CHAPTER VIII.
FIRE AND PERIL.
Charles Wesley's infancy was longer than that of most children, and he was still a helpless babe when, on the night of the 9th of February 1709, Epworth Rectory was burnt down. Mrs. Wesley wrote a short account of this calamity to her eldest son at West- minster five days afterwards, in fact as soon as she had found shelter, rest, and clothing.
"When I received your letter, wherein you complained of want of shirts, I little thought that in so short a space we should all be reduced to the same and indeed a worse condition. I suppose you have already heard of the firing of our house, by what accident we cannot imagine; but the fire broke out about eleven or twelve o'clock at night, we being all in bed, nor did we perceive it till the roof of the corn-chamber was burnt through, and the fire fell upon your sister Hetty's bed, which stood in the little room joining upon it. She awaked, and immediately ran to call your father who lay in the red chamber; for, I being ill, he was forced to lie from me. He says he
