“God is his own interpreter,
“And he will make it plain.”
We worked until midnight on Sunday, and secured all the crops, as Mr. B. thought.
The manner of curing tobacco is, to hang it up in the barn, and put a hot fire under it, so as to cure it gradually. But the heat must be in proportion to the dampness of the tobacco.
All things being regulated, Mr. B. began to boast of the security of his great crops. The following Saturday, at three o’clock, P. M., he told his slaves that they might have the remainder of that day to compensate for the previous Sabbath, when they had worked.
The same day, while preparing to go to confession, as usual, one of the slaves ran in and told him that the barn was on fire! I looked from the kitchen door, saw the smoke bursting from the roof, and ran to the spot. Master got there before me, and within three minutes all the slaves were upon the spot; but seeing it would be of no avail, they did not attempt to enter the barn.
Mr. Barber, moved by his usual ambition, rushed in, notwithstanding the slaves tried to persuade him of the danger, and plead with him to desist; but, blinded by the god of this world, he would not listen to their entreaties, and rushed in just as the roof was ready to fall! When they beheld the awful sight, the wails of the slaves might have been heard fully two miles.
He was caught by the end of the roof only, as it fell, from which, in a minute or two, he made his escape, his clothes all on fire. He was taken to the house, but died the next Sunday week. Before he died, however, like Nebuchadnezzar of old, he acknowledged that God reigns among the kingdoms of men.
This sad event transpired in the month of October, after which nothing more worthy of note occurred while I remained in the family, which was until Christmas. After this I returned to my mistress, who gave me a note permitting me to get myself another home.