I put the half of this 5l. to the Orphan-Fund—There came in still further by sale of articles and Reports 1l. 12s. 6d. Thus we have all that is needed for the present moment.—Afternoon. This afternoon a person from the neighbourhood of Chepstow called and left a half-sovereign. There came in also through needlework, done by the Orphans, 2l. 5s. 4d. Thus we are still further helped for the present moment. But all this is not enough. Larger sums are needed, as oatmeal is to be ordered from Scotland, and several other heavy expenses, besides those for house-keeping, are to be met. Nevertheless the precious proofs, which I have had again today of our Father's loving care over the work, lead me to expect further help.—Evening. This evening at a quarter to ten o'clock I received 180l. Of this sum I put 100l. to the Missionary-Fund, 40l. to the SchoolBible and Tract-Fund, and 40l. to the Orphan-Fund for present use. How good is the Lord! How precious this help! How much needed and how seasonable!
From the 13th to the 19th of October came in 8l 6s. 1 ½ d.
On Oct. 19th I left Bristol with my dear wife, partly, because both of us much needed change of air, and partly, because I had a great desire to labour in the Word for a few weeks in Westmoreland and Cumberland. I was not able to leave more means than enough for about three days for house-keeping expenses. But I could not have stayed in Bristol, though there had been nothing at all in hand; my hope was that God would help during my absence. During all the time of my stay at Bowness in Westmoreland, from Oct. 20th to Nov. 20th, there was day by day, with the exception of the first three days, after my departure, need to wait upon God for daily supplies for the Orphans. In consequence of this, every donation, without exception, which was received daring my absence, came in most seasonably. Partly on account of my health, and partly on account of opportunities for service in Westmoreland and elsewhere, I did not feel it right to return to Bristol sooner than I did, though there was such great poverty; nor could I have done anything in Bristol which I could not do in Westmoreland, as it regards procuring means, since prayer and faith are all the means I make use of to obtain supplies when we are in need. For the encouragement of the reader, and also that those, whom God used at that time to enable us day by day to supply the Orphans with what they needed, may see how they were used by Him to help us, I mention here every one of the donations which came in during my absence, with the exception of the articles.
Oct. 21, 1847. From some poor sisters near Kingsbridge. 4s. 6d., in small donations through Brother F. in Bristol 7s. 5d.—Oct. 22. Anonymously from Walsall 5l., of which 2l. is intended for missions, 1l. for the Building Fund, and 2l. for present use for the Orphans.—From Bath anonymously 10s. with a lace cape.—Oct. 24th. I received while at Bowness 10s., also 1s. and 2s. This 13s. I forwarded at once to Bristol by an order. There was also received in Bristol from Droitwich 10s. and from London 2s. 6d.—Oct. 25th. By sale of articles and Reports 2l. From C. C. 1l. From Wolverhampton 10s.—Oct. 26th. Through the boxes in the Orphan-Houses 1l. 14s. 6d., our need having caused them to be opened.—Oct. 28. By sale of Reports 2s. 4d. Orphan-box in my house 10s. From a Christian gentleman near Crediton 5l. Oct. 30. By sale of Reports 2s. 6d. By sale of an improved Rendering 9d. From London 10s.—Nov. 1. By sale of articles, stockings, and Reports 1l. 14s. 4d.—Nov. 2. Through a brother at Clevedon 5s. Through the boxes at the Orphan-Houses 3l. 8s. 6d. By sale of a Report and Rendering 10d. From one of the labourers 3s.—Nov. 4. From a sister near Wotton-under-Edge 1l.—Nov. 5. From two donors in the neighborhood of Droitwich 5s. each.—Nov. 6. From sister B. in Bristol 4s. From C. C. 1l. 2s. 5 ½ d.—Nov. 8. Anonymously by post 5l.—From sister H. C. 3s. There was also given to me at Kendal, where I had been labouring, by a brother 10s., and by a poor sister 4d. This I sent at once to Bristol by an order.—Nov. 9. From a donor in Bristol 1l. From Switzerland 1l. 4s. 4d. From London 5s. By sale of articles 5l. 14s. 4 ½ d.—Nov. 11. A lady from Ireland visited the Orphan-Houses and gave 1l. By sale of a Report 4d.—Proceeds of an Orphan-box from the neighbourhood of Launceston 1l. 3s. 9d.—Through an Orphan-box in my house 5s.—Nov. 13. Through the bonds in the Orphan-Houses 10s. 2d. Through Mrs. T.'s Orphan-box 2s, 1 ½ d.— Nov. 14. From C. C. 5l.—Anonymously 2s. 6d.—Nov. 16. By sale of articles and stockings 2l. 11s. 6d.—Nov. 17. By sale of Reports 1s. Through a box in my house 2s. 6d. By needlework and knitting of the Orphans 1l. 6s. From sister C. 10s. From one of the labourers in the work 5l.—Nov. 19. From P. 2s. 6d.—On Nov. 20th we left Bowness for Keswick in Cumberland. The day before we left, I received at Bowness 5s., 5s., and 1l., also from Kendal 2s. 6d. This 1l. 12s. 6d. I sent off at once to Bristol by an order, knowing that it was needed.—Nov. 21. From C. C. 3l.—Nov. 22. Through the boxes in the Orphan-Houses 7s.—Nov. 23. By sale of articles and stockings 2l. 5s. 9d. From one of the labourers 3l.—Nov. 24. By sale of Reports 3s. 3d. From F. L. in Ireland 1l. From Richmond 1l. 10s.