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