For the message had e to Florence that had e to Hezekiah： Set thine house in order；for thou shalt die and not live。 Many nights ago； as she turned on her bed； this message came toher。 For many days and nights the message was repeated； there had been time； then； to turn to God。
But she had thought to evade him； seeking among the women she knew for remedies； and then；because the pain increased； she had sought doctors； and when the doctors did no good she hadclimbed stairs all over town to rooms where incense burned and where men or women in trafficwith the devil gave her white powders； or herbs to make tea； and cast spells upon her to take thesickness away。 The burning in her bowels did not cease—that burning which； eating inward； tookthe flesh visibly from her bones and caused her to vomit up her food。 Then one night she founddeath standing in the room。 Blacker than night； and gigantic； he filled one corner of her narrowroom； watching her with eyes like the eyes of a serpent when his head is lifted to strike。 Then shescreamed and called on God； turning on the light。 And death departed； but she knew he would beback。 Every night would bring him a little closer to her bed。
And after death’s first silent vigil her life came to her bedside to curse her with manyvoices。 Her mother； in rotting rags filling the room with the stink of the grave； stood over her tocurse the daughter who had denied her on her deathbed。 Gabriel came； from all his times and ages；to curse the sister who had held him to scorn and mocked his ministry。 Deborah； black； her body asshapeless and hard as iron； looked on with veiled； triumphant eyes； cursing the Florence who hadmocked her in her pain and barrenness。 Frank came； even he； with that same smile； the same tilt ofhis head。 Of them all she would have begged forgiveness； had they e with ears to hear。 Butthey came like many trumpets； even if they had e to hear and not to testify it was not they whocould forgive her； but only God。
The piano had stopped。 All around her now were only the voices of the saints。
‘Dear Father’—it was her mother praying—‘we e before You on our knees this evening to askYou to watch over us and hold back the hand of the destroying angel。 Lord； sprinkle the doorpostof this house with the blood of the Lamb to keep all the wicked men away； Lord； we praying forevery mother’s son and daughter everywhere in the world but we want You to take special care of this girl here to…night； Lord； and don’t let no evil e nigh her。 We know you’s able to do it；Lord； in Jesus’ name； Amen。’
This was the first prayer Florence heard； the only prayer she was ever to hear in which hermother demanded the protection of God more passionately for her daughter than she demanded itfor her son。 It was night； the windows were shut tightly with the shades drawn； and the great tablewas pushed against the door。 The kerosene lamps burned low and made great shadows on thenewspaper…covered wall。 Her mother； dressed in the long； shapeless； colorless dress that she boreevery day but Sunday； when she wore white； and with her head tied up in a scarlet cloth； knelt inthe center of the room； her hands hanging loosely folded before her； her black face lifted； her eyesshut。 The weak； unsteady light placed shadows under her mouth and in the sockets of her eyes；making the face impersonal with majesty； like the face of a prophetess； or like a mask。 Silencefilled the room after her ‘Amen；’ and in the silence they heard； far up the road； the sound of ahorse’s hoofs。 No one moved。 Gabriel； from his corner near the stove； looked up and watched hismother。
‘I ain’t afraid；’ said Gabriel。
His mother turned； one hand raised。 ‘You hush； now！’
Trouble had taken place in town to…day。 Their neighbor Deborah； who was sixteen； threeyears older than Florence； had been taken away into the fields the night before by many white men；where they did things to her to make her cry and bleed。 To…day； Deborah’s father had gone to oneof the white men’s house； and said that he would kill him and all the other 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 do