She was saluted with a hearty curse by one of the neighbours, and told that we had fired the house ourselves, the second time, on purpose! I ran about inquiring for my wife and other children; met the chief man and chief constable of the town going from my house, not towards it to help me.

I took him by the hand and said "God's will be done!" His answer was, "Will you never have done your tricks?
You fired your house once before; did you not get enough by it then, that you have done it again ?" This was cold comfort.

I said, "God forgive you! I find you are chief man still." But I had a little better soon after, hearing that my wife was saved; and then I fell on mother earth and blessed God.
I went to her.

She was alive, and could just speak.
She thought I had perished, and so did all the rest, not having seen me nor any share of eight children for a quarter of an hour; and by this time all the chambers and everything was consumed to ashes, for the fire was stronger than a furnace, the violent wind beating it down on the house.

She told me afterwards how she escaped.