best behavior； in rushedBathsheba and behind her many tumbling children and field hands and house niggers； all together；and Bathsheba shouted： ‘Rise up； rise up； Sister Rachel； and see the Lord’s deliverance！ He donebrought us out of Egypt； just like He promised； and we’s free at last！’ Bathsheba grabbed her； tearsrunning down her face； she； dressed in the clothes in which she had slept； walked to the door tolook out on the new day God had given them。
On that day she saw the proud house humbled； green silk and velvet blowing out ofwindows； and the garden trampled by many horsemen； and the big gate open。 The master andmistress； and their kin； and one child she had borne were in that house—which she did not enter。
Soon it occurred to her that there was no longer any reason to tarry here。 She tied her things in acloth that she put on her head； and walked out through the big gate； never to see that country anymore。
And this became Florence’s deep ambition： to walk out one morning through the cabindoor； never to return。 Her father； whom she scarcely remembered； had departed that way onemorning not many months after the birth of Gabriel。 And not only her father； every day she heardthat another man or woman had said farewell to this iron earth and sky； and started on the journeynorth。 But her mother had no wish to go North where； she said； wickedness dwelt and Death rodemighty through the streets。 She was content to stay in this cabin and do washing for the whitefolks； though she was old and her back was sore。 And she wanted Florence； also； to be content—helping with the washing； and fixing meals and keeping Gabriel quiet。
Gabriel was the apple of his mother’s eye。 If he had never been born； Florence might havelooked forward to a day when she would be released from her unrewarding round of labor； whenshe might think of her own future and go out to make it。 With the birth of Gabriel； which occurredwhen she was five； her future was swallowed up。 There was only one future in that house； and itwas Gabriel’s—to which； since Gabriel was a man…child； all else must be sacrificed。 Her motherdid not； indeed； think of it as sacrifice； but as logic： Florence was a girl； and would by and by bemarried； and have children of her own； and all the duties of a woman； and this being so； her life inthe cabin was the best possible preparation for her future life。 But Gabriel was a man； he would goout one day into the world to do a man’s work； and he needed； ther