The half of this money was taken for the present need of time Orphans. There was also sent 1l. 13s. from Weymouth. Thus we are again supplied for the present need.
March 20. Today I have to send more money for housekeeping to the Orphan-Houses, and the Lord has kindly given me yesterday afternoon and this morning the means for it. Yesterday came in by sale of trinkets, &c., 3l. 8s. 4 ½ d. and by two donations 2s., and this morning I received 11s, from Marlborough.
March 21, Saturday. Since yesterday morning, when I had sent off to the Orphan-Houses the very last penny in hand, the following sums have come in: A sister from Worcester gave 2s. 6d., and in the boxes in my house I found 10l. This morning 10s. came from the neighbourhood of Castle Cary, from a sister in Bristol 2s. 2d., by sale of articles 1l. 15s. 8d., and by sale of stockings 5s. Thus I have been enabled, during this week also, to meet all the expenses, though they have been more than 30l.; and 7s. 6d. is left towards the coming week. My heart is in perfect peace, though there are between 140 and 150 Persons to be provided for (including the teachers and matrons in the Orphan-Houses and the apprentices), and though there is heavy sickness in two of the houses. Saturday Evening, The Lord has already increased "the handful of meal in the barrel, and the little oil in the cruse." This afternoon I received 3l. 14s., being the contents of an Orphan-box at Barnstaple. There came in 3s. 6d, besides.
March 26. On the 23rd came in 3l. 2s. 1d. On the 24th and 25th came in 1l. 5s. Yesterday was also taken out of the boxes in the Orphan-Houses 7s. 6d., our need having led to the opening of them, and in the boxes in my house was found 2s. 6d.; but we had not quite enough for the need of today, when about twelve o'clock this morning a box arrived from Chelsea, containing 17s. 0 ¾ d., many ornaments, etc.—We are thus helped for this day.
March 27. Today came in 4l. 11s. 7d. by sale of articles. Likewise 1s. from a little girl. Thus we are again provided for today.
March 28, Saturday. Yesterday afternoon came in still further from Street, by Sale of Reports 10s. and three donations of 6d., 4d., and 2d. There was likewise given by a sister a small gold watch-chain. This morning I received, by sale of articles 4l.14s. 4d., by sale of Reports 1s., and by sale of stockings 6s. Thus, by the income of this week, and by about 2l. 12s. which I found I had more than was needed for the rent when paying it on the 25th, having to receive drawbacks from the landlords, I have been again able to meet the housekeeping expenses during this week, amounting to 21l. 19s. 10d., besides the rent which is 37l., for which the money had been put by; and I am come to the close of another week, with 17s. 8d. in hand towards the necessities of the next. Late on Saturday. There has come in still further this evening from A. A. 11s. 3 ½ d., and from Mrs. R. 8s.
March 30, Monday. My heart was particularly in peace on Saturday evening after the prayer meeting, though I could leave only a few shillings for each of the four houses towards the housekeeping expenses of this week, where, besides the ordinary expenses, there is also money needed on account of heavy sickness in two of the houses. When I emptied the purse to the last penny, and returned home without anything in hand, I felt fully assured that we should have again abundant reasons for thanksgiving next Saturday, and told my dear fellow-labourers so, And, thus it is. Yesterday was put into the Chapel-boxes for the Orphans 50l., ditto 1s., ditto 10s. This morning I received 5l. from a miner at a distance, an entire stranger.
Thus our Heavenly Father has helped most seasonably. 1, In giving me means for present necessities as to housekeeping. 2, In providing me with means for the extra need on account of the illness of several children. 3, In giving means for getting a ton and a half of oatmeal from Scotland.
April 4, Saturday evening. On the 2nd I received anonymously from London it, besides some money for needlework done by the Orphan-Girls; on the 2nd was sent to me 10l. from Bath, from a lady unknown to me. These two donations I received the very moment I rose from my knees, having asked the Lord for more means, as, on account of the heavy expenses just now, we needed again more money by the end of this week. There was also given on the 2nd 1l. by a lady who had received a present of 10l. from some relations, and gave the tenth part of it to the Orphans. On the 3rd and 4th came in 2l. 10s. 7d. The actual expenses of this week, have been 42l. besides 22l. having been put by for the oatmeal which has been ordered, and we have a little more than 9l. left.
April 18, Saturday. The Lord has been again good to me since the 4th with regard to means, 53l. 14s. 0 ½ d. having come in during these two weeks. Today, having only 2l. 1s. 5 ½ d., in hand, towards the supplies of the next week, we made known our requests to God, and while I was in prayer with two of my fellow-labourers, there came a letter, in which F. from London sent 10s. There came in almost immediately after by sale of articles 13s. 8d., and by a sister in the Lord from Brixham, who called this morning, 10s. was given. This afternoon the boxes in the Orphan-Houses were opened, but only 10s. 10d. found in them. 6s, came in besides. This afternoon a brother called at the Boys' Orphan-House, and gave eight sovereigns, saying that he had had a desire to bring this money for some days past, but had been unable on account of his health, but now was pressed in spirit to do so, though scarcely able to walk. The following points are to be noticed concerning the Lord's goodness today. 1, I purpose, on account of my health, and for the sake of procuring time for the writing of the Report, to leave Bristol on Monday, and thus I am able to leave money behind for at least 3 or 4 days. 2, I had been speaking today and yesterday in my prayers to the Lord, "It is buy will that I should not be anxious. I am not, by Thy grace; but, Lord, there are about 140 persons to be provided for in the 4 Orphan-Houses, wilt Thou then help me with means!"—I was able to send altogether 11l. 6s. 11 ½ d. to the matrons.