I rushed to the bed and throwing myself on my father, awakened him by loud cries.

The family were speedily roused, and were compelled to remain impotent spectators of the devastation.
Fortunately the wind blew in a contrary direction, so that our habitation was not injured.
The impression that was made upon me by the incidents of that night is indelible.

The wind gradually rose into an hurricane; the largest branches were torn from the trees, and whirled aloft into the air; others were uprooted and laid prostrate on the ground.

The barn was a spacious edifice, consisting wholly of wood, and filled with a plenteous harvest.

Thus supplied with fuel, and fanned by the wind, the fire raged with incredible fury; meanwhile clouds rolled above, whose blackness was rendered more conspicuous by reflection from the flames; the vast volumes of smoke were dissipated in a moment by the storm, while glowing fragments and cinders were borne to an immense hight, and tossed everywhere in wild confusion.