She had arrived at the store at about seven o'clock. There were three
children she had to take care of. She had given them a breakfast of
coffee and bread for the oldest, and milk for the two others.
"I have nobody with whom I could leave the children," she said. "My
neighbors also have to stand in the food-line. So I keep them from the
stove by placing the table on its side in front of it. Against one end
of the table I move the couch. The children can't move that, and against
the other end I push my dresser."
It appears that the woman had come home once from the food-line and had
found her rooms on the verge of going up in a blaze. One of the children
had opened the door of the stove and the live coals had fallen out. They
had set fire to some kindlings and a chair. The children thought that
great fun.