eard 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； therefore； meat； when there was anyin the house； and clothes； whenever clothes could be bought； and the strong indulgence of hiswomenfolk； so that he would know how to be with women when he had a wife。 And he needed theeducation that Florence desired far more than he； and that she might have got if he had not beenborn。 It was Gabriel who was slapped and scrubbed each morning and sent off to the one…roomschoolhouse—which he hated； and where he managed to learn； so far as Florence could discover；almost nothing at all。 And often he was not at school； but getting into mischief with other boys。
Almost all of their neighbors； and even some of the white folks； came at one time or another toplain of Gabriel’s wrongdoing。 Their mother would walk out into the yard and cut a switchfrom a tree and beat him—beat him； it seemed to Florence； until any other boy would have fallendown dead； and so often that any other boy would have ceased his wickedness。 Nothing stoppedGabriel； though he made Heaven roar with his howling； though he screamed aloud； as his motherapproached； that he would never be such a bad boy again。 And； after the beating； his pants still down around his knees and his face wet with tears and mucus； Gabriel was made to kneel downwhile his mother prayed。 She asked Florence to pray； too； but in her heart Florence never prayed。
She hoped that Gabriel would break his neck。 She wanted the evil against which their motherprayed to overtake him one day。
In those days Florence and Deborah； who had e close friend after Deborah’s ‘accident；’
hated all men。 When men looked at Deborah they saw no father that her unlovely and violatedbody。 In their eyes lived perpetually a lewd； uneasy wonder concerning the night she had beentaken in the fields。 That night had robbed her of the right to be considered a woman。 No manwould approach her in honor because she was a living reproach； to herself and to all black womenand to all black men。 If she had been beautiful； and if God had not given her a spirit so demure； shemight； with ironic gusto； have acted out that rape in the field for ever。 Since she could not beconsidered a woman； she could only be looked on as a harlot； a source of delight more bestial andmysteries more shaking than any a proper woman could provide。 Lust stirred in the eyes of menwhen they look at Deborah； lust that could not be endured because it was so impersonal； limitingmunion to the area of her shame。 And Florence； who was beautiful but did not look with favoron any of the black men who lusted after her； not wishing to exchange her mother’s cabin for oneof theirs and to raise their children and so go down； toil…blasted； into； as it were； a mon grave；reinforced in Deborah the terrible belief against which evidence had ever presented itself： that allmen were like this； their thoughts rose no higher； and they lived only to gratify on the bodies ofwomen their brutal and humiliating needs。
One Sunday at a camp…meeting； when Gabriel was twelve years old and was to be baptized；Deborah and Florence stood on the banks of a river along with all the other folks and watched him。
Gabriel had not wished to be baptized。 The thought had frightened and angered him； but hismother insisted that Gabriel was now of an age to be responsible before God for his sins—shewould not shirk the duty； laid on her by the Lord； of doing everything within he power to bringhim to the throne of grace。 On the banks of a river； under the violent light of noon； confessedbelievers and children of Gabriel’s age waited to be led into the water。 Standing out； waist…deepand robed in white； was the preacher； who would hold their heads briefly under the water； cryingout to Heaven as the baptized held his breath： ‘I indeed have baptized you with water： but He shallbaptize you with the Holy Ghost。’ Then； as they rose sputtering and blinded and were led to theshore； he cried out again： ‘Go thou and sin no more。’ They came up from the water； visibly underthe power of the Lord； and on the shore the saints awaited them； beating their