— From Nov. 20th to 24th we stayed at Keswick. Whilst there I received 10s., 2s., and 1s. 6d. for the Orphans. This 13s. 6d. was at once sent off to Bristol, by an order, as we were still very poor, with regard to means for housekeeping expenses for the Orphan-Houses. But notwithstanding all this great poverty in Bristol, which required that we should day by day wait upon God, for our daily supplies, I did not feel at all led to return home, but had an especial drawing to go to Sunderland to labour there for a little while among the brethren assembling at "Bethesda Free Chapel." We therefore left Keswick on Nov. 24th for Sunderland.—Nov. 26th came in by sale of articles 2s., through the boxes at my house 1L. 2s. 6d., and from Dublin 1l.—Nov. 27. Through a box 8d., by sale of articles 7s., and 2l. from London.— Nov. 28th. From C. C. 10s. 8d., and by sale of Reports 8d.—Nov. 30. By sale of stockings and articles 1l. 13s. 6 ½ d. From one of the labourers 1l. 10s. By sale of articles 1s. 11d. Dec. 1. From one of the labourers in the work 10s.—Dec. 2. From sister F. 5s. By sale of articles 1l. From Newbury 10s. 6d.—Dec. 3. By sale of articles 5s. By profits from the sale of ladies' bags 1l. 19s. 6d. From Kingstown, Ireland, 1l. By sale of a Report 4d.—Dec. 5. From C. C. 1l. Through the boxes in the Orphan-Houses 3s. 10d. By knitting of the Orphans 8s. 6d. From Glasgow 5s.—Dec. 7. By sale of articles and stockings 3l. 7s, 11d. From one of the labourers 2l. From Thornbury 4s.—Dec. 8. From a village near Keswick 10s., and by sale of articles 6d. From one of the labourers 10s. From a donor in Ayrshire 2l.—In the evening of Dec. 8th we returned to Bristol from Sunderland. Day by day while we were at Sunderland also, the Orphan-Fund was very low, but God helped day by day, by sending in the means which have been mentioned; and when we returned there was 1s. 11d, in hand, and 2l. came in that same evening from Plymouth.
Dec. 9. From the neighbourhood of Pershore came in this morning most seasonably 5l., as time need for house-keeping expenses today was 4l., and there was only 2l. 1s. 11d, in hand. This 5l. came in about an hour before the 4l. was needed. There was received further today from Bath, anonymously, 10s., and by sale of articles 2s. 6d.—Will you not, dear reader, unite with me in admiring and praising the Lord who so seasonably helped all the time that I was away from the work, engaged in His service in another way! Do you not see how precious it is to have God to go to, and to find Him ever willing to help those who trust in Him, wherever they be? Do you not also see again the hand of God so manifestly stretched out on our behalf this day Dec. 9th? 4l. was needed, but only 2l. 1s. 11d, in hand, and, an hour before the 4l. was called for from the Orphan-Houses for house-keeping expenses, the Lord sent that 5l. from Pershore.
Dec. 10. Today I received information, in answer to my inquiry, that 10s., which had been sent to me at Sunderland, were intended for the Orphans. These 10s., together with 3l. 14s. 5d. left in hand yesterday, are sufficient for this day, as the need of today is only 3l. 10s. for house-keeping.
Dec. 11. This morning came in 1l. from the neighbourhood of Cockermouth; thus we had, with the 14s. 5d. left yesterday, 1l. 14s. 5d., which is enough for today.
Dec. 13. Monday. Yesterday I received from C. C. 1l. 10s., from another person 2s., as profit from the sale of ladies' bags 1l., and this morning from Burford 2s. 6d. Thus we have again enough for the house-keeping expenses of today.
Dec. 14. Yesterday we had enough, but nothing over. When there was again nothing at all remaining in my hands, there was yesterday afternoon 1s. put into a box at my house. In the evening came in by sale of stockings and articles 2l. 6s. 6d., and by a donation 10s—In the evening also a sister from Norwich brought 10s., 2s. 6d., 6d., and 3s. She also brought the following articles, to be sold for the benefit of the Orphans: A bottle of extract of spring flowers, a small box of scent bottles, a smelling bottle, 8 common seals, a thimble case, a box of wafers; a china box containing two rings, a mourning brooch, and a bead watch-guard; a pin-cushion, a pair of little cuffs, and a little box. Another parcel containing a pair of worked slippers, 2 little bags, 2 books, 2 aprons, a knitted cloth, 3 pin-cushions, a Shetland shawl, and a pair of card-racks. Further: 2 pairs of cuffs and a necktie. Further: a child's silver rattle, 3 rings, 3 pairs of ear-rings, and 2 necklaces—There was also a parcel sent from Langport, containing two toilette cushions, a pair of worked slippers, 2 fans, 2 children's caps, some gold lace, a pair of silver clasps, 3 brooches, a silver thimble, a brass clasp, and some bits of gold. This morning I received a letter from the neighbourhood of Exeter containing a post-office order for 8s. with these words:
"I had hoped to have accumulated a larger sum in my box for the Orphans, than I have of late been enabled to obtain. I now, however, send it to you, though the amount is small, and should be thankful if it should prove useful for present need, it having been upon my mind for the last day or two that I ought to forward it to you without further delay. I therefore send an order for 8s., &c."