Page:Hannah More (1887 Charlotte Mary Yonge British).djvu/176

164 Moses, making Miriam prophesy the deliverance from Egypt. Then she went back to St. Paul, and was just at the very termination of the work, having locked her room-door to prevent interruption, when, as she was reaching across the fire-place for a book, the end of her shawl caught fire. She unlocked the door, and called, and her sisters had the horror of seeing her at the top of the stairs, one sheet of flame as it seemed to them; but she had the presence of mind to retreat out of the draught, and Miss Roberts, one of the visitors, succeeded in extinguishing the flames before much harm was done to her person.

"I consider myself a monument of God's mercy," are her words to Mrs. Kennicott. "Many trifling circumstances, which appeared to be providentially directed, contributed to my perservation. Being confined with a bad cold, I had, that day only, put on a thick stuff gown, which, however, was burnt through the back and sleeves. The day before I wore a muslin gown (in December!). I had also on three shawls. The one next me was reduced almost to tinder before it could be got off, of the others little is left. It was in heroically tearing off these, and taking me, flaming as I was, as if I had been an infant, and laying me on the carpet, that Miss Roberts burnt her hands so terribly. They were healed, however, sooner than my slighter wounds, which are now healed also, and I am able to put on a gown."